A photo of Rachel Herbst.

Rachel Herbst, PhD

  • Pediatric Psychologist, Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology
  • Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
Our vision is to make Cincinnati’s children the healthiest in the nation. To get there, we have a variety of resources to support families beyond standard medical care. We offer support for normal parenting challenges and caregiver well-being and short-term therapy for emerging concerns.

About

Biography

As a behavior and development specialist, I provide prevention and intervention services to families in primary care. I love partnering with families to help support their parenting goals, as well as working with children who need developmental, behavioral or medical support.

I was inspired to become a psychologist after I volunteered at a hospital in Prague for a study-abroad experience. I had originally planned to become a pediatrician, but my time in Prague changed my mind. I learned that I love community outreach and connecting with patients to support their journey to become healthier and enhance their well-being.

In my practice, I value family-centered, culturally informed care. This allows me to create partnerships with families to collaboratively identify their strengths, their challenges and their goals. Our vision is to make Cincinnati’s children the healthiest in the nation. To get there, we have a variety of resources to support families beyond standard medical care. We offer support for normal parenting challenges and caregiver well-being and short-term therapy for emerging concerns.

I’m proud to work with the national organizations Zero to Three and HealthySteps. I advise them on how to develop training and resources to support development and health for kids across the country.

In addition to helping patients, I also conduct research. My colleagues and I are trying to learn how best to promote health and prevent negative health and developmental outcomes.

In my free time, I love to garden, hike and practice yoga and karate, in which I have a black belt. I also enjoy participating in cultural activities in my community.

PhD: University of Miami, Miami, FL, 2013.

Internship: Child Clinical Psychology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, 2012-2013.

Fellowship: Pediatric Primary Care, Children's Hospital Colorado, Denver, CO, 2013-2014.

Interests

Prevention; early intervention; health promotion; integrated pediatric primary care; coping with medical illness; undocumented immigrants

Services and Specialties

Behavioral Medicine

Interests

Underserved population; integrated behavioral healthcare; pediatric primary care; prevention; health promotion; community-based participatory research; families with limited English proficiency (LEP); health disparities

Insurance Information

Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.

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Publications

A Virtual Reality Curriculum to Enhance Residents' Behavioral Health Anticipatory Guidance Skills: A Pilot Trial. Real, FJ; Whitehead, M; Ollberding, NJ; Rosen, BL; Meisman, A; Crosby, LE; Klein, MD; Herbst, R. Ambulatory Pediatrics. 2022.

Integrated Behavioral Health Increases Well-Child Visits and Immunizations in the First Year. Ammerman, RT; Herbst, R; Mara, CA; Taylor, S; McClure, JM; Burkhardt, MC; Stark, LJ. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2022; 47:360-369.

Innovative Pediatric Resident Training in Behavioral Health and Communication: Pilot Study Results. Herbst, RB; Burkhardt, MC; Filigno, SS; Kerr, A; Boat, TF. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 2022; 10:20-31.

Assessment of Competency-Based Behavioral Health Anticipatory Guidance Skills Among Pediatric Residents: the Role of Virtual Reality. Real, FJ; Whitehead, M; Rosen, BL; Meisman, A; Crosby, LE; Klein, MD; Herbst, RB. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science. 2022; 7:115-124.

A Virtual Reality Resident Training Curriculum on Behavioral Health Anticipatory Guidance: Development and Usability Study. Herbst, R; Rybak, T; Meisman, A; Whitehead, M; Rosen, B; Crosby, LE; Klein, MD; Real, FJ. 2021; 4.

Four innovations: A robust integrated behavioral health program in pediatric primary care. Herbst, RB; McClure, JM; Ammerman, RT; Stark, LJ; Kahn, RS; Mansour, ME; Burkhardt, MC. Families, Systems and Health. 2020; 38:450-463.

Treatment of Maternal Depression in Pediatric Primary Care. Herbst, RB; Ammerman, RT; Perry, SP; Zion, CE; Rummel, MK; McClure, JM; Stark, LJ. Clinical Pediatrics. 2019; 58:1436-1439.

Nurse-Led Telephone Follow-Up to Improve Parent Promotion of Healthy Behaviors in Young Children With Motivational Interviewing Techniques. Schlottmann, H; Broome, M; Herbst, R; Burkhardt, MC; Mescher, A. Journal of Pediatric Health Care. 2019; 33:545-554.

Injustice in the Justice System: Reforming Inequities for True “Justice for All”. Varghese, FP; Israel, T; Seymour, G; Becker Herbst, R; Suarez, LG; Hargons, C. Counseling Psychologist. 2019; 47:682-740.

Effective Implementation of Culturally Appropriate Tools in Addressing Overweight and Obesity in an Urban Underserved Early Childhood Population in Pediatric Primary Care. Herbst, RB; Khalsa, AS; Schlottmann, H; Kerrey, MK; Glass, K; Burkhardt, MC. Clinical Pediatrics. 2019; 58:511-520.

Patient Ratings and Comments

All patient satisfaction ratings and comments are submitted by actual patients and verified by a leading independent patient satisfaction company, NRC Health. Patient identities are withheld to ensure confidentiality and privacy. Only those providers whose satisfaction surveys are administered through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are displayed. Click here to learn more about our survey