SF Pediatrician Works To Heal The Effects Of Childhood Trauma

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) Research shows childhood trauma can lead to lifelong health problems. That's why a Bay Area doctor is creating a national model of care

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is revolutionizing pediatric medicine in the middle of San Francisco's Bayview. It started after she noticed a troubling pattern among her patients at the Bayview Child Health Center, a clinic she helped open in one of San Francisco's poorest neighborhoods.

"So many of our patients were seeing high doses of adversity," she recalled.

Dr. Burke Harris did some digging, and found a study by Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control that changed her life and career.

The research showed that children are three times more likely to get heart disease, cancer and other serious diseases if they experience severe childhood trauma, like their parents' divorce, mental illness, imprisonment, substance abuse, and violence.

She then examined her own patients' records.

"If our patients had four of more adverse childhood experiences, their risk of having learning and behavior problems in school were 32 times that of our patient who had zero," she explained.

So Dr. Burke Harris co-founded the Center for Youth Wellness in 2012 to fight the medical effects of childhood adversity.

So when young patients come to the Bayview Child Health Center for their doctors appointments, they get evaluated. And if they have three or more adverse childhood experiences, they're referred to the Center for Youth Wellness.

The treatment ranges from home visits and therapy to meditation, biofeedback and nutrition.

Lottie Titus says Dr. Burke Harris has helped her grandchildren through depression, diabetes, and behavioral problems.

"Even though she's so important, not just to the community but also on a national level, she's very approachable, caring, she's compassionate," Titus said.

And the doctor is elated when she hears reports of happy outcomes like this:

" 'He's one of the best kids in the class.' I was like, 'Yes, that is success!'" Dr. Burke Harris reported.

So for creating an innovative program to prevent and heal the effects of childhood trauma, this week's Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.