Mara Whiteside, PhD, ABPdN, NCSP, is a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist and associate professor of pediatrics. She has worked in public education as a school psychologist and currently holds a clinical attending position at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and provides services at Schmieding Developmental Center and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She has taught undergraduate psychology courses at University of Arkansas and at University of Central Arkansas. She trains postdoctoral fellows and practicum students on pediatric assessment. Dr. Mara also provides clinical support for research done at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center. Her clinical passion is assessment of neurocognitive changes in children who have undergone cancer treatments, and she participates in Children’s Oncology Group.
Dr. Mara uses her experience working public schools to help families and children navigate special education services and understand neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Whiteside specializes in translating testing data, history, and observations into strengths and weaknesses linked to academic and behavioral performance.
Dr. Mara provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations of children and young adults (ages 6 years through 21 years). She does not conduct an evaluation to look for one disorder or condition; rather, her evaluations provide a comprehensive profile of the child or young adult which may include appropriate diagnoses and comorbidities.
In her spare time, Dr. Mara reads a wide range of books. She has an interest in bibliotherapy and the benefits of reading to mental health.