Hi. I’m Mara.
I am a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist and associate professor of pediatrics. I worked in public education as a school psychologist for a few years and currently hold a clinical attending position at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. I provide services at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. I have taught undergraduate psychology courses at University of Arkansas and at University of Central Arkansas. I train postdoctoral fellows and practicum students on pediatric assessment. I also provide clinical support for research done at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center. My clinical passion is assessment of neurocognitive changes in children who have undergone cancer treatments, and I participate in Children’s Oncology Group Behavioral Sciences committee.
I use my experience working public schools to help families and children navigate special education services and understand neurodevelopmental disorders. I specialize in translating testing data, history, and observations into strengths and weaknesses linked to academic and behavioral performance.
I provide comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations of children and young adults (ages 6 years through 21 years). I do not conduct an evaluation to look for one disorder or condition; rather, my evaluations provide a comprehensive profile of the child or young adult which may include appropriate diagnoses and comorbidities.
In my spare time, I read a wide range of books. I have an interest in bibliotherapy and the benefits of reading to mental health. If you are also interested in how reading links to mental health, check out the blog on this website. You can also find my writing on reading on Substack.