Nia Heard-Garris

Dr. Heard-Garris is a primary care pediatrician and health researcher at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and within the Division of Academic General Pediatrics, Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program. She is a former Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. She earned her Master of Science in Health and Healthcare Research at the University of Michigan. She received her B.S. in Biology at Spelman College and her medical degree from Howard University of College of Medicine and she completed her clinical training at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC in Pediatrics and Primary Care.

Dr. Heard-Garris’s research interests include adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); racism; racial socialization; and resilience. Through her research, she wants to help pediatricians and parents understand their role in building resilience in children and in the communities that support children, so they are able to overcome their adverse circumstances and thrive.

Dr. Heard-Garris hopes to improve the health of the future generations of leaders by not only caring for them, but by also improving healthcare inequalities. Dr. Heard-Garris is a wife and proud mother of a very active young son.