Lee Beers, M.D., and Catherine Limperopoulos, Ph.D., named A. James & Alice B. Clark Distinguished Professors

Children’s National Hospital named Lee Savio Beers, M.D., as the A. James & Alice B. Clark Distinguished Professor of Early Childhood Intervention and Advocacy. She serves as the medical director for Community Health and Advocacy at Children’s National.

Children’s National Hospital also named Catherine Limperopoulos, Ph.D., as the A. James & Alice B. Clark Distinguished Professor of Maternal-Infant Health. She serves as chief and director of the Developing Brain Institute and director of Research for the Prenatal Pediatrics Institute at Children’s National.

About the award

Drs. Beers and Limperopoulos join a distinguished group of 42 Children’s National physicians and scientists who hold an endowed chair. Professorships support groundbreaking work on behalf of children and their families. They foster new discoveries and innovations in pediatric medicine. These appointments carry prestige and honor that reflect each recipient’s achievements and a donor’s forethought to advance and sustain knowledge.

Dr. Beers has spent her life dedicated to bringing together the diverse voices of pediatricians, children and families to improve the health of all children. She previously served as the 2021 president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She currently oversees the Child Health Advocacy Institute’s Community Mental Health CORE (Collaboration, Outreach, Research and Equity). It includes initiatives such as the Early Childhood Innovation Network and serves as a catalyst to elevate the standard of mental health care for every young person in Washington, D.C. Dr. Beers’ clinical and research interests include the integration of mental health and pediatric primary care, the impact of adversity and stress on child well-being and advocacy education.

Dr. Limperopoulos is at the forefront of clinical research and translational efforts focused on accelerating screening, diagnosing, treating and preventing prenatal onset brain disorders to improve child health and well-being for life. Her research seeks to understand the impact of an adverse intra- and extra-uterine environment on the developing brain and its long-term neurodevelopmental repercussions. She is founder and director of the District of Columbia Perinatal Consortium. It brings together regional stakeholders in obstetrics, psychiatry, pediatrics and the community to determine the optimal delivery of screening and low-cost interventions aimed at reducing health disparities experienced by women in under-resourced Washington, D.C., communities.

Drs. Beers and Limperopoulos are champions in their respective and rapidly growing fields. Together, they are blazing new trails for young children and their families. Their important work through the Clark Parent & Child Network is improving the lives of children in our community today while advancing knowledge to inspire the next generation of leaders.

The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, through their vision and generosity, are ensuring that

Drs. Beers and Limperopoulos and future holders of these distinguished professorships will launch bold, new initiatives to rapidly advance the fields of early childhood development and maternal-infant health, elevate the hospital’s leadership and improve the lifetimes of young children.

About the donors

The Clark Foundation supports the work of organizations with strong leadership and values that reflect those of its founder, A. James Clark. Its mission is to ensure that these organizations have the resources they need to grow and support their communities today and in the future. Mr. Clark founded Clark Construction Group, which transformed the landscape of Washington, D.C., with its many projects, including Children’s National Hospital’s main campus. Mr. Clark was dedicated to giving back to the communities where he lived and worked. This includes longstanding support for Children’s National through strategic investments in genetic medicine, early childhood development, family resiliency and child mental health.

“The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation’s investments at Children’s National have created the foundation of one of the most significant philanthropic partnerships in our hospital’s history. Its most recent investment in the Clark Parent & Child Network, led by Drs. Beers and Limperopoulos, gives young families in Washington, D.C., greater access to vital mental health care and community resources. The Network is advancing our mission to build a healthy foundation for all kids so they can grow up stronger. The two new Clark Distinguished Professorships held by Drs. Beers and Limperopoulos will advance this vital work far into the future. We are proud to carry forward the legacy of Mr. Clark and the Clark family through these distinguished chairs.” –Kurt Newman, M.D., President & CEO, Children’s National Hospital