Beatriz MacDonald Wer, Ph.D.

Dr. Beatriz (Tish) MacDonald Wer is a bilingual (English/Spanish) pediatric neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health Medical Center in Dallas. She received her undergraduate degree at Harvard University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver, with specialties in neuropsychology, multicultural awareness, and statistics. Dr. MacDonald completed her internship and postdoctoral training in clinical neuropsychology at the University of New Mexico (UNM), Health Sciences Center. She is an invited faculty member of the Master’s Program in Neuropsychology at the Universidad Del Valle de Guatemala. Dr. MacDonald Wer co-developed the SALUD Strutt MacDonald Equitable Healthcare Model, which has propelled forward initiatives that she is deeply committed to as we work together as a field to diversify neuropsychology and increase healthcare access. Her clinical focus is on the neuropsychological evaluation of bilingual and monolingual children with a wide variety of neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., spina bifida, autism, genetic conditions) ranging in age from early childhood through late adolescence. She provides clinical services at Children’s Health and clinical and research services at My Health My Resources (MHMR) Autism Program. Training curriculum centers on how sociocultural factors impact development, cognition, and behavior in the context of neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. MacDonald’s research focuses on how to better understand the impact that different factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, language, and culture) have on neurodevelopment and how it informs culturally-competent neuropsychological practices. She serves on several national and regional boards and initiatives focused on increasing healthcare equity, fostering mentorship and sponsorship, and strengthening the student pathways.