Dr. Beck is a Clinical Psychologist who earned her doctorate in 2009 from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, CA. She completed her internship at the Sarah Reed Children’s Center in Erie, PA, and received postdoctoral training at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore, MD in the Center for Pediatric Weight Management and Healthy Living. She also earned her credential in School Psychology from La Sierra University in Riverside, CA, serving as a School Psychologist in the San Bernardino Unified School District in San Bernardino, CA, during 2007-2008. From 2010-2023, Dr. Beck practiced as a Pediatric Psychologist in the Weight Management Program at the Center for Children’s Healthy Lifestyles & Nutrition at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. At Children’s Mercy, Dr. Beck worked with the Office of Equity and Diversity and was a Health Equity Advisor to her Division of Developmental and Behavioral Health and a DEI Champion with the Department of Pediatrics. She was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics in the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine in 2022. Her professional interests include health equity, weight bias/stigma, and the clinical implementation of yoga (she became a registered yoga teacher in 2016). She is currently serving as a Licensed Psychologist contracting with The Black Girl Doctor, an online boutique therapy practice prioritizing Black professional women. At the state and national levels, she is involved with the Missouri Psychological Association as the Diversity Board Officer, Federal Advocacy Coordinator, and Legislative Chair, the Society of Pediatric Psychology as the Division Advocacy Partner with APA, and the American Psychological Association, where she recently completed a fantastic year as a participant leader in the Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology. She has won several national awards for her advocacy and service.

Amy R. Beck, PhD

Mid-career PhD psychologist with expertise in health psychology, obesity, health equity, trauma, academic medicine

Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America

Research Expertise

Developmental and Educational Psychology

Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health

Psychiatry and Mental health

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Nutrition and Dietetics

Clinical Psychology

Applied Psychology

Health Policy

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

About

Publications

Psychosocial Aspects of Obesity

NASN School Nurse / Jan 01, 2016

Beck, A. R. (2016). Psychosocial Aspects of Obesity. NASN School Nurse, 31(1), 23–27. https://doi.org/10.1177/1942602x15619756

Outcomes of a Weight Management Clinic for Children with Special Needs

Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics / May 01, 2014

Gillette, M. L. D., Stough, C. O., Beck, A. R., Maliszewski, G., Best, C. M., Gerling, J. K., & Summar, S. (2014). Outcomes of a Weight Management Clinic for Children with Special Needs. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 35(4), 266–273. https://doi.org/10.1097/dbp.0000000000000055

Addressing Structural Racism Is Critical for Ameliorating the Childhood Obesity Epidemic in Black Youth

Childhood Obesity / Mar 01, 2022

Mackey, E. R., Burton, E. T., Cadieux, A., Getzoff, E., Santos, M., Ward, W., & Beck, A. R. (2022). Addressing Structural Racism Is Critical for Ameliorating the Childhood Obesity Epidemic in Black Youth. Childhood Obesity, 18(2), 75–83. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2021.0153

Comparison of a Condensed 12-Week Version and a 24-Week Version of a Family-Based Pediatric Weight Management Program

Childhood Obesity / Oct 01, 2014

Dreyer Gillette, M. L., Odar Stough, C., Best, C. M., Beck, A. R., & Hampl, S. E. (2014). Comparison of a Condensed 12-Week Version and a 24-Week Version of a Family-Based Pediatric Weight Management Program. Childhood Obesity, 10(5), 375–382. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2014.0037

Medical neglect and pediatric obesity: Insights from tertiary care obesity treatment programs

Children's Health Care / Mar 17, 2016

Gray, J., Cadieux, A., Sweeney, B., Beck, A. R., Edgar, S., Eneli, I., Getzoff Testa, E., Paguio, K., Santos, M., & Ward, W. L. (2016). Medical neglect and pediatric obesity: Insights from tertiary care obesity treatment programs. Children’s Health Care, 46(3), 246–264. https://doi.org/10.1080/02739615.2016.1163488

Social Connection and Belonging

Understanding and Cultivating Well-being for the Pediatrician / Dec 01, 2022

Beck, A. R., Bennett, K., & Jones, B. L. (2022). Social Connection and Belonging. In Understanding and Cultivating Well-being for the Pediatrician (pp. 231–252). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10843-3_12

Self‐regulation linking the quality of early parent–child relationship to adolescents' obesity risk and food consumption

Pediatric Obesity / Dec 07, 2022

Kim, J. H., & Bost, K. K. (2022). Self‐regulation linking the quality of early parent–child relationship to adolescents’ obesity risk and food consumption. Pediatric Obesity, 18(3). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.12993

Psychological predictors of family-based behavioral treatment response in a diverse sample of youth with obesity.

Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology / Jun 01, 2022

Fornander, M. J., Bates, C. R., Hampl, S. E., Beck, A. R., & Dreyer Gillette, M. L. (2022). Psychological predictors of family-based behavioral treatment response in a diverse sample of youth with obesity. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 10(2), 192–201. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpp0000427

Incorporating Yoga into a Pediatric Weight Management Program: A Pilot Study

Childhood Obesity / Jan 01, 2022

Forseth, B., Hampl, S., Dreyer Gillette, M., Foright, R. M., Gibson, M., Vandal, J., Moon, M., & Beck, A. R. (2022). Incorporating Yoga into a Pediatric Weight Management Program: A Pilot Study. Childhood Obesity, 18(1), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2021.0114

Education

Loma Linda University

PhD, Clinical Psychology / September, 2009

Loma Linda, California, United States of America

Loma Linda University

MA, Experimental Psychology / December, 2008

Loma Linda, California, United States of America

Centre College

BS, Psychobiology / May, 2002

Danville, Kentucky, United States of America

Experience

Children's Mercy Kansas City

Pediatric Psychologist / October, 2010 — December, 2023

Appointed to Medical Staff and delivered psychological services in the Center for Children's Healthy Lifestyles & Nutrition to youth and families receiving multidisciplinary obesity treatment.

University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine

Professor of Pediatrics / September, 2022 — December, 2023

Achieved the highest academic rank, was the first Black female in my affiliated institution to do so.

Associate Professor / September, 2016 — August, 2022

Assistant Professor / October, 2010 — August, 2016

The Black Girl Doctor

Licensed Clinical Psychologist / December, 2023 — Present

Private practice clinician

Links & Social Media

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