Biography
Rebecca Girardet was awarded a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Human Biology with honors from Stanford University in 1987 and her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Arizona in 1992. She was awarded a year-long fellowship in 1989 from the American Heart Association to conduct HIV research at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in 1995. Dr. Girardet worked in private practice and later as an instructor with the Baylor College of Medicine Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. She joined the McGovern School of Medicine at UT Health Sciences Center - Houston in 1998, where she founded and directed the Division of Child Safety and Integrated Care. She moved to the University of New Mexico Department of Pediatrics in 2021, where she directs the Para Los Niños Clinic, and leads coalitions addressing child maltreatment and injury prevention, child health research, and health disparities. She is board-certified in both general pediatrics and child abuse pediatrics.
Personal Statement
As a board-certified child abuse pediatrician, I have a strong background in child maltreatment, childhood adversity, and social determinants of health. I enjoy teaching and research, and building collaborative initiatives to improve care for children and families.
Areas of Specialty
Child maltreatment
Child maltreatment and injury prevention
Sexually transmitted disease
Integrated care
Achievements & Awards
Lead convener, Child Health Grand Challenge (addressing child maltreatment prevention and risk and protective factors)
Leader, Child Health Research Signature Program
Co-director, UNM Institute for Resilience, Health and Justice
Principal developer and director, Texas Forensic Assessment Center Network, 2006 - 2022, coalition of child abuse pediatricians across 6 medical schools that aims to reduce disparities in child maltreatment assessments
Principal investigator and medical director of PATH Intensive Day Treatment Program for Children with Complex Disease, 2015 - 2021
Principal investigator, UT-Houston site, Texas Medical Child Abuse Resources and Education System (MECARES), 2011 - 2021
Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellowship creator and director, UT-Houston, 2015-2019
Best Long Presentation Award, Shared presentation on “Integrated Med-Psych Programs, A Different Approach to Medical Maltreatment”, 2018, Ray E. Helfer Society Annual Meeting
Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, 2013, McGovern Medical School
Chair Emeritus, award for service as co-chair of the Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, 2010, Texas Pediatric Society
Team Excellence Award, 2007, Advocacy Centers of Texas
Research and Scholarship
Girardet RG, Shellman A, Llorens A, Nguyen L, Ellsworth M, Rennie K, Ha C. Evaluation of an Intensive Program for Children with Co-occurring Medical and Emotional Disorders. Clin Pediatr 61(9):605-614, 2022
Girardet R, Bolton K, Hashmi S, Sedlock E, Khatri R, Lahoti S, Lukefahr J. Child Protective Services Utilization of Child Abuse Pediatricians: A Mixed Methods Study. Child Abuse and Neglect 76:381-387, 2018
Girardet R, Lahoti S, Bolton K, Kellogg N. Characteristics of cases submitted to a statewide system of child abuse experts. Children and Youth Services Review 67:198-202, 2016
Girardet R, Bolton K, Lahoti S, Mowbray H, Giardino A, Isaac R, Arnold W, Mead B, Paes N. Collection of forensic evidence from pediatric victims of sexual assault. Pediatrics 128:233-238, Epub Jul 25, 2011
Girardet RG, Lahoti S, Howard LA, Fajman NN, Sawyer MK, Driebe EM, Lee F, Sautter RL, Greenwald E, Beck-Sague CM, Hammerschlag MR, Black CM, The epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections in suspected child victims of sexual assault. Pediatrics Jul;124(1):79-86, 2009
Girardet R, Giacobbe L, Bolton K, Lahoti S, McNeese M. Unmet health care needs among children presenting for sexual assault evaluation. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 160:70-73, 2006