Katherine M. Ort, MD

I grew up in New York City and had dreams of becoming a Broadway actress. In college, I double majored in neuroscience and theater. I wanted to learn why people do the things they do and how the brain works on a chemical level.

After graduation, I acted for a while and then decided to go to medical school. I became a pediatrician: I loved caring for children and working with families. Over time, I became aware of the impact illness has on mental health and the shortage of resources available to help the children most in need. To meet the mental health needs of my patients, I decided to continue my training and become a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

As the co-director of the KiDS of NYU Foundation Integrated Behavioral Health Program at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, I support children who have chronic health conditions, such as cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, and congenital heart defects. Many of these children also have anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and behavioral challenges. I work with children who are hospitalized and those who see doctors at the Pediatric Diabetes Center.

I evaluate patients and diagnose and manage mental health conditions. In addition, I train healthcare providers to identify mental health problems and provide support to patients. I oversee a team of psychiatrists, child psychiatry fellows, and trainees who rotate through our service. My role also involves conducting research about how to measure improvement in a child’s wellbeing.

I take a holistic approach to caring for patients. I get to know the important people in a child’s life, including their parents or caregivers. If a child is having trouble adhering to a treatment plan, I work with their family to identify the problem. I brainstorm solutions with the child, parents or caregivers, and doctors.

It turns out that my acting experience helps me work well with healthcare providers and patients. In theater and medicine, you need to improvise when things do not go as planned. When I was an actor, I learned the improvisation practice of responding to someone by saying “Yes, and . . .” This means I accept that what the person says is valid, and I may encourage them to see another perspective.

My goals are to improve patients’ access to mental healthcare and reduce the stigma associated with it. I feel privileged to work with children and their families. They welcome me into their lives during stressful times and allow me to be part of their journey.