Dr. Biddle named as the Diane and Norman Bernstein Professor - Children's National

Children's National Hospital named Cara Larson Biddle, MD, MPH, as the Diane and Norman Bernstein Professor of Community Pediatrics.

Dr. Biddle serves as interim senior vice president for Community Health and is the division chief of General Pediatrics and Community Health at Children's National. She trains medical students and residents, with an emphasis on general pediatrics and delivering community-focused, comprehensive healthcare services in the medical home setting.

The big picture

Dr. Biddle joins a distinguished group of Children's National physicians and scientists who hold an endowed chair. We are grateful to generous donors who have altogether funded 51 professorships.

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 the recipient's achievements and the donor's commitment to advancing and sustaining knowledge.

Why it matters

A native Washingtonian, Dr. Biddle has a deep-rooted commitment to children and families in the community, especially those living in under-resourced areas. Dr. Biddle also has expertise in the care of children and adolescents with complex and chronic healthcare conditions. She has served Children's National for 20 years.

Dr. Biddle played a lead role in integrating complex care and mental and behavioral health into the Goldberg Center for Community Pediatric Health, enabling patients to receive continuous, coordinated treatment at their local primary care locations.

"I'm very honored to be the new Diane and Norman Bernstein Professor of Community Pediatrics," Dr. Biddle says. "My goal is to safeguard and sustain key community programs that are so vital to our children and families. This is such wonderful support."

Moving the field forward

The Diane and Norman Bernstein Foundation, through its vision and generosity, is ensuring that Dr. Biddle and future holders of this professorship will launch bold, new initiatives to advance the field of community pediatric health, elevate our leadership and improve the lives of all children in the Washington, D.C., area.

Diane and Norman Bernstein had a decades-long relationship with Children's National. Diane was a volunteer and an employee at Children's National during the 1970s and 1980s. The couple created this endowment to support initiatives and partnerships that improve healthcare delivery and outcomes for children and their families in the community. The Bernsteins passed away in 2021, but their legacy of giving continues throughout the capital area.

"We are delighted to know Diane & Norman's endowment to Children's National Hospital enables Dr. Biddle to expand the hospital's reach in pediatric community health," says Kelly Lynch, executive director, Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation. "Diane was a lifelong activist on children's issues. She believed deeply that for kids to thrive, they must have access to excellent healthcare. Dr. Biddle's work will continue her spirited legacy."