October 5

Nadine Burke Harris is a pioneering pediatrician, public health advocate, and author whose work has redefined how the medical community understands and treats childhood adversity.

Born on October 5, 1975 in Canada and raised in the United States, she earned her medical degree from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Public Health from Harvard.

Dr. Burke Harris is best known for her groundbreaking efforts to raise awareness about the long-term effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on health. Her early work in underserved communities revealed alarming patterns between early trauma and chronic illness, prompting her to delve deeper into the science of toxic stress and its implications for lifelong well-being.

In 2011, she founded the Center for Youth Wellness in San Francisco, a first-of-its-kind organization that integrates pediatric care with mental health services and family support, specifically designed to treat children exposed to high levels of stress. This model was a transformative step in American medicine, focusing on prevention and early intervention rather than waiting for disease to manifest in adulthood.

By combining neuroscience, pediatrics, and public health, Burke Harris created a holistic approach that has since influenced practices nationwide. Her work challenged the traditional boundaries of pediatric care, urging providers to consider environmental and psychological factors as central to diagnosis and treatment.

Her 2018 book, The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity, brought the topic of toxic stress to a broader public audience. Through clear explanations and compelling stories, Burke Harris illustrated how early trauma could lead to conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and depression later in life. The book became a critical resource for educators, social workers, health professionals, and policymakers, galvanizing efforts to implement trauma-informed care across various sectors. She helped shift the conversation from asking “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” — a profound change in how people are understood and supported.

In 2019, Nadine Burke Harris was appointed as California’s first-ever Surgeon General by Governor Gavin Newsom, marking a historic milestone in her career and in the state’s public health leadership. In this role, she worked to embed ACEs screening into routine medical care and develop policies aimed at reducing toxic stress across California communities.

Her initiatives emphasized equity and targeted systemic health disparities, particularly those affecting communities of color and low-income families. Burke Harris’s tenure was defined by a science-driven, compassionate approach to health policy, blending clinical insight with public advocacy.

Nadine Burke Harris’s contributions to American medicine extend far beyond the examination room. She has revolutionized how the medical and public health fields approach childhood trauma, making it a central issue in discussions about long-term health outcomes. Her leadership and advocacy have inspired a new generation of physicians to treat not just the body, but the experiences that shape it.

By elevating the science of ACEs into national awareness and actionable policy, Nadine Burke Harris has ensured that trauma-informed care is not a trend but a lasting part of American healthcare.