Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Researcher, and Mental Health Leader
Leading expert in child, adolescent, and family mental health, resilience, and community-based care
Dr Matthew Biel serves as Director of the Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities at Georgetown University Medical Center, where he also holds the Marriott Chair in Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health and is Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics. He also serves as Vice Chair for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, where he previously served as Division Chief for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from 2008–2026.
Dr Biel leads a diverse array of projects and research focused on supporting the resilience and wellbeing of children, adolescents, and families, while improving access to high-quality mental health care through community-based programmes, including those delivered in schools and primary care. He co-founded the Early Childhood Innovation Network, a citywide initiative to improve developmental outcomes for children and families in Washington, DC, and was selected as an Aspen Ascend Fellow in 2018.
His clinical expertise focuses on anxiety and stress disorders, trauma-related conditions, autism spectrum disorders, and complex medical illnesses in children, adolescents, and families. He has published numerous articles and book chapters and is involved nationally in psychiatric education and advocacy for children’s mental health. Dr Biel received his medical degree and a master’s degree in Community Medicine from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and completed his training in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine.
Contribution to BrainWaves
Matthew supports BrainWaves’ mission through his expertise in child and adolescent mental health, resilience, and community-based models of care, contributing research-informed insights to improve wellbeing, strengthen families, and expand access to high-quality mental health services.