Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD

Dr. Bruce D. Perry is one of the most influential figures in the science of childhood trauma and brain development. A child psychiatrist and neuroscientist, he has spent four decades studying how adverse early experiences alter the developing brain — and translating that research into practical frameworks that clinicians, educators, and caregivers can actually use.

He is the founder and Senior Fellow of the ChildTrauma Academy, a Houston-based organization dedicated to improving the lives of high-risk children through neuroscience-informed training, research, and direct service. He is also the creator of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), a developmentally sensitive, neuroscience-informed approach to clinical work that has transformed how trauma practitioners understand assessment and intervention sequencing.

Dr. Perry is the co-author, with Oprah Winfrey, of the New York Times bestselling book What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing — a landmark work that brought the science of trauma to a broad public audience. He is also the author of The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog and Born for Love, both widely assigned in clinical training programs.

His clinical and research work has directly influenced child welfare policy, educational practice, and mental health treatment across the United States and internationally. He is a sought-after speaker for his ability to bridge rigorous neuroscience with the human realities of clinical practice — and to do so with warmth, clarity, and a genuine respect for the people who do this work every day.

Dr. Perry is a keynote presenter at the 4th International Pathways to Prevention Symposium in Banff, Alberta, October 2026 — hosted by Hull Services and the Neurosequential Network. Rising Tide Conference is a proud community partner, and we're sending our people. This is a rare opportunity to learn directly from the founder of the NMT framework in a setting designed for deep engagement and genuine connection.