David J Schonfeld

David J. Schonfeld is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. He specializes in pediatric mental health, disaster preparedness, and grief support, with a focus on school-based interventions and family-centered care. His work emphasizes addressing the psychosocial needs of children in crises, including pandemics, natural disasters, and school shootings. Schonfeld has contributed to clinical guidelines on supporting grieving children, trauma-informed education practices, and pediatric emergency preparedness. His research spans adverse childhood experiences, ADHD mediation, and the impact of home environments on academic achievement.

Key areas include:

• Pediatric crisis response protocols
• Teacher and school nurse training in grief support
• Policy advocacy for child-focused disaster planning
• Ethical considerations in crisis drills
• Developmental-behavioral pediatrics workforce development

His publications highlight interdisciplinary collaboration, with a focus on translating research into actionable clinical and policy strategies to protect children’s mental and emotional well-being during crises.