Donald Bernat

Donald Bernat serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry at West Virginia University School of Medicine, specializing in pediatric neuropsychology with clinical focus on epilepsy surgery candidates and complex neurological conditions. He joined WVU Medicine in 2022 after completing fellowship training at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in School Psychology with Neuropsychology concentration from Ball State University, a Specialist degree in School Psychology from The College of Saint Rose, an internship at Fraser Child and Family Center, and a Pediatric Neuropsychology fellowship at Nationwide Children's Hospital. He achieved ABPP Board Certification in Clinical Neuropsychology in 2025.

Dr. Bernat's research examines neuropsychological outcomes in pediatric epilepsy surgery, multidisciplinary care models for complex conditions, transition planning from pediatric to adult care systems, and autism-neurological disorder comorbidities. His clinical work integrates neuropsychological assessment with medical management for epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida patients through specialized multidisciplinary clinics.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent focus on practical clinical applications: the 2024 epilepsy screening program implementation, 2022 Panayiotopoulos Syndrome case study, and autism transition chapter demonstrate his commitment to bridging neuropsychological science with frontline pediatric care across neurology, psychiatry, and developmental disorders.

Scientific recognition includes:

• ABPP Board Certification in Clinical Neuropsychology (2025)

Dr. Bernat directs the Pediatric Neuropsychology Fellowship program while supervising interns, fellows, and medical students. His service contributions include updating West Virginia's Specific Learning Disabilities Evaluation Guidance (2023) and active participation in the national Neuropsychology Spina Bifida Work Group. He holds leadership roles in multidisciplinary clinics serving neuromuscular, cerebral palsy, and myelomeningocele patients.

He operates within WVU Medicine's integrated clinical ecosystem through the Neuromuscular Clinic, Cerebral Palsy Clinic, and Myelomeningocele Clinic, where his neuropsychological expertise informs comprehensive treatment planning for children with complex neurological conditions.