Dr. Des Runyan

Dr. Desmond Runyan is the Jack and Viki Thompson Professor of Pediatrics and in 2018 retired as Executive Director of the Kempe Center. Des completed the MD degree and pediatrics training at the University of Minnesota and added a doctorate in public health and the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars fellowship at the University of North Carolina. Des has researched child abuse for over 30 years while maintaining a clinical practice evaluating possible child abuse victims and serving as a general pediatrician.  Des has published over 170 articles, book chapters and books. His research has addressed the identification and consequences of child abuse and neglect in the United States and in other countries. He designed the longest multi-site prospective study of the consequences of child abuse; LONGSCAN, which is now more than 28 years in duration. Runyan also helped design and conduct the first US study examining the incidence and consequences of “shaken baby syndrome.” His other work has included examining the rates of harsh or abusive discipline around the world.