Astrid Heppenstall Heger

Astrid Heppenstall Heger is a prominent physician and professor of clinical pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. She is best known for her pioneering work in the field of child abuse and neglect, particularly in the area of sexual abuse.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Heger was born in Los Angeles, California. She completed her undergraduate studies at Stanford University, where she majored in biology. She then attended the University of Southern California for her medical degree, graduating in 1976.

Career[edit | edit source]

After completing her residency in pediatrics at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, Heger joined the faculty of the Keck School of Medicine. In 1984, she founded the Violence Intervention Program (VIP), a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program for victims of family violence and sexual assault.

Heger's work with the VIP has led to significant advancements in the identification, treatment, and prevention of child abuse and neglect. She has developed innovative techniques for the forensic examination of victims of sexual abuse, and her research has contributed to changes in state and federal laws regarding child abuse.

Awards and Recognition[edit | edit source]

Heger has received numerous awards for her work, including the American Medical Association's Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service and the American Academy of Pediatrics' Helfer Award for contributions to the field of child abuse and neglect.

Publications[edit | edit source]

Heger has authored several books and numerous articles on child abuse and neglect. Her most notable publications include The Sexually Abused Child: A Comparison of Male and Female Victims and The Role of the Physician in Child Sexual Abuse Cases.