Our Team

Kimberly Brown, PhD

I have been working with families of children with feeding disorders for 30 years. I fell into it because I needed a job in graduate school and then fell in love with watching children learn how to eat new foods. Moreover, I feel such joy when parents report reduced stress around mealtimes and feel like they have been a part of a life-changing event. I’ve watched children take their first taste of solid food, overcome fears of choking, and sit at the table with their family for the first time. I will sit with parents in the stress of the moment and share tears of joy at the small successes.

I have worked in several hospitals across the country, using many different kinds of feeding techniques. Over the years, I have listened to what parents want, discerned what they need, and helped children succeed based on their strengths. It is with great compassion that I embark on this adventure with you.

I aim to empower parents to make these lifestyle changes at home around mealtimes, so they can enjoy eating with their families again. I use family-friendly strategies that are easy to implement and take family’s concerns into account. Our goal for children is that they learn to taste and try new foods, find their preferences, and participate in family meals.
In my 25 years, I have worked with many different therapists in feeding, including occupational therapists (OT), speech therapists (ST), psychologists, behavior analysts, and special education teachers. Each of them taught me a different perspective for reaching children and their families. I am indebted to them for their teaching, the co-treatments, comradery, and support. I have learned that OT and ST get a wide range of training, but it tends to leave out parent education, problem-solving through psychosocial barriers, and dealing with challenging behaviors.

Credentials:

University of Iowa - Ph.D. - 1998 - School Psychology with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis

The Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins - Predoctoral Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship

University of Maryland - Baltimore County - Assistant Professor

Ohio State University - Assistant Professor

University of Rochester (NY) - Assistant Professor; Associate Professor

New York State - Licensed Psychologist (019158-01; Exp 11/30/2025)

Contact:

[email protected]
585-210-2332

“Dr. Kim Brown puts her life into her work. She has helped our son learn to enjoy eating when no one else could. What was such an emotional struggle for our family Dr. Kim Brown assured us from the start, she was determined and devoted to helping. Our lives are forever changed for the better thanks to Dr. Kim Brown. She truly is our son's doctor angel!”

“Participating in food therapy with Dr. Brown was a life-changing event. Eliminating stress around meal times and helping our child thrive is something we are eternally grateful for. Even years later we are still utilizing the skills we learned. Feeding therapy helped my child gain confidence and enjoyment around food as well as being able to participate in family meals. Dr. Brown was there every step of the way guiding us as parents so that we could have the confidence and knowledge to implement at home. We will never forget our time in feeding therapy and are forever grateful.”

“As occupational therapists, we have lots of opportunities for continuing education. For those of us working in pediatric feeding, we learn about the mechanics of feeding and developmental progression but still, we struggle with moving forward with some kids. Teaching about a safe and supportive behavioral approach that respects the child and allows you to move forward with the skills that you have obtained is what Dr. Brown is all about. Having worked with her personally I have seen her calm a child, support a parent, and stay on task to support the skill that I am working to address. Learning how to apply aspects of behavioral therapy directly to your feeding therapy allows you to move forward and address the skills that you have trained to address.”

“Dr. Kim Brown is an excellent educator for both families and feeding therapists. She offers education in a warm and kind manner that is easy to understand and implement. She provides additional education as needed either by request or by the use of her keen awareness and observation. Dr. Kim Brown is easy to understand, easy to work side by side and demonstrates efficient and effective skills in the management of feeding difficulties. I would recommend Dr. Kim Brown due to her abundance of knowledge and well and her kind and understanding spirit.”

“Dr. Brown is amazing as an instructor and mentor. Her expertise with assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding challenges is incomparable. Dr. Brown’s ability to teach behavioral management strategies, provide guidance in treatment planning, and consult on challenging cases has been so beneficial to my work with families and children. Feeding disorders are a significant concern to both the affected families and to the providers who treat them, and Dr. Brown breaks down the steps to create impactful treatment planning and effective intervention. I highly recommend this program for all providers who work with children and families.”