Co-founder and Chief Medical & Scientific Officer, Little Otter

Dr. Helen Egger is a child psychiatrist, mental health epidemiologist, and digital health innovator. A highly sought world expert in the field of child psychiatry working with countries and global organizations on early interventions and measurement-based care.  With over 17k citations to her name, 65+ peer-reviewed research articles, and dozens of NIH research grants, she deeply understands what works in mental health and what is just conjecture. Recognized by Forbes 50 over 50  for co-founding Little Otter with her daughter, Rebecca Egger, an early childhood digital mental health company providing high-quality, family-centered, and accessible mental health care for children and families.

Prior to starting Little Otter, Dr. Egger was Chair of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone Health, Director of the NYU Child Study Center, and Vice-Chair and Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Duke. She also founded both the WonderLab,  Early Childhood Mental Health Lab in the Center for Developmental Epidemiology, and Autism & Beyond at Duke.

As the creator of the PAPA, the gold standard and first screening assessment for preschool mental health, Dr. Egger has shaped the science and practice of preschool mental health. Proving that children under the age of 5 can show signs and symptoms of mental health challenges and that treating them is highly effective.

Dr. Egger attended Yale College and Yale School of Medicine, is a mother of four children, and resides in Durham, NC, with her husband and dog, Tori.