Dr. Jean Clinton

Dr Jean Clinton is an Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster, division of Child Psychiatry. She is on staff at McMaster Children’s Hospital with cross appointments in Pediatrics and Family Medicine, and an Associate in the Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Toronto and Sick Children’s Hospital.  She is also a senior scientist at the INCH (INfant Child Health) Lab at McMaster University. She has been a consultant to children and youth mental health programs, child welfare, and primary care for almost 30 years. Dr Clinton was recently appointed as an education advisor to the Premier of Ontario and the Minister of Education.

She is the Faculty Lead for the provincial primary care education strategy for Ontario’s Enhanced 18 month well baby visit. She was a founding Board member and a Fellow of Dr Fraser Mustard’s Council for Early Child Development. Dr Clinton is a ZERO TO THREE International Fellow as well as a Fellow for the Child Trauma Academy.

Her work for children has been recognized locally in Hamilton where she was nominated for Citizen of the Year in 2005 and in 2010 Dr Clinton was awarded the Woman of Distinction award. She was also honoured nationally, receiving the Naomi Rae Grant Award from the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for career commitment and dedication to community intervention, consultation and prevention in the area of early child development in Ontario and Canada.

Dr Clinton is renowned locally, provincially, nationally, and more recently internationally as an advocate for children’s issues. Her special interest lies in brain development, and the crucial role relationships and connectedness play therein. Jean champions the development of a national, comprehensive child well-being strategy including a system of early learning and care for all young children and their families. She is equally committed to ensuring that children’s and youths’ needs and voices are heard and respected.

She has authored papers in a number of areas, including early child development and poverty, infant neglect, attachment, children’s mental health, resilience, and adolescent brain development. She has also provided chapters in a number of books.

Dr Clinton holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Education and a medical degree and Fellowship in Psychiatry from McMaster University. Jean’s greatest accomplishment is being the mother of 5 great kids who range in age from 20 to 30 years.