“I’m from Morrilton, Arkansas, and I’ve never lived out of state – or wanted to,” said Dr. Bryant Virden, a pediatric psychiatrist who recently joined Mercy Clinic Behavioral Health in Fort Smith. “Arkansas is my home and I intend to stay here.”
When Virden enrolled in medical school, he knew he wanted to care for children. It was his time working on the Child Diagnostic Unit at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Psychiatric Research Institute in Little Rock that sparked his interest in child psychiatry.
“I believe that children do well when they are able to, but many things can get in their way,” he said. “Sometimes children and families need some extra help to succeed. I feel fortunate to be able to listen to them and help them grow and thrive.”
He received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. He earned his medical degree and completed his residency in general psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.