About me
An Air Force brat, I was born in Kansas and lived around the world with my family but mostly grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC. I graduated with honors from the University of Maryland University College in 1993 with a BA in psychology. After working for several years for the federal government, I earned my medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (the military's medical school) in Bethesda, Maryland in 2002.
Following a tour as a Navy flight surgeon at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, I returned to Bethesda and completed residency training in pediatrics in 2009. I am certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Board of Physicians and Surgeons, and the International Board of Certified Lactation Examiners.
After residency, I spent a year as a staff physician in the pediatrics clinic at the Bethesda Navy hospital. In 2010, I deployed to Haiti on the hospital ship the USNS Comfort to provide earthquake relief, which gave me the opportunity to use both my pediatrics skills and my lactation consultant skills to use in disaster relief (ask me about my breastmilk bank). I also spent 4 years as a staff pediatrician at US Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan, including 2 years as department head of pediatrics and immunizations. I separated from the Navy in 2014 after 16 years of military service. After relocating to Bend, I opened my own clinic to practice pediatrics the way I want to practice: personalized attention and lots of time.
I enjoy working with children and watching them grow and develop over time. I use my training as a lactation consultant in the pediatrics clinic, especially working with breastfed babies who are not growing as quickly as expected and breastfeeding moms who return to work. I also enjoy providing primary care to patients with serious or complex medical problems and with kids and families in the LGBTQ community.
I love hanging out with my family and enjoying all that Central Oregon has to offer, especially hiking and mountain biking. I also like to knit, sew, read interesting books, and train in aerial silks. I live on a little farm with dogs, a cat, chickens, occasional cows, and more deer than I would like.
Following a tour as a Navy flight surgeon at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, I returned to Bethesda and completed residency training in pediatrics in 2009. I am certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Board of Physicians and Surgeons, and the International Board of Certified Lactation Examiners.
After residency, I spent a year as a staff physician in the pediatrics clinic at the Bethesda Navy hospital. In 2010, I deployed to Haiti on the hospital ship the USNS Comfort to provide earthquake relief, which gave me the opportunity to use both my pediatrics skills and my lactation consultant skills to use in disaster relief (ask me about my breastmilk bank). I also spent 4 years as a staff pediatrician at US Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan, including 2 years as department head of pediatrics and immunizations. I separated from the Navy in 2014 after 16 years of military service. After relocating to Bend, I opened my own clinic to practice pediatrics the way I want to practice: personalized attention and lots of time.
I enjoy working with children and watching them grow and develop over time. I use my training as a lactation consultant in the pediatrics clinic, especially working with breastfed babies who are not growing as quickly as expected and breastfeeding moms who return to work. I also enjoy providing primary care to patients with serious or complex medical problems and with kids and families in the LGBTQ community.
I love hanging out with my family and enjoying all that Central Oregon has to offer, especially hiking and mountain biking. I also like to knit, sew, read interesting books, and train in aerial silks. I live on a little farm with dogs, a cat, chickens, occasional cows, and more deer than I would like.
JB, Mom to 2 girls:
We loved Dr. Beard as our pediatrician and were sorry when we both moved in separate directions. She was easy to talk to and had both my wishes and my daughters’ best intentions in mind. Dr. Beard will be the standard that I look for in any future pediatricians for my girls.