Cara Tomaso, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who works with children, adolescents, and young adults facing orthopedic conditions and sports-related challenges. She is part of the pediatric orthopaedics team, where she supports patients and families in general orthopaedics, sports medicine, and the Limb Lengthening and Restoration Program.
Dr. Tomaso collaborates closely with orthopedic providers to identify and address mental health concerns that can affect a child’s medical care. She helps young people cope with the emotional and practical impact of bone and joint conditions, manage pain using behavioral strategies, and prepare for and recover from major surgery. She also has a special interest in the mental health of young athletes, including those dealing with anxiety or depression after an injury, disordered eating, and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), a condition caused by not getting enough energy through food to support both exercise and normal body functions.
“I am drawn to complexity, and it doesn’t get more complex than how children’s physical and mental health interact with each other,” she explains. “My role exists because injuries, musculoskeletal pain, and limb differences don't just affect the body; the mind is also involved. I noticed the need for psychologists on rehabilitation teams during my training and immediately fell in love with the work. Getting children and teens back to the activities that bring them joy is very rewarding. I also love working on a team with surgeons and other doctors. Putting together everyone’s areas of expertise ensures that children and families have the best possible care outcomes.”
In addition to her clinical work in orthopaedics, Dr. Tomaso has expertise in psychological assessment and provides comprehensive evaluations at the Yale Child Study Center. As an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, she also teaches and supervises doctoral fellows through the Yale Child Study Center Psychology Fellowship Program.
Dr. Tomaso earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She completed both her predoctoral internship and a fellowship in psychology at the Yale Child Study Center.
