Whitney Sunderland, Ph.D.

Whitney Sunderland was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended the University of Kansas, and after earning his degree, began his professional career as a research assistant at Midwest Research Institute. There, he contributed to studies focused on innovations in treating addiction and chronic pain—areas that would shape the trajectory of his life’s work.

During this time, Whitney met and married his wife, Kate. Together, they moved to New Mexico, where Whitney pursued graduate studies in Clinical Psychology at the University of New Mexico. Following an internship at the University of Virginia Medical Center, he was awarded a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

The couple later returned to Kansas City to raise their two daughters and continue their careers. Whitney worked as a hospital-based psychologist with a specialization in Behavioral Medicine and Neuropsychology. His most recent role was at Truman Medical Center, where he served as Chief of Psychology. There, he also worked as a consulting Neuropsychologist and directed an outpatient brain injury rehabilitation program. After a long and impactful career, he retired from clinical work.

Throughout his career, Whitney was deeply committed to community service. He served on several nonprofit boards, including terms as Chair of both the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, and the Rediscover Mental Health Center Foundation. Following retirement, Whitney and Kate relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, he continued his advocacy work by joining and later chairing the Board of Directors for Assistance Dogs of the West.

Whitney and Kate’s personal lives were profoundly impacted in 2009 when their daughter, Tess, was struck by lightning while working as a field archaeologist in Northern New Mexico. She sustained a severe brain injury and spent three months in intensive care and ventilator support before being accepted to Craig Hospital. The family found immense relief knowing Tess would receive the highly specialized, compassionate care that Craig is known for. Her time there marked a critical turning point in her recovery, and Whitney and Kate remain forever grateful to the Craig staff for their skill, dedication, and humanity during an unimaginably difficult time.