Tessa Chesher, DO, IMH‑E®, is a board‑trained psychiatrist specializing in child, adolescent, and infant mental health. She is the Founder, Owner, and Medical Director of Acorn ConnectEd, where she works collaboratively with caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community systems to support the mental health and developmental well‑being of infants, young children, and their families.

Dr. Chesher completed her general psychiatry residency at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, followed by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Tulane University School of Medicine. She subsequently completed a Harris Fellowship in Infant Mental Health, further specializing in early relational health and trauma‑informed care. She holds IMH‑E® endorsements as both a Clinical Mentor and a Research/Faculty Mentor, reflecting advanced expertise in infant mental health practice, supervision, teaching, and scholarship.

Her clinical and educational work focuses on supporting infants and young children—particularly those exposed to early adversity or trauma—and on strengthening the interdisciplinary teams that serve them across medical, early childhood, and community‑based settings. She is committed to evidence‑based practice and ongoing professional development and integrates current research into both her clinical work and educational activities.

Dr. Chesher has held faculty appointments at Tulane University School of Medicine, the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, and Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, where she has been involved in medical education and professional training. Her approach to clinical care and continuing education emphasizes relationship‑centered practice, early intervention, and the critical role of relational health in healing and development.