Dr. Pendergrast has been practicing Pediatrics with a specialty in Adolescent Medicine since 1987 and maintains a part-time medical practice after retiring as Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Augusta University. He is passionate about helping children and teens thrive and grow into healthy young adults, and for teaching younger doctors those skills. He is on the Board of Directors and faculty of the National Pediatric Hypnosis Training Institute, has taught pediatric hypnosis for health professionals internationally, and directed the Pediatric Mind-Body Clinic at Augusta University from

2003 to 2026, for kids with chronic pain or other difficult medical issues. He completed the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona, in 2005. He believes that unhurried communication is our most important clinical tool and often utilizes motivational interviewing as part of that. He has won numerous awards for excellence in clinical teaching residents and medical students.

Dr. Pendergrast was born in Atlanta, studied music as an undergraduate at Furman University, and obtained his medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia. Any day that he learns something new he considers a good day. When Dr. Pendergrast is not at work, he enjoys life with his wife Gail, gardening, cooking, early morning walks, traveling, birdwatching,