Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Purpose and Rationale for the Course: The purpose of this course is to introduce medical students to Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, a subspecialty field that involves in the consideration of the medical, as well as psychosocial aspects of children’s and adolescents’ developmental and behavioral problems in their assessments and treatments. This course will introduce students to the various conditions that Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians evaluate, counsel, and provide treatment which include but not limited to, developmental delays, neurodevelopmental disabilities (autism, intellectual disability), attention and behavioral disorders (ADHD, oppositional defiant behaviors, and anxiety disorders), learning disorders, and behavioral and developmental problems complicating the full range of pediatric chronic illnesses (genetic disorders like Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Neurofibromatosis type 1, etc.).

Target Students: This elective is designed for third or fourth year medical student who is interested in 1) pediatrics in general or 2) pursuing developmental and behavioral pediatrics or neurodevelopmental disabilities as a career, or 3) caring for individuals with disabilities, children or adults. No prior experience in pediatrics is required.

Course Description: The student will have the opportunity to participate with the faculty in the evaluation, assessment and diagnosis of children and adolescents presenting with developmental delays and or behavioral problems. The student will encounter a wide variety and broad spectrum of developmental disabilities, including but not limited to autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, developmental delays, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, genetic syndromes, behavioral health disorders like anxiety, disruptive behavior, among others. The student will also become familiar with the role of medication in children with disabilities.

Student will have the opportunity to participate in supervised direct patient contact in the following:

(Note: actual schedule of clerkship elective rotation will depend on the time frame of student’s date of rotation)

• Regular neurodevelopmental clinic (weekdays except Wednesdays)
• Multidisciplinary clinics with the chance to work with speech language pathologists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, genetic counselor, providers from Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oncology, Neurology, etc.
  • Neurofibromatosis Clinic - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
  • Fragile X Clinic - 1st Friday (AM) of every month
  • Down syndrome Clinic - 3rd Friday (AM) of every month

Depending on availability and/or student interest:

• Specialty clinic: Neurogenetics clinic (once a week full day clinic - DC, Annapolis and Laurel location)
• Developmental assessments / ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) with psychologists
• Speech language / Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device Evaluations with speech therapists and Audiology evaluation with audiologists **(will need to be set up before rotation starts - half day)

Student will be provided with required and recommended reading materials (journal articles, textbooks) as the foundation of understanding typical development and the most commonly encountered conditions in clinic (autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, etc.).

Course Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to obtain a complete developmental, behavioral and psychosocial history and perform physical examination in children with disabilities.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the evaluation and management of children with broad spectrum of developmental and behavioral disabilities (autism, ADHD, learning disability, etc.).
3. Discuss the indications and general principles guiding the use of psychopharmacologic treatment and the evidence supporting its use.
4. Explain the importance of multidisciplinary approach and components in the assessment, evaluation, and ongoing management of complex conditions (Fragile X syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, autism spectrum disorder, etc.).