Whitaker Scholar Program in Developmental Neuropsychiatry

The mission of the Whitaker Scholar Program (WSP) in Developmental Neuropsychiatry is to provide support and mentorship to child psychiatrists and other professionals who seek to better understand and address the historically underserved mental health needs of people with developmental disabilities.

The first of its kind in the nation, the Scholar program opened in 2011 with generous support from the Marilyn and James Simons family.

Program Design

It provides one to three years of highly individualized training and mentorship, depending on the interests and goals of the Scholar. Core faculty expertise includes public health, epidemiology, phenomenology, early brain injury, lifespan stress and stress response syndromes, neuroimmunology, brain imaging, and genetics.

The program also takes advantage of the wide range of resources and faculty available at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and the NewYork-Presbyterian Center for Autism and the Developing Brain. Graduates to date occupy positions in public policy and services, clinical practice and administration, professional education, and research at the intersection of mental health and developmental disabilities.

Our Team