Podcast | Practice of Medicine | October 18, 2021

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Where We Are

The occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is on the rise and during this podcast, Drs. Anuja Mehta, Shirin Hasan, Lisa Spector, and Christopher Morris detail what ASD is, as well as some of the myths and misconceptions of ASD. In addition, they will provide information regarding the transition of care from adolescence into adulthood, and offer insight into treatment for ASD, including occupational and speech language therapies, as well as applied behavioral analysis.

Anuja Mehta, MD, is a board certified adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She completed her Undergraduate, Medical School and Residency training at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, Florida. She went to Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School to complete a fellowship training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Dr. Mehta has been with the UCF College of Medicine since 2016. She served as Assistant Clerkship Director for a year, followed by serving as the Clerkship Director of Psychiatry for another 18 months. She took over the leadership of UCF/HCA’s Greater Orlando Psychiatry Residency program in August 2019. She currently maintains her clinical practice at Nemours Children’s Hospital. She has authored peer-reviewed publications, a book chapter, and presented numerous posters and workshops on topics ranging from ADHD, childhood anxiety, narrative medicine, and promoting resilience and wellness.

Dr. Mehta is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, Florida Psychiatric Society, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training.

Lisa Spector, MD, is a certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in Child Abuse Pediatrics, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and General Pediatrics. She is Division Chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Florida and is a Professor of Pediatrics through University of Central Florida.

Shirin Hasan, MD, is a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist. Dr. Hasan has been board-certified in adult psychiatry and pediatrics. She completed her Undergraduate, Medical School and Residency Training in the Triple Board Program (Pediatrics, Adult Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) at the University of Kentucky (UK) in Lexington, Kentucky, where she also served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Hasan has worked in multiple clinical and leadership positions in a variety of clinical settings including Kaiser Permanente in Maryland, as a civilian physician with the United States Navy and Hope Haven Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida,where she was an integral part of the team that diagnosed and treated Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Dr. Hasan has been with the Nemours Children’s Health System since 2009. Dr. Hasan serves as a site director at Nemours for UCF Psychiatry Residency Program. She serves on the expert review board of kidshealth.org, reviewing and writing numerous articles for parents, pediatric patients and educators on a wide range of psychiatric topics including ADHD, OCD, Anxiety and Tourette’s Disorder. She has authored peer reviewed publications and presented posters and conducted workshops on multiple topics including Psychopharmacological treatment of ADHD, Tourette’s, Mood Disorders, and ASD.

Dr. Hasan is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).