NYU Langone’s Division of Developmental–Behavioral Pediatrics offers medical students an elective in the field and a selective in autism spectrum disorder and related conditions.

Elective in Developmental–Behavioral Pediatrics

Students participating in the developmental–behavioral pediatrics elective become acquainted with the clinical aspects of the field. Children and adolescents with the following conditions are typically evaluated and treated by developmental–behavioral pediatricians at NYU Langone:

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• autism spectrum disorder
• feeding, eliminating, and sleeping conditions
• genetic syndromes
• intellectual disability
• language delays and disorders
• learning disabilities and school failure
• neuromuscular diseases
• somatoform disorders
• temperamental variations

Students see patients in clinics and programs at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, where they are exposed to diverse environments at multiple clinical sites. Students accompany developmental–behavioral pediatrics fellows to inpatient consults and also participate in conferences, visit a preschool for typically developing children, and observe a parent–child group for young children with language delays. Students also gain an understanding of the roles various healthcare professionals play in the multidisciplinary approach to care for affected children and their families.

All students must complete the core pediatrics clerkship as a prerequisite.

Selective in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Related Conditions

The selective in autism spectrum disorder and related conditions provides comprehensive training that includes the following objectives for medical students:

• to gain expertise in the diagnostic evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities
• to understand the intersection of various medical disciplines central to the care of patients with autism spectrum disorder
• to recognize the common medical, developmental, and psychiatric comorbidities of autism spectrum disorder
• to learn how physicians can work in multidisciplinary teams to care for children with autism spectrum disorder
• to conduct basic science research relevant to neurodevelopmental disorder

The selective consists of a four-week rotation across the Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Neuroscience Institute, and combines clinical training, education, and research. Students have the opportunity to observe and participate in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric patients with autism and co-occurring conditions from the perspective of multiple disciplines, as well as a basic science perspective. The clinical rotation and research opportunities occur at locations including the Child Study Center, Bellevue, an NYU Langone developmental–behavioral pediatrics practice setting, and an NYU Langone laboratory.

The course is available from September to May, and there are no prerequisites.

Access a full description of the selective in autism spectrum disorder and related conditions on Brightspace (Kerberos ID and password required), NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s online medical education portal.