Autism Spectrum Disorders, Dr. Bennett Leventhal, MD

During his decades of passionate work and research on behalf of children and adolescents, Dr. Bennett Leventhal has received numerous awards. Among these are: the George Tarjan Award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Humanitarian Award from the Caritas Society.

In May 2011, Dr. Leventhal was quoted extensively in the international news regarding a study, co-authored by his wife Dr. Young-Shin Kim, that found that the incidence of autism in South Korea was closer to 1 in 38 children rather than the commonly believed 1 in 110. "There's no reason to think that South Korea has more children with autism than anyplace else in the world," he told NPR. "If you really go look carefully among all children everywhere, you find that things are far more common than you previously expected."

Dr. Leventhal is currently Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at New York University's Child Study Center as well as Deputy Director of the Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research.

While in Albuquerque, Dr. Leventhal will also present Grand Rounds, Friday, November 4, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm, Domenici Center East Building, Auditorium: Room 1220. His topic will be: "The Study of Autism: Lessons Learned and To Be Learned." This presentation is free and open to the public as well.

IDEAS in Psychiatry is a nonprofit educational institute that provides useful, accurate and up-to-date scientific information about psychiatric illnesses, symptoms, and treatments. Our goal is to change the conversation -- to encourage open, honest and informed discussion -- so that those impacted by mental illness can seek effective help for themselves or their loved ones and so that professionals have the tools to deliver the best care possible.