Clinic Providers
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics,
Section Chief, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics UC Davis,
Department of Pediatrics
Dr. Akins is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician specializing in the care of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. He is the Chief of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and Director of Clinical Programs at the UC Davis, MIND Institute. Prior to joining the MIND Institute, Dr. Akins was a developmental pediatrician in the US Navy, where he served a community leader for developmental pediatrics and as the Pediatrics Specialty Leader. He has special clinical interest in autism, Intellectual Disabilities and Trisomy 21. Dr. Akins' research has focused on telehealth supports to families of children with autism in remote communities, partnerships between pediatric specialty providers, schools and medical home providers and utilization of complementary and alternative medicine in families of children with autism.
Assistant Professor
Pediatrics Department, Child Development Division
Dr. Kathleen Angkustsiri is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician with interests in neurodevelopmental disabilities including autism, chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS), and fragile X syndrome. Dr. Angkustsiri is involved in research on dysmorphology for children with autism, behavioral characteristics of children with 22q11.2DS, clinical trials for autism, and fragile X syndrome.
Susan Bacalman, L.C.S.W.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MIND Institute
Susan Bacalman, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience working with individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders. Susan currently works in the Massie Family Clinic assisting with intake assessments. She also co-leads the Social Skills Training Program, Social Skills Parent Group, and works in several research projects at the MIND Institute.
Clinical Psychologist, MIND Institute
Faye Dixon, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Dixon has a long history in child psychopathology, specifically the areas of depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD and learning differences in children. Currently Dr. Dixon is the Clinic Director of the MIND Institute's ADHD clinic and a member of the UC Davis Medical Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (volunteer clinical faculty), as well as a MIND Institute faculty member. Dr. Dixon’s clinical and research interests include attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning differences, anxiety, and mood disorders in children.
Erin Engstrom, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist, MIND Institute
Erin Engstrom, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist at the UC Davis MIND Institute. Dr. Engstrom earned her Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara and completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, JFK Partners. Her specialties include autism assessment and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety in individuals with autism across the lifespan. In addition, Dr. Engstrom has extensive experience in supporting teens and young adults who are transitioning into higher education and employment settings.
Janice Enriquez, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatrics Department,
Child Development Division Multi-Cultural Council Representative,
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Janice Enriquez, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist within the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Section at the MIND Institute who conducts developmental evaluations with infants and children to identify neurodevelopmental concerns related to intellectual and learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and related mental health concerns. Dr. Enriquez currently provides training to medical residents and fellows on diagnostic assessment of infants and children, and supervises a clinical psychology internship program. Past and current clinical and research interests pertain to the identification of developmental delay in infants at high risk due to medical conditions, neuropsychological and behavioral functioning of children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental and genetic disorders, evaluation and treatment of developmental and socioemotional concerns related to child abuse, evidence based assessment and treatment of childhood concerns (PCIT, CBT, Triple P-developmental disabilities), and health disparities.
Danielle Haener, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, MIND Institute
Danielle Haener, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist at UC Davis MIND Institute with specialized training in psychological assessment and treatment of children with autism. Dr. Haener has also had extensive training in work with children and families with trauma, mood and behavioral disorders.
Medical Director and Endowed Chair in Fragile X Research,
MIND Institute Distinguished Professor,
Pediatrics Department, Child Development Division
Randi Hagerman, M.D., is the medical director of the UC Davis MIND Institute and director of the Fragile X Research and Treatment Center. Dr. Hagerman has more than 20 years of experience in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders and is an internationally respected leader in fragile X research including fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that is the leading cause of inherited intellectual disability and the leading single-gene cause of autism. She is also an expert in fragile X premutation disorders including FXTAS and the Fragile X- associated Neuropsychiatric Disorders (FXAND). She is a leader in new targeted treatment trials for fragile X conditions and autism.
Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatrics Department, Genomic Medicine Division
Kristin Herman, M.D., is in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genomic Medicine at UC Davis where she currently serves as Assistant Clinical Professor and Associate Clinical Diplomat. Dr. Herman has interests in general genetics and dysmorphology as well as connective disorders such as Elhers Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome.
Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department
David Hessl, Ph.D., clinical interests involve cognitive, emotional, and behavioral evaluation of children, adolescents and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially those with fragile X syndrome, autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Dr. Hessl also has expertise in developmental psychopathology, particularly mood and anxiety disorders, in infants and young children. Dr. Hessl received his Ph.D. in Child Clinical Psychology from the University of Washington in 1997, which included a clinical internship at Stanford University, and received postdoctoral fellowship training at the UC Berkeley Institute of Human Development during 1997-1998. Dr. Hessl directs the Translational Psychophysiology and Assessment Laboratory (T-PAL) at the MIND Institute to investigate the emotional psychophysiology of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and to develop novel outcome measures for clinical trials. His work currently concentrates on autism, fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, and fragile X premutation carriers, who are at risk for neurodegenerative disease. He also conducts collaborative studies with other researchers, investigating brain imaging, molecular genetics and neuropsychology in an effort to understand links between genetics, brain function, and behavior.
Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrician and Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatrics Department, Child Development Division
Mary Jacena Leigh, M.D., is interested in general child development, both typical and atypical, as well as in neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She is also interested in developmental evaluations for infants and toddlers who are at high risk for developmental delays.
Dr. Leigh is involved in research aimed at developing targeted treatments for genetic and neurodevelopmental disorders. She is currently a clinician in clinical trials and research studies for fragile X syndrome and autism.
Associate Professor, Pediatrics Department, Genomic Medicine Division
Madelena Martin, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genomic Medicine at UC Davis. Dr. Martin is board certified in both Clinical and Biochemical Genetics and serves as the Director of the Biochemical Genetics Clinic and Director of the Metabolic Newborn Screening Program at UC Davis. She is also the Director for the Lysosomal Storage Disease Clinic and the Enzyme Replacement Therapy Program for these patients. Dr. Martin has recently joined the Cleft and Craniofacial team at UC Davis where she serves as the team’s Clinical Geneticist. Dr. Martin has a strong interest and actively participates in the Genetic education of medical students, residents, and allied health professionals throughout the UC Davis Health.
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Meghan Miller, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist whose interests include the assessment and early identification of autism and ADHD as well as the co-occurrence of these two conditions, particularly in young children
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics Department
Child Development Division
Bibiana Restrepo, M.D., is a board-certified developmental behavioral pediatrician, she has experience in treating children with neurodevelopmental problems, particularly offering care for children with autism and their families. She has a special interest on strengthening the collaboration between community practitioners, therapy providers and autism diagnosticians. Dr. Restrepo research interests focus on improving the knowledge and understanding of early presentations of autism with an interdisciplinary approach, while including underrepresented communities and promoting global collaborative efforts.
Director, Psychological and Behavioral Services
UC Davis MIND Institute
Dr. Roa is a licensed psychologist at the UC Davis MIND Institute who serves as chief psychologist for the Massie Family Clinic. She earned her Ph.D. from Northeastern University and completed postdoctoral training in neuropsychology at the Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School. Her clinical work focuses on assessing and diagnosing neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, autism, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other mental health conditions in order to guide families and children towards appropriate and evidence based interventions. Dr. Roa is also a member of the research clinical team and provides support to several MIND Institute research studies seeking to build the existing knowledge of early autism risk factors. She is bilingual/bicultural and able to provide culturally competent care to native Spanish speakers.
Rosa D. Rodriguez, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatrics Department, Child Development Division
Rosa D. Rodriguez, M.D. is a Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician with interests in neurodevelopmental disabilities. She has a special interest in infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays, and in supporting high risk infants and early childhood development. She is also passionate about providing care to the undeserved population.
Director, Attention, Impulsivity, Regulation (AIR) Program, MIND Institute Co-Director,
Mentored Clinical Research Training Program – CTSC Director,
UC Davis Schools of Health Mentoring Academy Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department
Julie Schweitzer, Ph.D., interests include the identification and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) and related disorders in children and adults using behavioral/neuropsychological and functional neuroimaging methods. Other interests include the use of reinforcement and learning paradigms in imaging as applied to psychopathology. Dr. Schweitzer's goal is to apply translational research methods using a variety of basic behavioral and physiological techniques to develop novel treatment and preventative approaches to addressing attentional disorders.
Associate Professor, Pediatrics Department, Genomic Medicine Division Director, Precision Genomics
Dr. Suma Shankar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genomic Medicine at the UC Davis Medical Center. Dr. Shankar was recently recruited to UC Davis to serve as the Director of Precision Genomics and will lead the effort of integrating genomics into every day clinical practice within the UC Davis Health. She will unify genomic medicine within multiple specialties in both pediatric and adult medicine for Mendelian disorders and other complex medical conditions. She is a physician-scientist, board certified in Medical Genetics (FACMG) and in Ophthalmology (MRCOphth & FRCS, United Kingdom). She obtained her Ph.D. and completed a Pediatric Ophthalmology fellowship from the University of Iowa, and a Medical Genetics fellowship from the University of California, San Francisco. She was faculty in the Departments of Human Genetics and Ophthalmology at Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA where she initiated the Ocular Precision Health Initiative which included a BioBank and genetic studies for inherited eye diseases; the first of its kind in Georgia. She served as Medical Director for the Emory Genetics Laboratory and was the principal investigator on a number of clinical trials investigating novel therapies for rare genetic disorders. She has a number of publications and book chapters on genetic testing, ocular genomics, novel enzyme replacement, substrate and chaperone therapies. Her chief research interests include gene discovery projects and translational research for inherited diseases.
Romina Stanislavsky, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist, MIND Institute
Romina Stanislavsky, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at the MIND Institute UC Davis currently providing psychological intakes and assessments at the Massie Clinic. Dr. Stanislavsky also co-leads the Social Skills Training Program, Parent Group and the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Parent Group.
Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatrics Department, Clinical Psychologist, MIND Institute
Megan Tudor, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist at the UC Davis MIND Institute and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics. Dr. Tudor earned her Ph.D. from Stony Brook University and completed postdoctoral training at the Yale Child Study Center. Her specialties include autism assessment and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) targeting aggression, anxiety, and other symptoms commonly experienced by youth with developmental disabilities. Her research focuses on enhancing clinical services for youth and families - most specifically, siblings of children with autism.
Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatrics Department, Child Development Division Clinical Psychologist, MIND Institute
Breanna Winder-Patel, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at the MIND Institute and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. has a strong interest in the assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, pediatric anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
Dr. Winder-Patel began an anxiety treatment clinic upon joining the MIND Institute to continue her passion of providing Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Habit Reversal Training (HRT) to children and adolescents. She is also involved in clinical research with a focus on further understanding autism spectrum disorder in girls and the clinical and behavioral manifestation of anxiety in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.