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INFORMATION FOR

Special Lectures

Throughout each academic year, the Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) hosts the following special lectures and lecture series, some of which are named and endowed, and all of which play an important role in on-going education and professional development for YCSC faculty, staff, and trainees. These lectures are typically open to the public as part of YCSC Grand Rounds.

  • Cohen Lecture: This annual lecture named in honor of former YCSC Director Donald Cohen, MD focuses on developmental psychopathology and neurobiology.
  • Gesell Lecture Series: Devoted to neurobiology in child development, this annual lecture series is held in honor of YCSC founder Arnold Gesell, MD.
  • Granger Lecture: This semi-annual lecture named in honor of noted pediatrician and children's advocate Richard (Dick) Granger, MD focuses on developmental pediatrics and the interface between pediatrics and child and adolescent mental health.
  • Max Ritvo ‘13 and Alan B. Slifka ‘51 Program for the Medical Humanities: This lecture was established in memoriam to explore the interface between the arts and child/adolescent mental health, this multidisciplinary program aims to improve the clinical experience of those affected by illness and strengthen the ability of providers to deliver compassionate care. It includes guest speaker and visiting scholar components, as well as culminating special lectures each spring.
  • On Leadership Series: Titled Exploring and Enhancing Leadership in the Academy and accompanied by the On Leadership blog, this lecture series was launched in 2023, coordinated by YCSC Assistant Professor Daryn David, PhD in collaboration with YCSC Chair Linda Mayes, MD and the department’s Grand Rounds committee. The series provides an open forum with leaders at the Yale School of Medicine and beyond who are committed to bringing principles of connection, collaboration, and service into their work.
  • Ritvo Lecture Series: Endowed by the first director of training in child psychiatry at Yale, Samuel Ritvo, MD and his wife Lucille Ritvo in 2007, this annual lecture series is developed in collaboration with the Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis and focuses on bringing modern psychoanalytic and psychodynamic thought to child and adolescent mental health practice, with a particular focus on its trainees.
  • Viola Bernard Lecture Series: Named in honor of Viola Bernard, MD, this annual leture series is supported by the Viola W. Bernard Fund for Innovation in Mental Health Care. Lectures focus on topics related to health care equity, innovative mental health services, and more.