Sarah E. Fitzpatrick
About
Biography
Sarah was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Ohio State University as an Eminence Fellow with a major in Neuroscience. While at OSU, she founded and ran the Theatre Arts Group, a program at a local high school in which she taught students about theatre and wrote and directed two plays with a team she ran. What started as her passion project has since expanded to multiple schools in Columbus, OH.
In addition to theatre, Sarah has been interested in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders since high school when she worked with children with autism at Camp Stepping Stones every summer. She then spent 5 years working on clinical trials and conducting translational and basic research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and fragile X syndrome (FXS) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, OSU, and the UC Davis MIND Institute.
After graduation, she worked at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for two years in Dr. Craig Erickson’s lab studying FXS before leaving the Midwest for Yale’s MD-PhD program in 2018. After two years of medical school, she is now a 6th year in the program and a PhD candidate in Dr. Ellen Hoffman’s lab, where she studies the roles of ASD-associated chromatin modifier genes in early brain development using zebrafish. She is the student director of the Wednesday Evening Clinic where she has served as a primary care provider for over 2 years to stay connected to clinical medicine while in graduate school. Additionally, she is co-chair of the MD-PhD student council, president of the Yale Salsa Society, a PASS mentor, and a Davenport graduate affiliate.
When not in the lab or clinic, her hobbies include salsa dancing, biking for commute and fun, most forms of exercise and outdoor activities, spending quality time with friends, her partner, and dog, and building things at MakeHaven.
Please note her email address as her name is not unique - there is an "e" in the middle or it will go to someone else!
Education & Training
- MPhil
- Yale, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program (2022)
- BSc (Hon)
- The Ohio State University, Neuroscience (2016)
Research
Publications
2023
High-throughput functional analysis of autism genes in zebrafish identifies convergence in dopaminergic and neuroimmune pathways
Mendes H, Neelakantan U, Liu Y, Fitzpatrick S, Chen T, Wu W, Pruitt A, Jin D, Jamadagni P, Carlson M, Lacadie C, Enriquez K, Li N, Zhao D, Ijaz S, Sakai C, Szi C, Rooney B, Ghosh M, Nwabudike I, Gorodezky A, Chowdhury S, Zaheer M, McLaughlin S, Fernandez J, Wu J, Eilbott J, Vander Wyk B, Rihel J, Papademetris X, Wang Z, Hoffman E. High-throughput functional analysis of autism genes in zebrafish identifies convergence in dopaminergic and neuroimmune pathways. Cell Reports 2023, 42: 112243. PMID: 36933215, PMCID: PMC10277173, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112243.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGene lossFunctional analysisHigh-throughput functional analysisZebrafish mutantsGene discoverySelect mutantsASD genesAutism genesKey pathwaysASD biologyBrain size differencesMutantsGenesSize differencesPathwayGlobal increaseRelevant mechanismsBiologyCentral challengeNeuroimmune dysfunctionRegionFunctionDiscoveryAutism spectrum disorder
2021
Medical Student Patient Outreach to Ensure Continuity of Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Belzer A, Yeagle EM, Kohlenberg LK, Solberg M, Gudbranson E, Budge M, Batchelor HM, Fitzpatrick SE, Zhao A, Armengol VD, Hassan SF, Shum M, Bia M, Bia F, Desai NR, Kahn PA. Medical Student Patient Outreach to Ensure Continuity of Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Telemedicine Reports 2021, 2: 56-63. PMID: 35720754, PMCID: PMC9049823, DOI: 10.1089/tmr.2020.0030.Peer-Reviewed Educational MaterialsPercent of patientsContinuity of careYale New Haven Health SystemInternal medicine patientsHealth care workersHealth care needsYale New Haven HealthCOVID-19COVID-19 pandemicPublic health emergencyMedicine patientsOutpatient appointmentsCare teamPatient concernsPatient outreachCare needsPatientsCare workersPatient feedbackOutpatient telemedicinePatient commentsPatient communicationProvider responsesHealth systemHealth concern
2019
Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) in Fragile X Syndrome
Fitzpatrick S, Schmitt L, Adams R, Pedapati E, Wink L, Shaffer R, Sage J, Weber J, Dominick K, Erickson C. Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) in Fragile X Syndrome. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders 2019, 50: 1056-1063. PMID: 31728808, PMCID: PMC7232688, DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04292-7.Peer-Reviewed Original Research3.38 PEDIATRIC QUALITY-OF-LIFE INVENTORY IN FRAGILE X SYNDROME
Fitzpatrick S, Schmitt L, Adams R, Pedapati E, Shaffer R, Sage J, Weber J, Dominick K, Erickson C. 3.38 PEDIATRIC QUALITY-OF-LIFE INVENTORY IN FRAGILE X SYNDROME. Journal Of The American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2019, 58: s207. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.08.201.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2017
Challenges in Conducting Clinical Trials for Pharmacotherapies in Fragile X Syndrome: Lessons Learned
Harkins C, Dominick K, Wink L, Pedapati E, Shaffer R, Fitzpatrick S, Davenport M, Sweeney J, Erickson C. Challenges in Conducting Clinical Trials for Pharmacotherapies in Fragile X Syndrome: Lessons Learned. Pharmaceutical Medicine 2017, 31: 235-244. DOI: 10.1007/s40290-017-0199-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAutism spectrum disorderFragile X syndromeBehavioral outcome measuresClinician-reported instrumentsUse of parentsBehavioral measuresEye gazeSpectrum disorderNeuroscientific advancesReport instrumentX syndromeTreatment developmentCommon single gene causeBrain functionRater biasBehavioral heterogeneityIntellectual disabilityPharmacotherapy trialsOutcome measuresPotential explanationTreatment-associated changesQuantitative measuresMeasuresDisordersFuture successFragile X targeted pharmacotherapy: lessons learned and future directions
Erickson C, Davenport M, Schaefer T, Wink L, Pedapati E, Sweeney J, Fitzpatrick S, Brown W, Budimirovic D, Hagerman R, Hessl D, Kaufmann W, Berry-Kravis E. Fragile X targeted pharmacotherapy: lessons learned and future directions. Journal Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders 2017, 9: 7. PMID: 28616096, PMCID: PMC5467059, DOI: 10.1186/s11689-017-9186-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchClinical trial rationaleCurrent prescribing practicesDrug targetsAppropriate outcome measuresClinical trial designTreatment development effortsFXS animal modelsNumerous potential drug targetsTrial rationaleGABAergic neurotransmissionPrescribing practicesSyndrome pathophysiologyClinical trialsOutcome measuresTrial designAnimal modelsDrug approachSingle gene disordersPotential drug targetsTreatment developmentPharmacotherapyDrugsPathophysiologyTrial execution
2016
Premutation-Associated Disorders in Childhood and Adulthood
Hagerman R, Wheeler A, Fitzpatrick S, Hunter J. Premutation-Associated Disorders in Childhood and Adulthood. 2016, 241-262. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-33898-9_12.ChaptersCentral nervous system findingsHealth care providersClinical symptomsSignificant clinical involvementSystem findingsLifestyle changesCare providersPsychiatric problemsPsychiatric aspectsClinical involvementMost childrenPremutation involvementPremutation-associated disordersMost adultsPremutation carriersDisordersInvolvementRNA toxicityPremutationSymptomsA Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Low-Dose Sertraline in Young Children With Fragile X Syndrome
Greiss Hess L, Fitzpatrick S, Nguyen D, Chen Y, Gaul K, Schneider A, Lemons Chitwood K, Eldeeb M, Polussa J, Hessl D, Rivera S, Hagerman R. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Low-Dose Sertraline in Young Children With Fragile X Syndrome. Journal Of Developmental And Behavioral Pediatrics 2016, 37: 619-628. PMID: 27560971, PMCID: PMC5039060, DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000000334.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLow-dose sertralineEL developmentFragile X syndromeYoung childrenSensory Processing Measure–PreschoolVisual perceptual abilitiesAutism spectrum disorderSocial participationLong-term side effectsPerceptual abilitiesMullen ScalesLanguage developmentSpectrum disorderX syndromeAge equivalentsSide effectsSertraline armClinical Global Impression Scale-ImprovementMSELEarly childhoodSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitorsGlobal clinical improvementChildrenPlacebo-controlled trialSerious adverse eventsAggression in autism spectrum disorder: presentation and treatment options
Fitzpatrick S, Srivorakiat L, Wink L, Pedapati E, Erickson C. Aggression in autism spectrum disorder: presentation and treatment options. Neuropsychiatric Disease And Treatment 2016, Volume 12: 1525-1538. PMID: 27382295, PMCID: PMC4922773, DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s84585.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAutism spectrum disorderSpectrum disorderFunctional communication trainingASD diagnosisFunctional behavioral assessmentSocial communicationNegative outcomesSocial interactionSocial supportDevelopmental disabilitiesPersistent difficultiesBehavioral assessmentCommunication trainingAggressionNeurodevelopmental disordersAggressive behaviorRepetitive patternsDisordersReinforcement strategiesIndividualsStress levelsQuality of lifeAggression ratesCaregiversSecond-generation antipsychoticsPharmacotherapy for Fragile X Syndrome: Progress to Date
Davenport M, Schaefer T, Friedmann K, Fitzpatrick S, Erickson C. Pharmacotherapy for Fragile X Syndrome: Progress to Date. Drugs 2016, 76: 431-445. PMID: 26858239, DOI: 10.1007/s40265-016-0542-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFragile X Mental Retardation ProteinGamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmissionMore objective outcome measuresPlacebo-controlled trialFragile X syndromeClinical study designObjective outcome measuresSymptomatic treatmentLoss of FMRPFuture trialsExcessive glutamateOutcome measuresSelective antagonistClinical investigationSingle treatmentStudy designSymptomatic perspectiveGenetic causeX syndromeMental retardation proteinTrialsDrug developmentTreatmentSyndromeDrugs