Latest News from Fernandez Lab

Drawing inspiration from spring’s magical rebirth, the latest Yale Child Study Center “On Leadership” blog post focuses on moments of professional renewal and rejuvenation shared by a few members of the department.

Complex motor stereotypies, or stereotyped movements, are repetitive and rhythmic movements that usually start in early childhood and often continue into adulthood. The movements may include hand flapping, waving, rotating or tensing of body parts, and are observed just as frequently in both boys and girls. It is worth noting that children often develop their own "signature" movement patterns. Some may flap their arms while walking in circles, while others may repeatedly shrug their shoulders or tense their hands. Complex motor stereotypies may be distinguished from simple motor stereotypies. The latter are common in early childhood, and include nail biting, tapping or fidgeting, and usually disappear as children grow older. Complex motor stereotypies are frequently observed in children with autism, developmental delays, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], anxiety, and some neurological conditions. However, they also occur in children who are developing typically.

The Yale Institute for Global Health has selected Thomas Fernandez, MD; Eleanor Reid, MD, PhD; and Vanessa Ezenwa, PhD to receive the Fall 2023 Spark Award. Each recipient will receive an award of up to $10,000. The Spark Award aims to provide initial funding to support global health research initiatives and partnerships among YIGH-affiliated faculty. Candidates were selected based on five criteria: innovation, feasibility, sustainability, anticipated outcomes, and alignment with YIGH’s mission to improve the health of individuals and populations worldwide. Below is a summary of the Fall 2023 Spark Award projects and their Principal Investigators:

YCSC faculty members Amanda Dettmer, PhD; Anamaria Orozco, LCSW; and Ellen Hoffman, MD, PhD are the recipients of the latest round of awards for the departmental Clinical and Research Faculty Development Fund.

Several members of the Yale Child Study Center community recently came together in person to celebrate and recognize recent academic and professional progression among faculty and staff. Department Chair Linda Mayes (pictured) provided opening remarks and served cake to attendees.

The Yale Department of Psychiatry honored its 2023 class of residents and fellows, as well as faculty and staff, at its annual commencement ceremonies last month. The Residency Commencement Ceremony was held on June 15 at the New Haven Lawn Club. The Fellowship Commencement Ceremony was held virtually over Zoom on June 16. The events marked the graduation of 23 residents and 22 fellows.

In addition to new clinical trainees and undergraduate summer interns, the Yale Child Study Center welcomes several research trainees each summer. This year, two returning community members were also welcomed back to the department along with several new outstanding research trainees. Learn more about these new additions to the department.

The Yale Child Study Center, which serves as the department of child psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, welcomes 24 undergraduate students from 11 universities and colleges around the country to the center's developmental science summer internship program this June and July.

Thirty-nine Yale Child Study Center community members were recognized this spring for long-term service to the University.