Patient Care

The University of California San Diego Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Clinic evaluates and treats infants, children, and adolescents with developmental, learning, or behavioral concerns. We have expertise in high-prevalence developmental disorders and behavioral problems and receive requests for consultation from primary care physicians, pediatric subspecialists, developmental service providers, mental health professionals, school professionals, and families. We include medical, developmental, behavioral, and social assessment in our evaluation to help families understand their child.  When indicated, we assist in initiating or adjusting medication treatment plans. To support the child's optimal development and behavior, we direct families to resources to meet their child's needs.​

​

Our services include evaluation, treatment, medication management, intervention, and coordination of care for the following conditions:​

• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)​
• School and learning problems​
• Autism spectrum disorders​
• Developmental delays​
• Anxiety and depression​
• Aggression​
• Discipline problems​
• Attachment disorders​
• Infant regulatory disorders (feeding, sleeping, elimination, affect)​
• Genetic disorders, including prenatal drug and alcohol exposure​
• Intellectual disabilities​​

Along with providing expert, evidence-based care, we have an active research and teaching program. Our team includes Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric fellows, pediatric residents, internal medicine-pediatric residents, child and adolescent psychiatry fellows, and medical students.  Advocating on behalf of patients and families is also a top priority of our team.​

For more information about seeking care at the UCSD Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Clinic, please visit our patient care website .

UCSD Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic 

Forms for Appointments:

• Consultation Request/Referral Form (to be completed by referring professionals – physicians, therapists, educational professionals)
• Welcome/Intake Packet for children under 3 years old
  • English
  • Spanish
• Welcome/Intake Packet for children 3 years and older
  • English
• ADHD Parent Follow-Up Form
  • English
  • Spanish

Download the ADHD Teacher Follow-Up Form

Our faculty also provide clinical developmental-behavioral services at the Rady Children's Hospital Down Syndrome Clinic, KidSTART, the Autism Discovery Institute at Torrey Hills, the San Diego Regional Center, and the San Ysidro Health Center.

The Newborn Medicine team provides family-centered care for newborns rooming in with their parents on the Postpartum and Birth Center units at UC San Diego Health   - Jacobs Medical Center. Working together with our obstetric care partners, nurses and ancillary staff, we have achieved high rates of exclusive breast feeding at discharge and have been recognized by the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and United Nations Children's Fund as a "Baby-Friendly" birth facility.​

Our team, consisting of general pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners, is dedicated to training the next generation of doctors in the appropriate management of well newborns. Residents and medical students from the UCSD School of Medicine learn about routine newborn care, breastfeeding, car seat safety, and a variety of newborn medical conditions. ​

The Newborn Medicine team promotes a family-centered, baby-friendly birthing environment which includes:​

• Early and frequent skin-to-skin contact​
• Breastfeeding starting within the first hour of life and on demand​
• Delayed first bath to maintain a healthy microbiome​
• Administration of Vitamin K, Erythromycin Eye Ointment and Hepatitis B vaccine while breastfeeding or skin-to-skin​
• All routine care delivered at parent's bedside including hearing test, heelstick for California Newborn Screen and daily examinations​
• Pasteurized donor human milk as nutritional option when maternal milk supply is less than infant's needs