His lecture, titled “Autism Services in South Alabama,” will take place August 27, 2010, at the Mobile West Regional Library at 5555 Grelot Road in Mobile. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the presentation begins at noon.
Dr. Swingle will lecture on autism spectrum disorders, a group of complex developmental disorders including autism, Asperger’s syndrome and Pervasive Development Disorders – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), as well as the local services that are available for people with the condition.
Today, it is estimated that one in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. An estimated 1.5 million individuals in the United States and tens of millions worldwide are affected by autism.
During his talk, Dr. Swingle will outline the disorders, as well as their signs, symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis.
Jennifer Williams, regional director for The Learning Tree, Inc. and its programs, has been invited as a guest speaker. Williams will present information about the services her organization provides to children of all ages in the Mobile area and its plans for expansion. She will give information on the growth of the Little Tree Preschool and Woody’s Song, a day program for elementary age children on the autism spectrum.
Williams and Dr. Swingle will also provide important information on what is going on at the state and local level in regards to addressing autism disorders.
Williams moved to the Mobile area in 2005 as a board certified behavior analyst working directly with The Learning Tree students to help them develop life skills that will enable them to maximize their potential for achieving their goals and dreams for the future.
Dr. Swingle established the Autism Diagnostic Clinic at USA in 2007. The clinic, located near the USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, is one of two in the state of Alabama that provides multidisciplinary evaluations, which include examinations by physicians who are developmental-behavioral pediatricians.
Dr. Swingle is board certified in pediatrics, developmental-behavioral pediatrics and neonatology. His special interests include autism spectrum disorders, public health and the epidemiology of preterm birth.
He received his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., and received postgraduate training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston. He completed a fellowship in developmental-behavioral pediatrics at the Center for Disabilities and Development at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.
The Med School Café lecture and lunch are provided free of charge, but reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, please call Kim Barnes at (251) 460-7770 or e-mail kebarnes@usouthal.edu.
Med School Café is a free community lecture series sponsored by the USA Physicians Group. Each month, faculty from the USA College of Medicine share their expertise on a specific medical condition, providing insight on the latest treatment available.
