Pediatric Neuropsychiatry and Immunology Program (PNIP)
Pediatric Neuropsychiatry and Immunology Program
Yawkey Outpatient Center, Suite 6A
55 Fruit Street
Boston,
MA
02114
Explore This Program
What Is PANDAS?
PANDAS, or P.A.N.D.A.S., is short for Pediatric AutoImmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. PANDAS is hypothesized to be caused by strep bacteria, which can hide from a child’s immune system by mimicking healthy cells in the skin, heart, joints, and brain tissue. Children with PANDAS experience a sudden onset or worsening of tics and/or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). While many children may experience strep throat, OCD, or tics, PANDAS is diagnosed when there is a close relationship found between the onset/severity of these symptoms and a streptococcal infection.Clinical Approach
Vision
To improve understanding of the etiology and most effective treatments of pediatric neuropsychiatric immune conditions through our integrated clinic and research program.
Mission Statement
To provide high quality, comprehensive and wholistic care of children with suspected pediatric neuropsychiatric immune conditions.
How to Request an Appointment
To request an appointment, please call 617-724-0198.
What Is Involved with an Appointment?
For the health and safety of our patients and staff, appointments are currently taking place via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meet the Team
Dr. Williams is the Director of the Pediatric Neuropsychiatry and Immunology Program in the OCD and Related Disorders Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Williams received his M.D. from the University of Minnesota Medical School, and completed training in Adult and Child Psychiatry at the Yale Child Study Center as part of the Solnit Integrated Program in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Dr. O’Dor is the Director of Research at the PNIP and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She attended Boston College for her undergraduate studies and received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. She completed her clinical internship and two-year postdoctoral fellowship at MGH/Harvard Medical School specializing in child and adolescent psychotherapy and neuropsychological assessment.
Dr. Pasternack is the unit chief of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Mass General for Children.
PNIP Research Program
We provide opportunities for both children and adolescents with and without PANDAS to participate in research.