ALAN & LORRAINE BRESSLER
Warren Building 624
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street
Boston,
MA
02114
Phone: 617-726-7899
The Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program provides psychiatric care for children, adolescents, and adults ages 6 to 45 years who live with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ASD affects communication, social interaction and behavior, while ADHD often involves inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Each person experiences these conditions differently.
We strive to:
Our program provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluation for ASD and associated psychopathologies and for ADHD. We provide on-going care that is primarily focused on medication-based treatment to help patients with emotional and behavioral challenges. We begin with a psychiatric assessment, then work closely with patients and families to provide ongoing care that promotes long-term health and well-being.
A psychiatric assessment is a clinical evaluation by a psychiatric nurse practitioner or psychiatrist. It includes observing your behavior and reviewing mental health history, concerns, screening questionnaires, and, when helpful, input from family or other providers.
At this time, we do not offer the following services:
When you contact our program, you’ll be asked to complete an online form. You can access this form by selecting “Request an appointment” button on our website.
After we review it, we’ll contact you to let you know if you our program is the right fit for your needs.
If so, we’ll send a set of online assessments through Patient Gateway.
These assessments help us gather information about autism, ADHD, executive functioning and other mental health concerns.
Once you complete the assessments, we’ll schedule your initial appointment with a clinician.
You’ll meet with a specialized clinician for a comprehensive, hour-long consultation. During this appointment, your clinician will:
After the evaluation, your clinician will share a diagnostic impression and discuss next steps.
This conversation may include education about your mental health diagnosis and treatment options, answering your questions, and collaboratively creating a personalized follow-up care plan.
If appropriate, we offer ongoing follow-up medication management for ASD, ADHD, and related psychiatric conditions. Your clinician will partner with you and your family to monitor progress and adjust treatment as needed.
Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by varying degrees of deficits in social–emotional functioning along with restricted, repetitive patters of behaviors and interests. Most recent estimates suggest that Autism Spectrum Disorder may affect up to one in 36 children.
In intellectually intact populations some children show signs and symptoms of autism early in life, but many are not diagnosed until they enter school.
Characteristic ASD behaviors include:
Parents and teachers are often the first to notice signs and symptoms of these disorders. It is important to seek evaluation as early as possible, because early intervention can have a beneficial effect in reducing symptoms and improving the child’s ability to learn and function.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts the ability of individuals to get to, stick with, and finish tasks, or be in control of their physical activity. Research suggests that ADHD impact several percent of children and persists into adulthood, where a few percent of the population meet full criteria. While attention and behavior control challenges are common in the general population, in ADHD they limit the ability of a person to fulfill two or more major life roles and function in life settings. While the pattern varies from person to person they can include problems with learning, self-care, socializing, or working effectively.
When a child or adult is not thriving in a major area of life functioning, it is important to explore whether ADHD or another neuropsychiatric difference is the reason. A comprehensive evaluation for ADHD should include ruling out other potential causes of the attentional or behavioral challenges. Medical treatment can reduce the burden of ADHD symptoms. Specialized behavioral therapies can also reduce the burden of ADHD for individuals with the condition. In the case of children this can includes parent training in how to accommodate ADHD. Seeking accommodations in settings such as school may also help individuals participate and thrive.
Director of the Bressler Program
Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School
Dr. Joshi trained in general Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and subsequently completed his Fellowship training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the combined program of the Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He received training in cognitive-behavioral therapy at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Institute & Society.
Read more about Dr. Joshi
Associate Director of the Bressler Program
Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School
Dr. Wozniak is an associate professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. After receiving her BA from Harvard College, Dr. Wozniak completed medical school at Cornell Medical University. She completed residencies in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Wozniak has been honored with a Massachusetts General Hospital Women's Careers Faculty Development Award.
Medical Director of the Bressler Program
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School
Dr. Ceranoglu (“jay-RUN-oolu”) is a child and adolescent psychiatrist, serving as medical director at the MGH Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Ceranoglu also serves as director of the Psychiatry Department at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Boston. Dr. Ceranoglu received his medical degree at Marmara University School of Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey. He completed his psychiatry training at Brockton VAMC and child psychiatry training at Mass General.
Dr Biederman was an internationally renowned researcher who is regarded as the father of pediatric psychopharmacology was the founding director of the Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder at Mass General. His research revolutionized the field of Child Psychiatry. By 2007, he was the most cited psychiatrist in all of medicine and one of the most productive researchers at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Biederman mentored countless clinical researchers at Mass General and internationally. We, his colleagues, are immensely grateful to have been taught by and practiced with him; we will strive to continue his legacy of innovation, scholarship, and fierce advocacy for patients and their families.
The Joseph Biederman, MD Grand Rounds lecture series has been created in his honor and stands as a testament to his enduring legacy. This series ensures that Dr. Biederman’s contributions will continue to inspire and educate future generations of healthcare professionals. Please watch the most recent lecture, presented by Dr. Gagan Joshi, here.
Director of the Clinical and Research Program in Adult ADHD at Mass General
Associate Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Surman completed a residency in Psychiatry at the Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program in Boston, as well as a fellowship in Neuropsychiatry at the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He currently serves as co-chair of the Professional Advisory Board of Children and Adults with ADHD.
Dr. Uchida is a dedicated pediatric psychiatrist, a committed neuroscience researcher and an internationally acclaimed advocate for mental health, scientific literacy, and gender equality.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Uchida made a significant impact as a scientific communicator addressing the strong vaccine hesitancy in Japan. She was awarded the 2022 Japanese Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Award for the health impact that she was able to make through her advocacy as part of CoV-Navi, a non-profit aimed to disseminate scientifically accurate information about COVID vaccines to the public. Discussing her own experience of receiving the mRNA vaccine during pregnancy, she led the efforts in increasing vaccine acceptance among pregnant and lactating people and was integrally involved in the federal vaccine rollout as well as media communication. Her community outreach was a large part of how Japan achieved one of the highest vaccination rates among the international society.
Brittney is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with an MSN from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions and MS in psychology from Tulane University. She comes to Mass General following two years of experience as a psychiatric registered nurse. Her interests include working with children and young adults with ADHD, anxiety disorders and mood disorders. At the Bressler Program, she is looking forward to expanding her experience working with young adults struggling with ADHD and hopes to become involved in future research projects within the program.
Carly is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner clinically educated in treating patients with mental health diagnoses across the lifespan. Carly earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree at Hartwick College and a master’s degree in advanced psychiatric nursing at Northeastern University. Carly started her nursing career at an inpatient adult psychiatry unit at Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook, Maine. She has served as the Director of Nursing at the Ivy Street School in Brookline, a residential school focused on providing trauma informed psychiatric care to children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, behavioral health diagnoses, brain injury and other major mental illnesses. It was her love of working with students on the autism spectrum at the Ivy Street School that prompted Carly to go back to nursing school to obtain her advanced psychiatric nursing degree. In 2018, Carly was an Autism Fellow at Boston Medical Center where she received specialized training, education, and clinical experience working specifically with transition aged youth with autism, intellectual disability and co-morbid mental health diagnoses. In addition to her position at Mass General, Carly also runs a small private practice clinic in the greater Newburyport area.
Rachel Veenbaas (she/her) is a board certified psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner with an MSN from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Professions. She has one year of experience working in inpatient psychiatry as a mental health specialist and two years of experience working as an inpatient psychiatric nurse at Mclean Hospital before joining the Bressler Clinic. She completed her clinical internship under Brittney Jurgen. She will be seeing patients for medication management and follow-ups, interested in working with people across the lifespan with ADHD, ASD, and related disorders. She also is interested in participating in research, especially in projects that aim to understand how mental health impacts women.
Dr. Clancy graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College, where he played Division One Men’s Ice Hockey. He obtained his M.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. He completed his Residency in Adult Psychiatry at the Harvard Longwood Program in 2003. He completed his Residency in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the combined Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital Training Program in 2005.
Dr. Clancy has a particular interest in Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and co-morbid conditions. He is committed to providing clinical care and enjoys working with the staff and clientele at the Bressler Clinic.
Read more about Dr. Clancy
Director of Autism-Depression Comorbidity at the Bressler Program
Dr. Ghumman holds the position of staff psychiatrist at the Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Additionally, he serves as a Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Ghumman's journey in psychiatry began with his General Psychiatry training at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center at El Paso, followed by a Fellowship specializing in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
A true advocate for those affected by ASD, Dr. Ghumman's clinical and research interests revolve around this complex neurodevelopmental condition, with a specific focus on associated depression. He has contributed to the academic landscape with numerous peer-reviewed articles and is also a recipient of the prestigious Beatrix A. Hamburg award and the Data Blitz Award Featuring Early Career Investigators, both through the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Ghumman has presented at both national and international conferences.
Beyond academia, Dr. Ghumman extends his expertise to the community and families of individuals with ASD by offering lectures and creating educational videos to increase awareness and offer support and guidance. Dr. Ghumman also dedicates his time and efforts to the community, organizing mental health educational programs for teenagers.
Read more about Dr. Ghumman
Sr. Biostatistician
Clinical research allows her to use her passion for statistics in a way that can help advance the way we practice medicine and help clinicians gain better insight into the patients they are treating. Maura earned her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 2013 and her Master of Public Health with concentrations in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from Boston University in 2015.
Neurophysicist
Dr. Gonenc is an imaging expert with a robust background in nuclear medicine imaging (PET), conventional anatomical imaging (MRI), and endogenous molecular imaging (MRS). He earned his BS in Physics, followed by his PhD in the Experimental Nuclear Physics from Florida International University in 2009. Following post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Gonenc established a notable career at the intersection of imaging and clinical research, bringing a unique combination of technical and analytical expertise in both established and novel methods to assess inflammation, oxidative stress, bioenergetics, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Clinical Research Coordinator
Maria joined the Bressler team in July 2024 as a Clinical Research Coordinator after graduating from Brown University with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Prior to joining our team, she worked in the Brown Computational and Cognitive Development Lab. She is passionate about mental health advocacy and working with children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This sparked her interest in joining the Bressler Program, where she now works with Dr. Wozniak and Dr. Uchida.
Clinical Research Coordinator
Meredith graduated from Virginia Tech in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She joined the Bressler Program in June 2024. She became interested in research and specifically with the Bressler Program during her time at the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech. In her current role, she enjoys being actively involved in the expanding knowledge of ASD and ADHD through research activities.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Administrative Manager
Maribel has worked in the field for over 20 years. This position allows her to combine her business knowledge and clinical skills to help the team provide better quality care. She received her Bachelor of Art in psychology at Boston College and her master’s in social work from Simmons College.
Staff Assistant
Yvonne provides administrative support to Dr. Joshi. Born and raised in southeastern Pennsylvania, Yvonne moved to Massachusetts to attend Boston University and received her BA in Psychology. Upon graduation, she stayed in Boston and began her career as the assistant to Dr. Joseph Biederman, the founding chief of these programs. For over 15 years, she has been helping support staff, patients, and families at Mass General.
Patient Services Coordinator
Tiffany handles all front desk duties. She does this job because she loves helping and wants to make a difference even if it is a small difference. She has four years of experience as a patient service coordinator at Mass General and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in business management.
Alan and Lorraine Bressler were passionate about giving back to the Boston-area community where they lived for more than half a century and raised three daughters. Lorraine is a long-time overseer of the Museum of Fine Arts, where the couple created a named gallery. Alan, who passed away in September 2012, was a trustee of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In addition to art and music, the couple supported education through the Boston Latin School Association and other Boston education projects. Over the last decade, the Bresslers became aware of another pressing community need.
The Bresslers knew that Joseph Biederman, MD, and his colleagues in the Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Program at Mass General were studying how treatment of co-occurring psychiatric conditions can enable individuals with intellectually capable autism to reach their potential and lead fulfilling lives.
“Dr. Biederman and his team were developing a system of coordinated care to provide practical solutions for families dealing with these challenges,” said Alan Bressler in a 2010 interview. “That approach made sense to us, so we began a discussion of how we could support his efforts.” The couple’s overture soon led to the creation of the Alan and Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder at Mass General. The program was established in October 2007. It is a unique program in the country that specializes in providing comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and care across the lifespan to intellectually intact children and adults with autism. The Bressler Program focuses on identifying and treating psychiatric conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, in individuals with autism and also focuses on recognizing autism in individuals suffering from emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Patients come from all over the country to seek evaluation and treatment. “Before the Bressler Program existed, many parents of children with high-functioning autism were at their wits’ end, diagnostically confused and unable to find programs that offered effective treatment,” says Gagan Joshi, MD, director of the Bressler Program. “The Bressler Program offers them a ‘home,’ where their child is fully understood and can receive treatment and support well into adulthood.”
Patients come from all over the country to seek evaluation and treatment. “Before the Bressler Program existed, many parents of children with high-functioning autism were at their wits’ end, diagnostically confused and unable to find programs that offered effective treatment,” says Gagan Joshi, MD, scientific director of the Bressler Program. “The Bressler Program offers them a ‘home,’ where their child is fully understood and can receive treatment and support well into adulthood.”
“We knew that supporting this renowned group of psychiatrists and psychologists would yield benefits far beyond what anyone could have imagined, and this has already begun to happen,” said Alan Bressler in the 2010 interview. “We hope that the program will become a national model.” Since the number of referrals exceeds current clinical capacity, the family also hopes that others will step forward to support the program so that the team can help more families and conduct further research.
The integration of patient care and clinical research has been a hallmark of the Department of Psychiatry for more than 30 years. Today, the department has the largest clinical research program in the hospital, with studies at the forefront of neuroscience, molecular biology and genetics.
