Additional information
by Polly J. Panitz (Author)
Designed specifically for the pediatric primary care setting, Autism in Pediatric Practice: A Clinician's Guide is a practical, educational resource that supports clinicians in caring for children on the autism spectrum, with a particular focus on early childhood. This guide strengthens the clinician's knowledge base while providing a clear framework for delivering thoughtful, effective care within the medical home.
Key concepts are introduced through hypothetical case vignettes and explored in depth throughout each chapter, helping clinicians translate theory into everyday practice. The guide includes practical tools for clinical documentation and resources for parent education to enable pediatric primary care clinicians to effectively engage in patient care and support families of autistic children.
Topics include
- Etiology, presentation, screening, and diagnosis
- Strategies for optimizing office visits, including scheduling considerations, office accommodations, and billing and coding
- Understanding and management of behavioral challenges
- Therapy options, including guidance for choosing appropriate therapies and information on pharmacological and complementary approaches
- Management of co-occurring conditions, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, insomnia, and gastrointestinal symptoms and conditions
- Care transition planning
- Special education services, including evaluations, early intervention, and the individualized education program process
Author Biography
Polly J. Panitz, MD, is a developmental pediatrician whose career has centered on partnering with general pediatricians and families to support the development of young children. Her approach emphasizes teaching strategies for structuring the natural environment of children and fostering collaboration among caregivers, educators, and health care clinicians.
Dr Panitz earned her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed her residency in general pediatrics at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She completed a fellowship in behavioral and developmental pediatrics at Evanston Hospital. Her clinical career has included positions in general pediatrics at the University of Texas at San Antonio and in private practice in Northern Virginia. She later established herself as a specialist embedded within a large 5-site pediatric practice, where she provided both diagnostic assessments and longitudinal care for children with developmental concerns, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism. In addition to direct patient care, Dr Panitz has run parenting support groups and classes, coordinated care across medical and educational teams, and provided consultation on school-based educational planning. She has contributed to statewide pediatric education through Virginia's Mental Health Access Program for general pediatric clinicians where she taught about early childhood development and led case-based discussions.
Dr Panitz is now retired from practice and is involved in a variety of community-based volunteer endeavors. She enjoys playing cello, biking, hiking, and spending as much time as possible with her family.
