Changing the Course of Autism
Dr. Bryan Jepson, M.D.
Director of Medical Services
Thoughtfulhouse Center for Children, Austin, Texas (USA)
Dr. Jepson graduated from the University of Utah Medical School in 1995 and completed residency training in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1998. He is board certified in emergency medicine. Over the course of 2001, the year his second son was diagnosed with autism, he and his wife Laurie began exploring treatment options, but found that the medical community knew little about the cause, treatment, or prognosis of this disease. After their year of intensive research into all aspects of the illness, they felt a strong need to establish a clinic where autistic children could receive the most up-to-date care available. From 2002-2005, Children's Biomedical Center of Utah (a non-profit organization) was instrumental in raising awareness throughout the intermountain west about issues related to autism and other childhood developmental disorders. During that time Dr. Jepson treated hundreds of children on the autism spectrum and enjoyed the experience of watching them improve. Since joining the team at Thoughtful House Center for Children, he is able to turn his attention full-time to both treatment and research of the most important 'emergency' he has ever treated.
Abstract
Autism has become an international health crisis as the numbers of affected children continue to rise in epidemic proportions. Recent research has given us new insights into the underlying biomedical abnormalities that are associated with or causing the brain dysfunction. In his lecture, Dr. Jepson will review what we currently know about the multiple organ system involvement of the disorder and will talk about potential treatment options. He will discuss the current medical literature and how to apply what is being discovered to make treatment decisions for your children. It is through the combination of intensive and appropriate behavioral and medical management that more and more children with autism will be improve, many to the point of recovery.