Patients help break ground on new autism clinic and imaging center

Several patients treated at Golisano Children's Hospital's Kirch Developmental Services Center helped UR Medicine leaders break ground yesterday where the new $28 million William and Mildred Levine Autism Clinic and Imaging Center will be. The building is scheduled to open in early 2017. 

Located on the Brighton building's third floor, the William and Mildred Levine Autism Clinic will be the region's first stand-alone clinic to integrate care of autism with child neurology and childhood and adolescent psychiatry services. 

In the past year, more than 500 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, leading to more than 3,500 visits. The new clinic will accommodate the growing need for diagnosis and treatment.

Co-locating neurodevelopmental and behavioral pediatrics, child neurology and psychiatry services is convenient for families that see specialists in each of those programs. The physical proximity of the programs will not only benefit patients and families, but will foster greater collaboration among the multidisciplinary caregivers as well.