Nancy Sullivan

Nancy Sullivan, PhD is an Attending Psychologist in the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital and holds dual appointments as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. Her clinical work focuses on developmental and behavioral conditions in children, with particular expertise in autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and learning disabilities.

Dr. Sullivan completed her undergraduate education at California State University at Long Beach and earned her PhD from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego. Her research interests span autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities, cognitive assessment methodologies, and psychosocial implications of neurodevelopmental conditions. She has made significant contributions to understanding developmental regression in autism, cognitive testing prerequisites, and educational initiatives for healthcare personnel working with autistic children.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent focus on clinical challenges in developmental medicine, with recent work addressing hallucinations and regression in autistic children (2024), innovations in cognitive testing (2021), and educational preparedness for autism care (2018). Her research trajectory shows progression from foundational studies on cerebellar injury in preterm infants (2007-2009) to more recent clinical case studies and implementation science in autism care.

Within the Division of Developmental Medicine, Dr. Sullivan contributes to the Developmental Medicine Center's comprehensive evaluation services for children with developmental and behavioral challenges. She works within interdisciplinary teams including developmental-behavioral pediatricians, educational specialists, and other psychologists to provide diagnostic assessments and treatment recommendations across various clinical teams serving infants through young adults.