Michael F. Cataldo

Michael F. Cataldo is a Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland. He serves as Senior Vice President and Director of the Department of Behavioral Psychology at Kennedy Krieger Institute. His academic career spans over 45 years, with leadership roles in behavioral psychology and clinical psychiatry.

Education:

• Bachelor’s in Psychology, University of Rochester (1968)
• Master’s in Child Development, University of Kansas (1971)
• Doctorate in Child Development and Psychology, University of Kansas (1974)

Research Focus: Cataldo’s work applies operant learning principles to address behavioral and medical challenges in children, particularly those with developmental disabilities. Key areas include:

• Behavioral interventions for aggression/self-injury
• Improving medical compliance (e.g., dental, MRI, ICU settings)
• Functional relationships between behavior classes and environmental consequences
• Neurobehavioral interventions for developmental disorders

Key Contributions: His studies demonstrate how enhancing socially adaptive behaviors (e.g., cooperation with instructions) reduces reliance on invasive treatments. He pioneered behavioral treatments for fecal incontinence and feeding disorders in children with myelomeningocele. Recent work explores neurobehavioral care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and severe problem behaviors.

Lab/Team: Directs the Behavioral Psychology Department at Kennedy Krieger Institute, integrating clinical practice with research in operant learning and developmental disabilities.