Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp facts for kids

Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp is a medical doctor who specializes in epidemiology. This means she studies how diseases and health conditions affect large groups of people. She is the head of the developmental disabilities branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She has worked at the CDC since 1981.

Dr. Yeargin-Allsopp also teaches about children's health at Emory University. She is the great-niece of Benjamin Mays, who was a famous leader and former president of Morehouse College.

Dr. Yeargin-Allsopp's Education Journey

Early College Years

Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp made history at Sweet Briar College. She was the first African-American student to attend and graduate from the school. She started her studies there in 1966 and finished in 1968.

Medical School and Training

She then went on to Emory University to study medicine. In 1972, she earned her M.D. degree. She was the first black woman to enroll in Emory's medical school. Later, in 1984, she completed her training in preventive medicine.

Dr. Yeargin-Allsopp also did special training in developmental pediatrics. This was at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine from 1975 to 1981. She also completed an internship and residency in pediatrics at Montefiore Medical Center. She is officially certified to practice pediatrics and to work with developmental disabilities.

Dr. Yeargin-Allsopp's Career and Impact

Leading at the CDC

Dr. Yeargin-Allsopp is a very important leader at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She is the chief of the developmental disabilities branch. This branch is part of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. She has been working at the CDC since 1981.

Advisory Roles and Awards

She used to be a member of the scientific advisory board for Autism Speaks. She also helped lead the Interagency Coordinating Committee for the National Children's Study. In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics honored her. They gave her the Arnold J. Capute Award for her important work with children's disabilities.

Dr. Yeargin-Allsopp's Research on Developmental Disabilities

Focus on Autism and Cerebral Palsy

Dr. Yeargin-Allsopp's research mainly focuses on epidemiology. She studies how common conditions like autism and cerebral palsy are. She pays special attention to how these conditions affect children in cities.

Developing Surveillance Systems

She was the first person to create a special system. This system helps to measure how many school-aged children have these developmental disabilities. It helps doctors and scientists understand the true number of affected children.

Key Research Findings

In 2003, Dr. Yeargin-Allsopp published some important findings. Her research found 987 confirmed cases of autism in children aged three to ten in Atlanta. This showed that about 34 out of every 10,000 children in that group had autism. This number was higher than what was usually thought at the time.