Amy Thornhill Pakula, MD
Director, Marcus International Adoption Center for Health and Development
Dr. Pakula is Director of Neurodevelopmental Pediatric clinics at the Marcus Autism Center, as well as Director of the Marcus International Adoption Center. Dr. Pakula is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, in the Department of Pediatrics, Emory University. She is a medical staff member of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Pakula attended Eastern Virginia Medical School, and completed internship and residency training in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, Norfolk, Virginia. She completed subspecialty training in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Pakula is a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics, and also Board Certified in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Member of the Child Neurology Society.
Research Summary
Dr. Pakula has special interest and expertise in the early identification of, and intervention for, developmental and behavioral problems in children during infancy and the pre-school years. This interest has lead to her work in the field of international adoption and to the development of the Marcus Autism Center's International Adoption Center. Dr. Pakula provides both pre- and post- adoptive assessments and ongoing developmental care to children adopted internationally.
Additionally, she has expertise in the early identification, diagnosis, intervention and management of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is currently participating on a team of national and international experts to collect behavioral and genotypic data on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (the Simons Simplex Project).
Recent Publications/Presentations
Pakula, Amy. (June 29, 2007). Etiology of Cerebral Palsy. CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities Branch, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.
Pakula, Amy. (April 24, 2007). Developmental Disabilities: Diagnosis and Treatment. Partnerships for Developmental Disabilities, CDC's National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities Branch, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.
Pakula, Amy. (March 31, 2007). Autism Spectrum Disorders. ASK Conference, Cobb County Parent Support Group, The Compass Centre, Northstar Church, Acworth, Georgia.
Contact Information
Amy Thornhill Pakula, MD
Director, Marcus International Adoption
Center for Health and Development
Marcus Autism Center
1920 Briarcliff Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Telephone: 404-419-5300
Facsimile: 404-419-5430