Overview:
As prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to rise, a growing number of families are in need of support from practitioners across a range of disciplines. In addition to a lack of qualified professionals available to provide evidence-based supports, families must also contend with various myths and rumors about potential causes, cures, and treatments for autism, some of which have limited empirical support. The purpose of this workshop is to provide up to date information for clinicians and families about the state of our science in terms of answering questions such as what causes autism? why is the prevalence of autism increasing? what are the genetic causes of autism? what practices are most useful for accurately identifying and supporting different groups of people on the autism spectrum? what medical or other treatments have evidence for ameliorating autism symptoms and associated behaviors?
The goals of this workshop are to 1) inform clinicians about commonly disseminated myths, their origins, and how to address them with families, and 2) share evidence-based, scientifically backed information with clinicians and families.
This conference will showcase a panel of leading clinicians and researchers, as well as stakeholders, to inspire reflections and discussion to guide improved clinical practice and innovation in research.
This conference will be held online and no part of it will be recorded or available afterwards.
Attendees should be able to attend both days - we do not offer one-day registration.
Dates and Times (Online):
Please note that you must attend both dates.
- Day 1: Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025
- 7:00am-3:00pm PST
- Day 2: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025
- 7:00am-3:00pm PST
Registration fees:
$500 (+ optional $100 CME/CEU fee)
17.25 CME/CEU credits are available.
Click here to register for the 2025 UCSF Conference!
Schedule:
Day 1: Tuesday December 2nd, 2025Research on Epidemiology, Causes, and Onset Patterns | |
Time (PST) | Speaker and Title |
7:00am - 7:05am | Introductory Remarks |
7:05am - 8:05am | Eric Fombonne, MD The Autism ‘Epidemic’: Misinterpretation and Misinformation |
8:05am - 9:05am | Stephan Sanders, MD, PhD Progressing from Genetic Diagnosis to Therapy in Autism |
9:05am - 9:15am | Break |
9:15am - 10:15am | Heather Volk, PhD, MPH Studying the Environment and Genetics Together in Autism |
10:15am - 11:15am | David Mandell, ScD The Long and Winding Road: Implementation Challenges in Moving from Exclusion to Inclusion in Philadelphia Public Schools |
11:15am - 11:45am | Break |
11:45am - 12:45pm | Sarah Robillard Shultz, PhD Early Developmental Trajectories in Infants Who Later Develop Autism: State of the Science and Implications for Supporting Children and Families |
12:45pm - 1:45pm | Amy Esler, PhD Autism Prevalence in the United States: Research Explaining the Trends |
1:45pm - 2:00pm | Break |
2:00pm - 3:00pm | Sally Ozonoff, PhD Early Diagnosis of Autism: Evidence, Challenges, and Misconceptions |
Day 2: Wednesday December 3rd, 2025Research on Interventions and Supports for Optimizing Care Across the Lifespan | |
Time (PST) | Speaker and Title |
7:00am - 8:05am | Tony Charman, PhD New Findings on Onset Patterns of Autism and Associated Conditions: Implications for Monitoring, Assessment and Intervention |
8:05am - 9:05am | Julie Taylor, PhD Reframing Success: What “Good Outcomes” Mean for Autistic Adults |
9:05am - 9:15am | Break |
9:15am - 10:15am | Thomas Frazier, PhD Predictors of Response to Behavioral Intervention: The Role of Intervention Dose and Baseline Characteristics |
10:15am - 11:15am | Robert Hendren, DO Learning to Build Neurodevelopmental Resilience for Neurodevelopmental Disorders |
11:15am - 11:45 am | Break |
11:45am - 12:45pm | Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, MD Evidence-Based use of Medication in Autism |
12:45pm - 1:45pm | Zachary Williams, MD, PhD Neurodiversity-affirming Care: The Promises and Pitfalls of Bringing Theory to Practice |
1:45pm - 2:00pm | Break |
2:00pm - 3:00pm | Helen Tager Flusberg, PhD Autism Clinical Science: Past, Present and Future |
Phone: 415-713-7885
Email: [email protected]
Location: 675 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
The UCSF Center for ASD and NDDs reserves the right to evaluate whether a site or individual has the infrastructure to make the best use of our training.
The University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Message regarding UCSF Office of CME accreditation:
Please note that our ADOS-2/ADI-R training program is supported and accredited through the UCSF Office of CME which provides AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. If choosing this optional credit, you may need to first check directly with your accreditation board to see if they will accept continuing education credit offered through our ADOS-2/ADI-R training program.
In support of improving patient care, UCSF Office of CME is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.