Developmental Paediatrics

The Department of Developmental Paediatrics at Christian Medical College, Vellore was established in 1997

The Department of Developmental Paediatrics at Christian Medical College, Vellore was established in 1997 and is one of India’s pioneering multidisciplinary centres dedicated to the care of children with developmental, behavioural, learning and neurodevelopmental disorders. Functioning under the Department of Paediatrics, the department provides comprehensive, family-centred care for children from infancy through adolescence.

Serving as a tertiary referral centre, the department evaluates and supports over 8,000 children annually from across India and neighbouring countries.

A multidisciplinary team of Developmental Paediatricians, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Special Educators, Developmental Therapists, Nurses and Social Support Staff work together to provide individualized assessment, intervention and long-term developmental guidance while empowering families through education, advocacy and evidence-based care.

Conditions Managed: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Cerebral Palsy, Global Developmental Delay, Intellectual Disability, ADHD, Developmental Language Disorder, Learning Disorders, Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, High-Risk Infant Follow-up, Genetic and Chromosomal Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Behavioural and Emotional Difficulties and other developmental concerns.

Developmental Services: Developmental paediatric consultation, multidisciplinary developmental assessments, psychology services, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, special education, early intervention programmes and developmental surveillance.

Specialised Programmes: Hall of Residence (Q6 West) – a five-day family-centred residential assessment and parent training programme; Integrated Day-Care Therapy Programme (A7 Ward) – an intensive multidisciplinary therapy programme with parent coaching.

Joint Specialty Clinics: Genetics, Neurology, Psychiatry, Orthopaedics, ENT, Dysmorphology, Learning Disability and Feeding Clinics.

Family Support: Parent education, home programmes, school liaison, advocacy, counselling and support groups.

Education
The department offers a two-year Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Developmental Paediatrics for paediatricians, with training in developmental and behavioural diagnosis, multidisciplinary intervention planning, family-centred care, research and advocacy. The department also provides teaching for MBBS students, MD Paediatrics residents, allied health programmes, higher specialty trainees, national and international observers through academic sessions, workshops, journal clubs and continuing medical education programmes.

Research
Research focuses on Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, early identification and intervention, developmental assessment, learning and communication disorders, neurogenetic conditions and community-based developmental care. The department participates in national and international collaborative research and has received funding from organisations including the Wellcome Trust–DBT India Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It is also recognised for PhD training by The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University.

Faculty
• Dr. Samuel Philip Oommen – Senior Professor & Head of Unit
• Dr. Beena Koshy – Senior Professor
• Dr. Srinivasa Raghavan R. – Associate Professor
• Dr. Rashmi Ilango – Assistant Professor
• Dr. Dania Rafique Karajgi – Senior Resident

Multidisciplinary Team
Developmental Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Developmental Therapists, Special Educators, Nursing Professionals, Fellowship Trainees, Administrative and Support Staff.

Developmental Paediatrics

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