Shana Nichols, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and the Clinical Director of the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. As the Clinical Director, she oversees the clinical services offered by the Center, is the lead clinician on the multidisciplinary evaluation team, and is director of the psychology graduate training program. She also serves as the liaison between the Center and the community regarding issues related to awareness, education and advocacy.

 

Dr. Nichols specializes in issues facing girls with ASDs and facilitating adolescent development and healthy sexuality for youth and teens. She offers “Growing Up” consultation, evaluations, and ongoing education to clients and their families. Dr. Nichols is lead author of the book Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know about the Pre-Teen and Teenage Years published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She conducts grant-funded applied research in the areas of sexuality education, offers community and school-based workshops, and presents regularly at local, national, and international autism meetings. Dr. Nichols received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Dalhousie University, Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada.

Joel D. Bregman, M.D. is Director of Clinical Research at the Fay J. Lindner Center and Associate Investigator at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System (NSLIJHS). Dr. Bregman specializes in neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism spectrum conditions), focusing on clinical care, research, and educational/treatment programming. He received his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine, and completed his residency and fellowship training in general, child, and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and the Yale Child Study Center. He completed his pediatric training at Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Bregman has been a faculty member at the Child Study Center of Yale University, Emory University, and the University of Connecticut.

 

He developed academically-based Autism Centers at Emory University and North Shore-LIJ Health System. Dr. Bregman has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed research papers and book chapters. He has been the recipient of federal and private foundation research grants, serves as NSLIJHS Site Principal Investigator of the Autism Clinical Trials Network of Autism Speaks, and has participated in several recent pivotal multi-site clinical trials in autism. His current areas of investigation include psychopharmacology, genetics, and neuroimaging in autism spectrum disorders. Other research interests have included behavioral genetics (Fragile X, Williams, and Prader-Willi syndromes) and neuropsychiatric disorders among those with intellectual disability.

Gina-Marie Moravcik, M.A., CCC-SLP is the Coordinator of Language and Education Services and the School Consultation Program (SCP) at the Lindner Center. Mrs. Moravcik supervises the speech and language program's individual and group treatment programs and participates in multidisciplinary team evaluations. Mrs. Moravcik also provides school-based consultation and speech and language therapy, supervises the Center's behavioral consultants and speech-language pathologists, and acts as a liaison between school administrators and the Center. Mrs. Moravcik received her M.A. in speech-language pathology from St. John's University.

 

She possesses specialized knowledge and expertise in the assessment and treatment of communication disorders in ASDs. Mrs. Moravcik teaches a graduate-level course on the diagnosis and treatment of ASDs and provides clinical supervision at the graduate level in the Communication Sciences Dept. at St. John's. She has participated in formal lectures and symposiums at the local and state level. Mrs. Moravcik is also a co-author of the book Girls Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum: What Parents and Professionals Should Know about the Pre-Teen and Teenage Years published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Halley Ceglia, L.M.S.W. is responsible for providing service coordination to families of children and adults with ASDs and has led the Center's peer mentor program for the past three years. She also provides individual and family therapy as well as creates and conducts social skills and life skills groups. Ms. Ceglia received her L.M.S.W. from Stony Brook University.

 

 

 

Laurie Better Perlis, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist and coordinator of the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program at the Lindner Center. As the Staff Psychologist, she provides a range of clinical services including individual, group and family therapy, acts as a lead clinician on the multidisciplinary evaluation team, and serves as assistant director of the psychology graduate training program. Dr. Perlis coordinates the Center's comprehensive services for adults with autism spectrum disorders as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy program. She also participates in community outreach and education programming including community and school-based workshops and presentations at local and national autism meetings.

 

Dr. Perlis received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yeshiva University and completed a full-time postdoctoral fellowship in autism spectrum and related disorders at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism. Dr. Perlis has significant experience diagnosing and treating children, adolescents and adults with a wide range of challenges and has particular expertise in cognitive-behavioral approaches to treatment. She has worked in a variety of treatment settings including inpatient and outpatient hospital services as well as community-based clinics.