Gail McGee, Ph.D., Consultant for the ABC News OnCall+ Autism Center

Oct. 23, 2008 -- Gail G. McGee, Ph.D., graduated with training in clinical psychology from Auburn University, following an internship in Connecticut at Norwich Hospital. She received postdoctoral training in autism and developmental disabilities at the Princeton Child Development Institute and the University of Massachusetts -- Amherst.

She has served on the faculty at Emory University School of Medicine for 17 years, and she is currently an associate professor of psychiatry (with joint appointments in pediatrics and psychology) and director of the Emory Autism Center.

At Emory, McGee is engaged in research, clinical care and teaching. Her research interests are focused on early autism intervention, incidental teaching and social behavior. She was the original developer of the Walden incidental teaching curriculum and founder of the Walden Early Childhood Program, which is a laboratory early childhood center serving children with autism along with a majority of typically developing peers between 15 months and 6 years of age.

McGee has served as principal investigator on numerous research and training grants, and the Walden replication procedures were developed in the course of a model demonstration project funded by the U.S. Department of Education. McGee supervises practicum placements, internships, residencies and postdoctoral training for trainees from various disciplines. She has been invited to lecture national and international audiences, and she has provided technical assistance on Walden replications in Alabama, California, Georgia, Maryland and Texas.

As director of Emory Autism Center, she bears primary responsibility for the Walden projects, advises on operation of the MONARCH programs for inclusion of elementary and high-school-aged students, and supervises development of both the Choices programs for adults with autism spectrum disorders and the Bridges Family Support Programs. As a clinical psychologist within the Emory Healthcare system, McGee also contributes to a diagnostic clinic serving children and adults across the lifespan.

McGee is active in numerous professional organizations; she was named a Fellow of Division 25 of the American Psychological Association and received a significant achievement award from Hospital and Community Psychiatry. She was selected as an expert member of the working task force assembled by the National Academy of Sciences for study of evidence-based approaches for Education of Children with Autism ages birth to eight, and she has provided paid consultation to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She has served on numerous editorial boards, peer review panels, and scientific advisory boards. In her spare time, she enjoys piano, swimming, sushi, and her yellow lab named Jake.

Gail McGee is a paid consultant for the ABCNews.com OnCall+ Autism Center.