Skip to navigation menu Skip to content
Illustration of a calendarIllustration of a document pageIllustration of a heart over a handIllustration of an envelopeIllustration of the letter i inside a circleIllustration of a map markerIllustration of a caduceusIllustration of a user with a plus signIllustration of a telephoneIllustration of a question mark inside a circleIllustration of a video cameraDocument with a PDF label
Autism Center

Meet Your Team

Leadership

  • Ray Chih-Jui Hsiao, MD

    Ray Chih-Jui Hsiao, MD

    Senior Medical Director, Mental and Behavioral Health Services; Interim Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine

  • Laura Knapp, MSW, LICSW

    Laura Knapp, MSW, LICSW

    Vice President, Mental and Behavioral Health Services

  • Alison A Golombek, MD

    Alison A Golombek, MD

    Medical Director, Seattle Children's Autism Center

  • Lisa Anne Nowinski, PhD, MA

    Lisa Anne Nowinski, PhD, MA

    Clinical Director, Outpatient Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Seattle Children's Autism Center

  • Erin Easley, MSW

    Erin Easley, MSW

    Operational Director, Seattle Children's Autism Center

  • Mendy Minjarez, PhD

    Mendy Minjarez, PhD

    Director, Applied Behavior Analysis Early Intervention Program; Associate Professor

  • Erin Marie Olson, PhD

    Erin Marie Olson, PhD

    Training Director, Seattle Children’s Autism Center

Teams

Neurology

Neurologists are doctors who specialize in conditions that affect the nerves, spinal cord and brain (nervous system).

Back to Top

Neurodevelopmental pediatrics

Neurodevelopmental pediatricians are doctors who assess and care for children with conditions related to the development of the nervous system, including the brain. Neurodevelopmental nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training in treating children with these conditions. Nurse practitioners are also called advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs). They work independently and with doctors.

Back to Top

Psychiatry

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental health issues that affect a child’s thoughts, emotions or behavior. The doctor may provide medicine evaluations, prescribe medicine and can help a child talk through problems (psychotherapy). Psychiatric nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training and education in psychiatry. They work independently and with doctors to diagnose, treat and teach patients and families about mental health issues that affect a child’s thoughts, emotions or behavior. Nurse practitioners are also called advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs).

Back to Top

Psychology

Psychologists are health professionals who diagnose and treat mental health issues that affect a child’s thoughts, emotions or behavior. Psychologists treat children with evidence-based talking and behavioral therapy. A psychologist has a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in the study of the mind and behavior (psychology) rather than in the study of medicine. For this reason, they do not prescribe medicine.

Back to Top

Behavior analysis

Behavior analysts are health professionals with extra training in how people act. They may assess your child’s behavior, study how changes affect that behavior and make a treatment plan to improve it. Our behavior analysts are board certified, meaning they completed additional training in their specialty and passed a rigorous test.

  • Amber Persons-Geer, MSW, LAICSW, BCaBA, program coordinator

    Amber Persons-Geer, MSW, LAICSW, BCaBA, program coordinator

Back to Top

Mental health therapists

Back to Top

Family resource team

Our Family Resource team helps families find information and navigate resources, from initial diagnosis through the transition to adulthood. We support with things like accessing recommended therapies, special education advocacy, understanding state and federal benefits, and much more. Our aim is to share useful resources for the entire family, and to help caregivers understand and navigate key systems so they can be the best possible advocates for their child.

  • Joy Gehner, MPP, family advocate and case manager

  • Bianca Rodriguez, family advocate and case manager

  • Rainee Selby, MHA, family advocate and case manager

  • Jaimie Sigesmund, MAT, lead family advocate and case manager

Back to Top

Contact Us

If you would like an appointment, ask your child’s primary care provider to refer you. Learn more about how to get services at the Autism Center.

Providers, see how to refer a patient.