Amy Keefer, PhD, ABPP (she/her)

  • Training Director
  • Assistant Director of Psychological Services, Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation (CASSI™)
  • Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  • Clinical Psychologist, Board Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology
  • Keefer@KennedyKrieger.org

Dr. Keefer conducts diagnostic assessments evaluating the presence of autism in children ages 3-18. She also treats a range of co-occurring psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, and adjustment related concerns in school-age children and adolescents utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy modified to accommodate the needs of autistic children. Her research is focused on the treatment of anxiety and underlying mechanisms and developing objective measures of treatment outcome.

Betsy Cross, PhD (she/her)

Betsy Cross, PhD's headshot
  • Assistant Training Director
  • Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  • Clinical Psychologist
  • CrossEL@KennedyKrieger.org

Dr. Cross provides behavioral therapy and parent management training to preschoolers, children, and adolescents with autism and co-occurring behavioral and emotional concerns. She is a RUBI Parent Training certified provider and provides specialized training in this treatment modality to postdoctoral fellows. She also provides consultative services in the CASSI inclusive prekindergarten program, focused on developmental, behavioral, and emotional concerns.  Dr. Cross additionally conducts autism diagnostic evaluations with toddlers through adolescents.

Allison Mostow, PhD (she/her)

Allison Mostow's headshot

Dr. Mostow provides psychological evaluations at CASSI and the Department of Neuropsychology. She specializes in the assessment of young and early functioning children and has expertise in evaluating children with Fragile X.

Amanda Santanello, PsyD (she/her)

Amanda Santanello's headshot

Dr. Santanello conducts diagnostic evaluations with toddlers, school-age children, and adolescents who are suspected of having autism. She provides both independent and team evaluations. Dr. Santanello has experience providing treatment to children with co-occurring autism and mental health disorders.

 

Elgiz Sener, PhD, ABPP-CN (she/her)

Elgiz Bal's headshot

Dr. Sener conducts neuropsychological evaluations with school-age children, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorders and a variety of co-occurring developmental, psychiatric, genetic, and medical conditions. She specializes in working with individuals with a range of abilities, as well as adolescents who will soon be transitioning to young adulthood. Dr. Sener is fluent in Turkish.

 

Kelly Sheperd, PhD (she/her)

Kelly Sheperd's headshot

Dr. Sheperd has experience working with young children with a variety of developmental and medical conditions, including prenatal substance exposure, prematurity, and visual impairment. She specializes in providing assessments for toddlers and young children. At CASSI, she provides diagnostic evaluations for toddlers as well as comprehensive psychological evaluations for young children through age 8 years. Dr. Sheperd also provides diagnostic evaluations and consultations for the Baltimore Infants and Toddlers Program.

Beth Hunt, PhD (she/her)

Beth Hunt

Dr. Hunt conducts autism diagnostic evaluations with toddlers through young adults, as well as provides comprehensive psychological evaluations for individuals with a range of ages, developmental levels, and co-occurring disorders (e.g., intellectual disability, ADHD, anxiety, etc.). She also participates in multidisciplinary team evaluations across different disciplines, such as speech and developmental medicine. Lastly, Dr. Hunt provides cognitive behavioral therapy for autistic teens and young adults with co-occurring anxiety and mood disorders.

Yoreidy Tavárez, PhD, ABPP (she/her)

Yoreidy Tavárez

Dr. Tavárez conducts autism diagnostic evaluations and bilingual psychological testing for youth with a wide range of functional diversity.  She also provides evidence-based interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral parent training.  Her work addresses the intersectionality of autism among Latinx and Spanish-speaking children, adolescents, and their families. Dr. Tavárez is fluent in Spanish.