About the Panelists
Rebecca Shaffer
Rebecca Shaffer, PsyD, HSPP, is a professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and she specializes in both clinical care and research with Fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. She is also the director of psychological services for the Cincinnati Fragile X Center. Her research is primarily focused on emotion dysregulation in both FXS and ASD. She enjoys helping individuals find ways to calm their bodies and minds and fully engage in the world around them. She also enjoys helping caregivers find ways to best support them in this process. “It is truly a pleasure to work with the Fragile X population and their families.”
Tracy Stackhouse
Tracy Stackhouse, MA, OTR, is co-founder and executive director of Developmental FX in Denver, Colorado. She is a leading pediatric occupational therapist involved in clinical treatment, research, mentoring, and training regarding OT intervention for persons with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially Fragile X syndrome and autism. Tracy has a master’s in developmental psychology/neuroscience. She received her NDT (neuro-developmental treatment) training with Lois Bly. She is SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests) certified and was the clinical specialist in sensory integration at the Children’s Hospital in Denver as well as the OT for the Fragile X Research and Treatment Center. Tracy continued her clinical and research work with Dr. Randi Hagerman at the UC Davis MIND Institute during its start-up year prior to starting Developmental FX.
Tracy has written several book chapters on sensory integration and neurodevelopmental disorders and teaches nationally and internationally on sensory integration, autism, Fragile X, and related topics. She is the lead author for the SpIRiT and STEPSI Clinical Reasoning Tools which are leading-edge evidence-based models in pediatric occupational therapy. Tracy is also a member of the Fragile X Clinical & Research Consortium and the NFXF Advisory Committee.
Elizabeth Berry-Kravis
Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, MD, PhD, established the Fragile X Clinic and Research Program at Rush University Medical Center in 1992. She studies Fragile X syndrome medical issues, epilepsy, and psychopharmacology and provides care to over 700 patients with FXS. She has been a leader in translational research, including the development of outcome measures and biomarkers, natural history studies, newborn screening, and particularly clinical trials of new targeted treatments.
Dr. Berry-Kravis’s laboratory studies the cellular roles of the Fragile X protein (FMRP), its relationship to phenotypes, and the optimization of genetic testing methods. She is a longstanding member of the NFXF Scientific and Clinical Advisory Committee, and Clinical Trials Committee, and is the principal investigator of the CDC-funded FORWARD-MARCH natural history project for Fragile X.
Dr. Berry-Kravis attended the University of Notre Dame for her undergraduate studies and the University of Chicago for her doctoral degrees (MD and PhD) and training in pediatric neurology.
Randi J. Hagerman
Developmental pediatrician Randi J. Hagerman, MD, FAAP, is a highly regarded professional within the Fragile X community. She co-founded the National Fragile X Foundation in 1984 and served on the board for 25 years. In 2009, she decided it was time to step aside and let others bring their expertise to the board, though she continues to help guide the foundation to this day.
There is no aspect of the NFXF that Randi has not helped shape. Her strength as both a clinician and researcher has informed the NFXF mission and strategic plan. She and her husband, Dr. Paul Hagerman, generously support the NFXF mission. While Randi is no longer a board member, she is active on the NFXF Scientific & Clinical Advisory Committee and the Fragile X Clinical & Research Consortium where she represents the UC Davis Medical Center’s MIND Institute as medical director of the Fragile X Clinic.
Randi continues to be a sought-after speaker and her work has expanded from Fragile X syndrome to all Fragile X-associated disorders. Randi is continually on the go as an international spokesperson for Fragile X. Fortunately, she’s only seconds away by phone when we need to call upon her for her guidance, advice, and wisdom.
Lauren Schmitt
Assistant Professor, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Dr. Lauren Schmitt is a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive training in cognitive functioning in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. Since joining the Fragile X Research and Treatment Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center over four years ago, she has had critical involvement in the current and past federally-funded U54 FXS Center, focused on identifying clinical correlates of neurophysiological biomarkers and characterizing potential subgroups of drug responders. In addition, her K23 Patient-Oriented Mentored Career Development Award focuses on identifying translational biomarkers of higher-level functioning, including speech production and cognitive flexibility, that can be used across mouse and man.
