Darold Treffert | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1933-03-12)March 12, 1933 |
| Died | December 14, 2020(2020-12-14) (aged 87) Fond du Lac, Wisconsin |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater | Bethany Lutheran College (1953)University of Wisconsin Medical School (MD, 1958) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Savant syndrome,autism spectrum disorder,hyperlexia |
| Institutions | Treffert Center Agnesian HealthCareSt. Agnes HospitalFond du Lac County Health Care CenterMarian UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUniversity of Wisconsin Medical School Winnebago Mental Health |
| Website | www.treffertcenter.comwww.savantsyndrome.com |
Darold A. Treffert (March 12, 1933 – December 14, 2020) was a psychiatrist and research director who specialized in theepidemiology ofautism spectrum disorders andsavant syndrome. He lived inFond du Lac, Wisconsin. He was on the staff at Agnesian HealthCare and served on the Board of Trustees ofMarian University. Treffert was a clinical professor at theUniversity of Wisconsin Medical School. He was also a clinical professor atUniversity of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.[1][2]
Treffert first attendedBethany Lutheran College where he focused on pre-medical courses and earned an associate in arts degree in 1953. He received his medical doctorate in 1958 from theUniversity of Wisconsin Medical School. He interned inEugene,Oregon, and then completed a residency in psychiatry at University Hospitals (nowUniversity of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics) inMadison, Wisconsin.[1]
| External videos | |
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 Accidental Genius, Darold Treffert, 17:58,TEDx Fond du Lac[3] |
In 1976, he held positions in the private practice of psychiatry, was executive director of the Fond du Lac County Health Care Center and the medical director of the Alcoholism Rehabilitation Unit of St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac. From 1979 to 1980, Treffert was president of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin and from 1981 to 1987 was chair of its board of directors. He has also been the president of theWisconsin Psychiatric Association and theAmerican Association of Psychiatric Administrators. In 1995, he was appointed to theWisconsin Medical Examining Board and, in January 2002, was elected its chair.[1]
Treffert maintained a website on autism, savant syndrome, and related conditions hosted by the Wisconsin Medical Society.[4][5] He held a research director position at the Treffert Center, Agnesian HealthCare in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.[6]
Treffert died unexpectedly at his home in Fond du Lac on December 14, 2020.[7]
He received awards from theWisconsin Mental Health Association, the Office of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of Wisconsin, and theWisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.[1]
Treffert has made appearances on60 Minutes,CBS Evening News,The Phil Donahue Show,Discovery Channel,Larry King Live, theNewshour,The Oprah Winfrey Show,Today, and in a number of documentaries.[1]
Treffert has written articles inScientific American andMIND.[8] His books include:
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