Team

Edward S. Brodkin, M.D.

Director, Adult Autism Spectrum Program at Penn Medicine
Associate Professor of Psychiatry 
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Edward S. Brodkin, M.D. is the founder and Director of the Adult Autism Spectrum Program at Penn Medicine.  Dr. Brodkin is Associate Professor of Psychiatry with tenure at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.  He is also Co-Director of the Autism Spectrum Program of Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania. He is board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and he is an attending psychiatrist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Brodkin received his A.B. Magna Cum Laude in History of Science from Harvard University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.  He received an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He then completed an internship in pediatrics and residency in psychiatry at Yale-New Haven Medical Center and was chief psychiatry resident at the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit at Yale, which included a clinical and research program for diagnosis and treatment of autistic adults.  He went on to a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience research at Yale University School of Medicine and genetics research at Princeton University. Since then, he has been on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

Dr. Brodkin has thirty years of experience in the clinical assessment and care of autistic adults, as well as in neuroscience, genetics, and treatment research on autism. He is the author of numerous publications in the field of autism research, and his research on autism has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Simons Foundation, the Eagles Autism Foundation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Foundation.   He is particularly interested in facilitating development of social skills useful for navigating the social world of adolescence and adulthood. He is knowledgeable and experienced in the areas of autism diagnosis, psychiatric issues that co-occur with autism, the biological basis of autism, and treatment plan development and implementation. His expertise in the area of adult autism has been recognized by his being listed in the Philadelphia Magazine “Top Doctors” in the years 2006-2007 and 2009-2025 and in Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctors in 2006-2025.

Giulietta Flaherty, PsyD
 

Giulietta Flaherty, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in assessment and treatment of adults on the autism spectrum. Dr. Flaherty received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from The College of New Jersey. At The College of New Jersey, Dr. Flaherty became heavily involved in the Career and Community Studies program, an Inclusive Post-Secondary Education program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dr. Flaherty worked with college students with IDD on campus in academic, vocational, and residential settings. This experience sparked Dr. Flaherty’s passion for working with individuals with disabilities and neurodiversity. In 2019, Dr. Flaherty graduated Suma Cum Laude and was elected to multiple honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Psi Chi, and Omicron Delta Kappa.

After getting her bachelor’s degree, Dr. Flaherty went on to receive her doctorate in School Psychology from Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. At Rutgers, Dr. Flaherty further pursued work with adults with neurodiversity and IDD in school settings, vocational settings, outpatient clinics, and residential treatment centers. Notably, Dr. Flaherty worked at the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS). Dr. Flaherty led a research project for the RCAAS Neurodiversity Task Force that identified areas of improvement for neurodiverse students, faculty, and staff across the university. Dr. Flaherty gained many years of experience working with adults with autism spectrum disorder and varying levels of support needs. Dr. Flaherty completed her pre-doctoral residency at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health (PA Adult services) where she supported adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities in a residential setting. Dr. Flaherty has experience working with adults with disabilities and neurodiversity from ages 14 – 94.

Dr. Flaherty’s current research, in collaboration with Dr. Edward Brodkin, focuses on TUNE In (Training to Understand and Navigate Emotions and Interactions), a cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based program to support social functioning in autistic adults. TUNE In is based on a neurodiversity-oriented approach that fosters fundamental skills of interpersonal attunement without prescribing rigid social scripts.

Dr. Flaherty is currently accepting clients for individual therapy and diagnostic consultations. In therapy, Dr. Flaherty uses cognitive-behavioral therapy with a strengths-based approach. Dr. Flaherty has treated adults with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities and co-occurring depression, anxiety, trauma, emotion dysregulation, and behavioral challenges. If you are interested in working with Dr. Flaherty, please click the “Contact Us” tab on the left.