Autism spectrum disorders; communication; language development; Asperger Syndrome; social skills; quality improvement science in healthcare

Donna S. Murray’s professional career is dedicated to serving children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) through clinical services and academic endeavors. She serves as co-director of The Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders and as director of clinical services for the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DDBP). Clinically, she has over twenty years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of children with ASD. Her academic work stems from her clinical experience and passion in autism. She participates in a range of academic activities, including: teaching, training and research. She teaches a graduate level course in Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities at the University of Cincinnati, leads independent studies, participates in dissertation and thesis committees, and mentors students. In order to expand training opportunities, she founded the Autism Demonstration Classroom (ADC). This project is a collaborative project between TKOC, Cincinnati Public Schools, University of Cincinnati, and Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services and is designed as a training lab for university students and professionals preparing to work with children with autism.

Research is another important component of her academic activities. She is a co-investigator on the Autism Treatment Network (ATN) grant which includes TKOC as one of 17 Centers across the USA and Canada, establishing diagnostic protocols and evaluating intervention outcomes in children diagnosed with ASD. She serves as principle investigator of a division clinical registry with over 6,000 children referred for a question of ASD. Additionally, she is co-investigator on two studies designed to improve the diagnosis of autism. 

Manning-Courtney, P, Murray DS, et al. Autism Spectrum Disorders. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care. 2013.

Mazurek MO,Vasa RA, Kalb LG, Kanne SM, Rosenberg D, Keefer A, Murray DS, Freedman B, Lowery LA. Anxiety, sensory over-responsivity, and gastrointestinal problems in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 2012.

Murray DS. Language Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Encyclopedia of Autism (on-line), Fred Volkmer (ed.). 2011.

Molloy CA, Murray D, Akers R, Mitchell T, Manning-Courtney P. The use of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) in a clinical setting. Autism. 2011;2, 143-162.

Molloy CA, Murray D, Kinsman A, Castillo H, Mitchell T, Hickey F, Patterson B. Differences in the clinical presentation of Trisomy 21 with and without autism. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 2009;53, 143-151.

Murray D, Ruble L, Willis H, Molloy CA. Parent and teacher report of social skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. 2009;40, 109-115.

Breit-Smith A, Murray D. Teaching conversation skills to children with high functioning autism/Asperger syndrome. Perspectives on Language Learning and Education. 2009; (16), 48-64.

Murray D, Creaghead N, Manning-Courtney P, Shear P, Bean J, Prendeville J. The relationship between joint attention and language in children with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. 2008;23(1).

Manning-Courtney P, Brown J, Molloy C, Reinhold J, Murray D, Sorensen-Burnworth R, Messerschmidt T, Kent B. Diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care. 2003; (33), 283-304.

Molloy C, Manning-Courtney P, Swayne S, Bean J, Brown J, Murray D, Kinsman A, Brasington M, Ulrich C. Lack of benefit of intravenous synthetic human secretin in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities. 2002;32(6). 545-551.