Sandhyaa S. Iyengar, MD, MPH

Sandhyaa S. Iyengar, MD, MPH, is a board-certified pediatrician and an attending physician with the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She specializes in treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental delays and intellectual disabilities.

Her interest in developmental and behavioral pediatrics stems from a desire to “understand the ‘big picture’ of a child,” she says. “We take into consideration all their strengths and challenges, so that we can help each child achieve their best potential. It is so rewarding!”

Dr. Iyengar says she hopes all families who come to CHOP understand that everyone is invested in making sure they have a positive experience. “We try our best to take every measure possible to make sure your child is comfortable and your story is heard, and we partner with you for the best care for your child,” she says.

Education and experience

Dr. Iyengar received her medical degree from St. George’s University, Grenada, and completed a residency in Pediatrics at Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York. She has also completed additional training at CHOP, including fellowships in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. She also holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Dr. Iyengar currently serves on the State Interagency Coordinating Council for the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning as well as the Health Services Advisory Committee for Early Head Start. In addition, she has authored over a dozen papers and presentations and received a number of awards for her work.  Dr. Iyengar is also actively involved with the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Research

In addition to her state- and national-level advocacy efforts regarding early childhood development, Dr. Iyengar’s research revolves around four topics: quality improvement, helping primary care doctors screen for developmental conditions, promoting healthy lifestyles for children with ASD, and learning about the impact of adverse childhood experiences on development.

Those interests are born from her desire to help patients and their families get the support they need to help each child reach his or her full potential. “My passion is in early childhood development. Interventions that occur in the first few years of a child’s life have the opportunity to make the biggest impact on a child’s trajectory,” she says.

Dr. Iyengar is excited to see how the specialty is evolving. “I love how Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics is becoming integrated with other specialties throughout the hospital. There is a growing understanding about the importance of optimizing a child's development in the context of their chronic medical conditions,” she says.