"I always knew I wanted to work with children and families, so the decision to become a pediatrician was a natural one. I’m a developmental pediatrician, which means I care for children who have developmental and behavioral difficulties.

At Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone, many of the children I treat have autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, language delays, genetic problems, and behavioral difficulties in school.

I bring many years of experience in developmental pediatrics to the evaluation and treatment of children. I also partner with parents to provide individualized care and achieve the best outcomes for their children.

My research is focused on improving early brain development in children through early interventions. I also study how to use the principles of health literacy to improve patient safety and the management of chronic disease. In addition to providing patient care and conducting research, I serve as the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics."

- Benard P. Dreyer, MD, FAAP

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Dr. Benard Dreyer is a general and development-behavioral pediatrician who has spent his professional lifetime serving poor children and families. Professor of Pediatrics at NYU, he leads the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, is Director of Pediatrics at Bellevue Hospital, and also works as a hospitalist. After graduation from NYU School of Medicine and chief residency at Jacobi Hospital, he stayed as Director of Emergency Medicine, starting the first Emergency Medicine Residency in New York State.

For over 30 years he led a primary care program at Bellevue, including co-located mental and oral health services and clinics in homeless shelters. His research is focused on interventions in primary care to improve early childhood outcomes, including early brain development and obesity.

Dr. Dreyer has been AAP NY Chapter 3 President, and a member of the Committee on Pediatric Research and the Executive Committee of the Council on Communications and Media. He CoChaired the AAP Health Literacy Project Advisory Committee, including editing the AAP publication Plain Language Pediatrics. He serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Section on LGBT Health and Wellness and the AAP Leadership Workgroup on Poverty and Child Health.

Dr. Dreyer was president of the Academic Pediatric Association (APA), and founded and chairs the APA Task Force on Childhood Poverty and the APA Research Scholars Program. He also hosts a weekly radio show on the Sirius XM Doctor Radio Channel, On Call for Kids.