Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D., was the world’s foremost authority on clinical work with infants and young children with developmental and emotional problems. His influential work guided parents, professionals and researchers all over the world. Dr. Greenspan died shortly after finishing his work on The Learning Tree. His seminal contributions in the theories of child development redefined the understanding of how infants and young children feel and think. It will continue to improve the lives of children for generations to come.

He was Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at George Washington University Medical School and Chairman of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders as well as the founding president of Zero to Three: The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, and past director of the NIMH Mental Health Study Center and the Clinical Infant Development Program. Dr. Greenspan was author of over 100 scholarly articles and chapters and author or editor of over forty books, translated into over a dozen languages. His research has been featured in all the major media, including Newsweek, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, New York Times, ABC, NBC, and CBS news broadcasts, and the subject of a PBS NOVA documentary, “Life’s First Feelings.”

Occupation

Practicing Child and Adult Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst; Clinical Professor Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, George Washington University Medical School; Supervising Child Psychoanalyst, Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, Chair, Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL), Co-Chair, Council on Human Development.

Professional Activities

Researcher on the prevention and treatment of emotional and developmental disorders in infants and children; Chair, ICDL (1997-2010); a founder and president (1975-84) of ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families; Chairman, Diagnostic Classification Committee, ZERO TO THREE: NCITF (1988-96); Past Chief, Mental Health Study Center and Clinical Infant Development Program, National Institute of Mental Health; Past Member, Surgeon General’s Task Force on Infant Mortality; past Regional Vice President, World Association for Infant Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines. Editorial Boards: Clinical Infant Reports (Chair); Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, Journal of Preventive Psychiatry, Journal of Psychoanalytic Inquiry, Infant Mental Health Journal, Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research; Journal of Developmental and Learning Disorders

Publications

Over 100 articles and chapters. Author or editor of over 40 monographs and books. His singular formulations of the DIR model , Floortime, and related strategies to facilitate emotional growth have been featured in a PBS NOVA documentary (”Life’s First Feelings”) which received the American Psychological Association’s 1986 award for Best Educational Program; the basis for a video tape entitled “Exploring First Feelings,” being shown to new mothers in over 200 hospitals; and a video tape for educators and parents entitled “Floor Time”, produced by Scholastic, Inc. Work featured in The Washington Post, Newsweek, Time Magazine, PBS NewsHour, ABC’s Nightline and on the ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN News.

Honors

The American Psychiatric Association’s Ittleson Prize for outstanding contributions to Child Psychiatry Research and the American Orthopsychiatric Association’s Ittleson Prize for outstanding contributions to American mental health, the only individual to receive both Ittleson awards; The Edward A. Strecker Award for outstanding contributions to American psychiatry; Distinguished Psychiatrist Lecturer Award from the Scientific Program Committee of the American Psychiatric Association; The United States Public Health Service Special Recognition Award; The Heintz Hartmann Prize and the Mary Allen Award for outstanding contributions to American psychoanalysis; Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association; Elected to the American College of Psychiatry and the American College of Psychoanalysis.