DocMcCafferty

So much work to get to this point…pediatricians are going to be able to diagnose autism in South Carolina and refer for services, so that the children most in need, will not have to wait 1-2 years to see a subspecialist!

Absolutely incredible. I’m still in shock.

www.scdhhs.gov/communicatio...

Engaging online these days, even for networking and education, can be physically painful for those of us working tirelessly to ensure our nation’s children can access high-quality, evidence-based healthcare.

But I know there is good out there. Stay the course… positive change is coming!

Today I became a Board-Certified Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician.

Over 15 years in the making… and this is the least exciting thing that I’ve accomplished in my medical career as I wrap up this beautiful day in Columbia with my policy team.

… More to come and I can’t wait to share it!

an unpredictable and terrifying agenda.

In other news; instead of requests for ASD evaluations… I’m now seeing a spike in requests to evaluate for ADHD, ODD, anxiety, OCD… How bizarre?!

When the prevalence of autism drops dramatically over the next 5 years; it won’t be because autism was “cured”

After decades of promoting awareness, acceptance, clinicians are seeing families actively choose to delay an ASD diagnosis in an effort to protect their children from…

Square canva graphic with a gray-green background. White text at the top reads, "Autism-Themed Books You Should Know" Underneath is the cover of a book, with a black background with multi-colored dots, and white text reading Nobody's Normal by Roy Richard Grinker, with a subtitle in the center reading, "How Culture Created the Stigma of Mental Illness" White text at the bottom reads, "@ThinkingAutism" amd "tinyurl.com/NobodysNormalAutism"

Autism Books You Should Know: Nobody's Normal. "With autism the boundary lines are drawn more by culture than by nature. While most of us can easily tell the difference between yellow becomes orange, we probably can't agree on exactly where yellow ends & orange begins."

bookshop.org/p/books/nobo...

Might not seem like much; but having grown up with extreme food and home insecurity… a dream I never thought I’d be able to dream out loud, was to own a real home with an orange tree in the back yard.

And I actually did it…

So this little guy needs a name, suggestions?

Life is such an adventure… nothing like an exciting discovery, at the end of a long day… after a 2 hour bball practice… an hour away from home..

But at least I got to teach my 11yo how to change a tire. #silverlinings

Once upon a time I worked in naval intelligence.

Once upon a time I was responsible for highly classified information.

This is a BIG DEAL.

I simply can not process the absolute idiocy underlying recent national security events. Absolute, Mind-boggling incompetence among unserious people.

WTAH

My 5 year old:

“Goodnight brain. Goodnight body. Don’t try anything silly. We need to get sleep so we can grow big and beat daddy in a pillow fight. NO WIGGLES!”

❤️❤️

That one time I tried to transition away from ‘the bad place’, at the same time I was transitioning out of fellowship, into multiple fulfilling professional roles

But missed connecting with colleagues so came back to Bluesky, and realized I’m the asshole who didn’t follow anyone back. On it. 🙃😵‍💫🫠

When You Have No Choice But ABA Therapy — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM ABA therapy is a known to be a questionable autism practice. But not every parent can choose to avoid ABA. What are those parents' options?

When You Have No Choice But ABA Therapy: You may know that ABA is a questionable therapy for autistic kids, one many autism advocates think should be abandoned. But since not every parent can avoid ABA, what can those parents do to protect their kids?

thinkingautismguide.com/2025/03/when... #autism

“Bruh, have you seen what those guns do? If I’m gonna die, I’m going out laughing at farts. Do YOU still take your lock-down drills seriously?”

I wasn’t ready for my 9yo to be acutely aware and unbothered that being murdered in her classroom is a normalized part of her childhood

This is failure.

My 9yo told me that she and her bestie got in trouble for laughing at two boys who were competing for the loudest farts during their lock down drill a few days ago.

And when I delicately suggested she prepare as if it’s real, she said…

Changing perspective changes outcomes. Try it!

Policy work wasn’t part of the plan. But when your colleagues advocate for you AND your director gives you a seat at the big table, you sit.

As a Peds Subspecialist, you have more power than you realize. Do NOT settle. But if you stumble into a place that fits… it’s ok to stay where you are valued.

Wanting to give families hope… the possibility of a miracle… is why I wanted to pursue neonatology.

Realizing I wouldn’t be happy unless I had the chance to help those incredible little miracles navigate all of their life’s milestones, is why I chose Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics ❤️

My two favorite things in life are being with my kids, and not being with my kids. It’s not complicated. It’s parenting.

Watching Cervical Cancer destroy my family left deep scars…

But it made me fight for access to the vaccine in 2006. I was 20, Multiple male docs refused it for no good reason

And empowered me to vaccinate my daughters on their 9th bdays with no hesitation.

Why wouldn’t you prevent cancer?

The best part about owning my own DBP micro practice??

No arbitrary time limits with patients. It’s takes how long it takes. ❤️

Feeling incredibly blessed to be able to meet families where they are.

Raw milk CEO whose products have been recalled may lead US raw milk policy Mark McAfee, whose products have been repeatedly contaminated with bird flu, asked by RJK Jr to apply for job

We are not serious people.

My spouse in tech (who unequivocally supports my dreams and thinks I’m a badass) also thinks everything about medical training and the practice of medicine is absolutely farcical.

The amount of expected unpaid labor alone… he and his Tech/IT bros would never.

I’ve never seen a person look so mortified while I described what has become “par for the course” for me and my recent fellow grads. Apparently, none of these things, are things where they are.

Can you imagine?

Wild.

Pretty sure they’re gonna stay put.

Debated how to ask about these things, without actually asking these things, so you’re not labeled a troublemaker… ya know… the basics.

We talked about the “business” of applying to positions in the states: obtuse interview games, credentialing nightmares, non negotiable salaries, non-competes, supervisory clauses, salary withholding for failure to meet RVU minimums, diminishing clinical autonomy… the “take it or leave it mentality”

They say you can get a job anywhere as a DBP.

But they never talk about how the details aren’t really up to you…

I had a long chat with a friend considering a DBP position in the states, from one of those “damned socialist” countries where access to healthcare is built into the fabric of society

Same

Tomorrow we find out how many DBP fellowship spots go unfilled “because no one wants to do this job”

… Careful though

Don’t confuse not wanting to do a job, with not wanting or being able to pursue a fellowship….

Please add public health to my label

I hope to stay part of the conversation and contribute when able… at least until I have time to write a book, or start a podcast…

🤣🫠💪🏼

So tag me in on anything related to #autism #neurodiversity #Pedsky #AAP #ADHD #Lowcountry

And never settle!