I graduated from the University of Michigan in 1970 with a degree in English literature. During those years I did not take any science courses. In truth, I had no vocational aspirations. I was a willing victim of the cultural milieu. I saw three or four movies a day, almost every day – no exaggeration – and read novels and eastern philosophy, listened to a lot of music, mainly jazz and R & B, and played Frisbee and softball. In retrospect, I was a 60’s stereotype, but it was fun and intellectually stimulating, and I’m happy I spent those years as I did. 

After graduation I took a year off, did a variety of different things, and then tried to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up. I ultimately decided to return to the U of M, take premed courses, and go to medical school. I began coursework at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in 1973. Two years into that program I obtained a fellowship to study psychopharmacology, since I was interested in why people acted the way they did. After obtaining my Masters Degree in pharmacology, I completed my medical school clinical rotations, and graduated in 1978. 

I then did a four-year residency in general psychiatry at the University of Chicago. Although I originally planned to do lab research on neurotransmitter dynamics, I ultimately found interactions with people a lot more stimulating than interactions with lab animals and test tubes, so I refocused on clinical work. I discovered I was most interested in developmental theory, so after my residency I did a two-year fellowship in child and adolescent (C&A) psychiatry. I finally finished school at age 36. By this time I’d married my wife and had my first child.

I stayed at the University of Chicago for the next 30 years or so. I did a lot of teaching and had a number of different academic positions, including training director for the C&A fellowship, director of the outpatient C&A clinic, and medical director of the infant psychiatry program. I also became the medical director of Chicago Lakeshore Hospital, a 110-bed freestanding psychiatric facility, where I developed an inpatient C&A service for the University of Chicago and became the Director of Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for the school. I remained in that position for approximately 20 years, until I moved to New York, in 2006. I taught classes to medical students, psychiatry residents, and C&A fellows on developmental theory, child and adolescent psychopharmacology, and forensic psychiatry. Additionally, I did individual supervision and conducted daily inpatient teaching rounds, and of course, I had an active clinical practice.

While I was in Chicago I began doing custody evaluations. My first was in 1983. Subsequently, I did another 700 or so before moving to New York. I find forensic work challenging and extremely interesting, as I have to address and analyze very complex systems of human interaction; and I enjoy – I know this sounds weird – testifying in court.

In 2006, due primarily to our interest in art and film, my wife and I moved to New York, where I became the Director of Forensic Psychiatry at the NYU Child Study Center. Since my arrival here, I’ve conducted another 300 or so custody evaluations, as well as other forensic assessments. At NYU I also had an active clinical practice, providing psychotherapy and medication management. I continued to teach developmental theory to child psychiatry residents, and I taught a couple of undergraduate classes. The first was called Developmental Theory and Human Motivation. It utilized film as a teaching tool to understand developmental theory. The other class was called Divorce in America. Its focus was on the creation and disruption of intimate relationships. We addressed communication and conflict resolution skills, as well as the impact of parental conflict and divorce on child development.

In 2010 I left NYU to become Director of Forensic Psychiatry and Senior Psychopharmacologist at the Child Mind Institute. Although I enjoyed my work there, in 2014 I finally decided to go into private practice (and open an art gallery, 57W57ARTS, with my wife). I continue to do both forensic and clinical work in my private practice.

CURRICULUM VITAE

PERSONAL DATA

Born                          Detroit, Michigan

Citizenship                United States of America

Marital Status            Married, September 6, 1981 to Sue Ravitz

EDUCATION

1970             A.B.         English Literature         University of Michigan

1977             M.S.         Pharmacology              Michigan State University

1978             M.D.         Medicine                     Michigan State University

INTERNSHIP AND RESIDENCIES

1978-82            General Psychiatry                             University of Chicago

1982-84            Child and Adolescent Psychiatry        University of Chicago

LICENSURE

1978            Licensed, State of Illinois 036-061264 

2005           Licensed, State of New York 236761 

2014            Licensed, State of California C132243

BOARD CERTIFICATION

General Psychiatry                        Certificate #26140

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry    Certificate #2107

Forensic Psychiatry                        Certificate #1665

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

1984-1991      Assistant Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Chicago

1984-1987      Medical Director, Parent-Infant Development Service, University of Chicago 

1985-1987      Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic, University of Chicago

1985-1988      Director of Training, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Chicago

1987-2005     Director of Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Chicago

1991-2005      Associate Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Chicago

2005-2006    Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Illinois

2005-2006    Director of Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Illinois

2006-2010     Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University

2006-2010     Director, Psychiatry and the Law Service, NYU Child Study Center, New York University

2010-2014      Senior Director, Forensic Psychiatry, Child Mind Institute

2010-2014      Senior Psychopharmacologist, Child Mind Institute

HOSPITAL APPOINTMENTS

1984-2005     Attending Psychiatrist, University of Chicago

1984-1986      Clinical Director, Adolescent Program, Chicago Lakeshore Hospital

1985-2006     Medical Director, Chicago Lakeshore Hospital

2006-2010     Attending Physician, New York University

OTHER PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS AND MAJOR VISITING APPOINTMENTS

1981-1984     Psychiatric Consultant, Cook County Juvenile Court, Chicago, IL

1982-1984    Psychiatric Consultant, Child and Adolescent Program, Gary Community Mental Health Center, Gary, IN

1982-1986    Psychiatric Consultant, St. Joseph's Carondolet Child Center, Chicago, IL

AWARDS AND HONORS

1976             Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Foundation Fellowship

MAJOR COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Chicago Lakeshore Hospital

1985-2006     Medical Executive Committee, Chairman

1985-2006     Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Chairman

MEMBERSHIPS, OFFICES, AND COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

1982-             American Psychiatric Association

1982-2006     Illinois State Psychiatric Association

1984-             American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

1984-2006     Illinois Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

1985-             Chicago Society for Adolescent Psychiatry

1999-             National Interdisciplinary Consortium on Custody Law

2007              Interdisciplinary Forum on Mental Health and Family Law

OFFICES HELD

1985-1991      Program Chairman, Illinois Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

1988-1990      Program Chairman, Chicago Society for Adolescent Psychiatry

1992-1993      President Elect, Chicago Society for Adolescent Psychiatry    

1993- 1995     President, Chicago Society for Adolescent Psychiatry

1994-1996      President Elect, Illinois Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

1996-1998      President, Illinois Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

2013-             Mental Health Chairperson, Interdisciplinary Forum on Mental Health and Family Law

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1984-2000     Interdisciplinary Case Conference.  Team leader.  Medical students, general psychiatry residents, child psychiatry fellows, psychologists, psychology graduate students, social workers, social work students.  2 hours per week 45 weeks per year.

1984-2005     Developmental Psychopathology.  Seminar leader.  2 year advanced seminar sequence.  Medical students, child psychiatry fellows.  1 hour per week 45 weeks per year.

1984-2005     Introduction to Child Psychiatry.  Seminar leader.  1 year seminar.  General psychiatry residents.  1.5 hours per week 45 weeks per year.

1987-2002     Introduction to Child & Adolescent Inpatient Treatment. 1 year lecture series.  Child psychiatry fellows.  1 hour per week 45 weeks per year.

1995-2001     Forensic Child Psychiatry.  Lecturer and seminar leader.  Child psychiatry fellows.  1 hour per week 24 weeks per year.

1986-2006    Inpatient Teaching Rounds. Attending physician.  Average daily census 15 patients.  Child psychiatry fellows, general psychiatry residents, medical students.  2-3 hours per day (10-15 hours per week) 48 weeks per year.

2007-2010    Child Development Seminar.  Seminar leader.  Second year child psychiatry fellows.  1 hour per week, 48 weeks per year.

2007-2010    Developmental Theory and Human Motivation.  Professor.  This is an NYU undergraduate class that uses film to teach basic principles of human development.  3 hours per week, 2 semesters per year.

2007-2010    Divorce in America.  Professor.  This is an NYU undergraduate class that surveys the current literature regarding intimacy, marriage, divorce, and custody in the United States.  3 hours per week, 2 semesters per year.

MENTORING OF GRADUATE STUDENTS, RESIDENTS, POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS IN RESEARCH

1984-2006     Personal supervision of 3 child psychiatry fellows per year

2006-2010     Personal supervision of 1 child psychiatry fellow per year

TEACHING AWARDS RECEIVED

1986            Best Resident Seminar, University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry

1988            Best Resident Seminar, University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry

1992            Best Resident Seminar, University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry

1996            Best Resident Seminar, University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry

OTHER

1988-2006    Psychiatric Consultant, Niles School District Off-Campus Learning Center, Skokie IL

1995-2006    Psychiatric Consultant, Francis W. Parker School, Chicago IL

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Original Reports

1. Ravitz, A.J., and Moore, K.E.: Lack of effect of chronic haloperidol administration on the prolactin-lowering action of piribedil.  J. Pharm. Pharmacol.  29:384-386, 1977.

2. Ravitz, A.J., and Moore, K.E.: Effects of amphetamine, methylphenidate and cocaine on serum prolactin concentration in the male rat.  Life Sci. 21:267-272, 1977.

3. Ravitz, A.J., and Moore, K.E.: Concentration of prolactin in serum in rats treated with baclofen.  J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 29:509-510, 1977.

4. Eikenberg, D., Ravitz, A., Gudelsky, G.A., and Moore, K.E.: Effects of estrogen on prolactin and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons.  M. Neural Transmission, 40:235-244, 1977.

5. Leventhal, B.L., Cook, E.H., Morford, M., Ravitz, A.J., & Freedman, D.X:  Relationships of whole blood serotonin and plasma norepinephrine within families. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 20(4): 499-511, 1990.

6. Perry, B.D., Conroy, L., & Ravitz, A.J.: "State memories:" The persisting psychophysiological effects of trauma. Violence Update, 1(1-11), 1991.

7. Mark A. Stein, Ph.D., Emily Szumowski, Ph.D., Alan J. Ravitz, M.D., Michael J. Frey, Ph.D., and Bennett L. Leventhal, M.D. Dexamethasone Suppression and Childhood Depression:  Association with Categorical and Dimensional Measures.  Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 1994.

8. Ravitz, Alan. Helping Families and Children in High Conflict Divorces. Adolescent Psychiatry, 2011, 1: 204-209

Books

1. National Interdisciplinary Colloquium on Custody Law (co-author).  Legal and Mental Health Perspectives on Child Custody Law: A Deskbook for Judges.  Minneapolis, West Publishing, 1998.

2. National Interdisciplinary Colloquium on Custody Law (co-author).  Mental Health Aspects of Custody Law.  Durham, North Carolina, Carolina Academic Press, 2005.

Book Chapters

1. Meltzer, H.Y., Simonovic, M., Ravitz, A., Fang, V., and Goode, D.: Effect of psychotomimetic drugs on rat and human prolactin and growth hormone levels.  In Handbook of Studies on Psychiatry and Endocrinology, ed. by P.J.V. Beaumont and G.D. Burrows, Elsevier/North Holland Press BV, Amsterdam, 1982.

2. Ravitz, A., and Reinecke: M., Cognitive Inpatient Treatment of Children and Adolescents in Handbook of Cognitive Treatment edited by Reinecke, M. Guilford Press, New York, 1994.

3. Ravitz, A: Adolescent Custody Evaluations in The Scientific Basis of Custody Evaluations edited by Galatzer-Levy, R.A. and Kraus, L. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1999.

4. Ravitz, A: Inpatient and Residential Treatment of Adolescents in Textbook of Adolescent Psychiatry edited by Rosner, R. et.al. American Psychiatric Press, Washington, D.C., 2003

5. Ravitz A, Cook E, Leventhal BL: Development in Psychiatry for Primary Care Physicians, 2nd Edition edited by Goldman LS, Wise T, Brody D. American Medical Association, Chicago, IL, 2003

6. Ravitz A: Child and Adolescent Disorders in Psychiatry for Primary Care Physicians, 2nd Edition edited by Goldman LS, Wise T, Brody D. American Medical Association, Chicago, IL, 2003

Reviews

1. Ravitz, A., & Leventhal, B.L. (Reviewers). The Clinical Guide to Child Psychiatry, D. Shaffer, A. Ehrhardt, & L. Greenhill (Eds.), J. Child Psychiatry, 1987, 25(1), p. 140.

2. Ravitz, A.J. Book Review: Too Scared to Cry: Psychic Trauma in Childhood, by Lenore Terr, M.D.  Journal of Interpersonal Violence, June 1991, 6(2): pp 246-247.

3. Ravitz, A.J. Book Review: Juvenile Sex Offenders: A Guide to Evaluation

and Treatment for Mental Health Professionals, by Eileen P. Ryan, John A. Hunter, and Daniel C. Murrie. Journal Of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 2014 (in press)

Abstracts 

1. Gudelsky, G.A., Annunziato, L., Ravitz, A.J., Eikenberg, D.C., and Moore, K.E.: Effects of estrogen on serum prolactin levels and dopamine turnover in nigrostriatal and tuberoinfundibular neurons of the rat.  Fed. Proc. 36:278, 1977.

2. Leventhal, B.L., Ravitz, A.J., and Morford, M.: Neurochemical effects of fenfluramine treatment.  Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, San Francisco, 1983.

Course Syllabi