Sai N. Iyer, MD
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Sai N. Iyer, MD

  • Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
UCLA Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics | 300 Medical Plaza, Suite 3300, Los Angeles, CA 90095

About

Sai Iyer, MD is a board-certified Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and Health Sciences Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics at UCLA and serves as the Ronald and Susan Cohen Term Chair in Childhood Development and Cerebral Palsy. Dr. Iyer is also the Associate Medical Director of the UCLA High-risk Infant Follow-up Program.

Dr. Iyer's clinical interests include working with children and families in the UCLA High-Risk Infant Follow-up clinic, early detection of cerebral palsy, evaluation, treatment and care coordination for various developmental and behavioral problems, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, academic difficulties, learning disabilities and mental health concerns.

Dr. Iyer's research involves the early identification of preschool children who are at risk for later reading problems, using novel screening tools that she has developed and validated. The overarching goal of her research is to raise awareness about the importance of reading aloud with young children, promote positive parent-child interactions around reading and develop a deeper understanding of how we can help raise successful readers.
Dr. Iyer received her medical degree from Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, India and completed pediatric residency at the Institute of Child Health & Hospital for Children, Chennai, India. She underwent further pediatric training in the United Kingdom and was elected as a Member of the Royal College of Pediatrics & Child Health. After moving to the United States, she completed her Pediatric Residency at MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio and Fellowship in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at UC San Diego.

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certifications

Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics, 2019
Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics, 2013

Fellowship

Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 2017

Residency

Pediatrics, MetroHealth Medical Center, 2013

Internship

Pediatrics, MetroHealth Medical Center, 2011

Degree

MD, Sri Ramachandra Medical College, 2001

Recognitions

  • Selected for Academic Pediatric Association Research Scholars Program 2017.
  • Academic Pediatric Association Young Investigator Award (YIA) Program, 2015 for Primary Care Strategies for the Promotion of Early Literacy and School Readiness Supported by Reach Out and Read.
  • Mead Johnson Travel Award for best abstract, Western Society for Pediatric Research meeting, 2015
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Locations

West Los Angeles

UCLA Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics| Cognitive and Behavioral Psychology

Hospital Affiliations

Medical Services

Research

Interests

  • Emergent literacy
  • Development and validation of screening measures
  • Parent child interaction with books, shared and dialogic reading
  • Early brain development
  • Literacy promotion in Pediatric Primary Care using Reach Out and Read

Publications

  1. Waruingi W, Iyer S, Collin M. Improving health care usage in a very low birth weight population. World J Pediatr. 2014 Jun 28.
  2. Iyer SN, Sawyer MI, Germany M, Super DM, Needlman RD. Development of a 5-item parent questionnaire to screen preschool children for reading problems. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2014 Jun;53(6):571-8. doi: 10.1177/0009922814521285
  3. Iyer SN, Sawyer MI, Lambert G, Hartwell A, Needlman RD. Validation of a five-item parent questionnaire to screen preschool children for reading problems. Clin Pediatr (Phila). Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2015 Jun 10. pii: 0009922815590117.
  4. Iyer S, Kumar M, Reiff MI, Stein MT. Inattentive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, stimulant medication, and weight loss in a 15-year-old girl: Are we enabling the development of an eating disorder? J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2015 Sep;36(7):549-51. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000202.
  5. Iyer SN, Dawson ZM, Sawyer M, Abdullah N, Saju L, Needlman RD. Added Value of Early Literacy Screening in Preschool Children. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2017 Apr 1:9922817702937. doi: 10.1177/0009922817702937. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 28420261
  6. Iyer S, Do D, Akshoomoff N, Malcarne VL, Hattrup K, Berger SP, Gahagan S, Needlman R. Development of a Brief Screening Tool for Early Literacy Skills in Preschool Children. Acad Pediatr. 2018 Nov 16. pii: S1876-2859(18)30754-X. doi: 10.1016/j.acap.2018.11.008
  7. Network Implementation of Guideline for Early Detection Decreases Age at Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis. Maitre N, Burton V, Duncan A, Iyer S, Ostrander B, Winter S, Ayala L,

In the News

Recognitions

  • Selected for Academic Pediatric Association Research Scholars Program 2017.
  • Academic Pediatric Association Young Investigator Award (YIA) Program, 2015 for Primary Care Strategies for the Promotion of Early Literacy and School Readiness Supported by Reach Out and Read.
  • Mead Johnson Travel Award for best abstract, Western Society for Pediatric Research meeting, 2015
  • Case Western Reserve University Children’s Access Now Program Grant as a Resident Scholar, 2012