Doreen Granpeesheh

Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, a leading expert in autism treatment, has dedicated over 40 years to improving the lives of individuals with autism. A licensed psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, she founded the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) in 1990, which became one of the largest providers of ABA-based therapy worldwide. Under her leadership, CARD employed thousands of professionals and pioneered evidence-based programs that have significantly advanced autism research and treatment.

Dr. Granpeesheh sold CARD to Blackstone in 2018, at which time the organization operated 260 locations across 32 states. However, by 2023, over 100 locations had closed, services had ceased in 20 states, and thousands of patients lost access to treatment. In a bankruptcy sale five years later, Dr. Granpeesheh successfully bid to reacquire CARD and has since focused on restoring its services, reopening centers, and hiring over 800 new employees to support its clients.

Dr. Granpeesheh’s groundbreaking work began at UCLA, where she collaborated with Dr. Ivar Lovaas on a pivotal study demonstrating the potential for recovery in children with autism through intensive behavioral intervention. She later developed the CARD Model and other innovative tools, including Skills™, a web-based platform for designing and managing personalized autism treatment plans.

Beyond CARD, Dr. Granpeesheh co-founded Autism Research Group, Autism Media Network, and Autism Care Today, contributing to research, advocacy, and education. She has authored over 50 publications and co-directed the award-winning documentary "Recovered: Journeys through the Autism Spectrum and Back." Her accolades include the George Winokur Clinical Research Award, the establishment of the “Doreen Granpeesheh Fund” to support interdisciplinary autism treatment, and recognition by Forbes as a 50 Over 50 honoree in 2024.