Bennett Shaywitz, M.D., is a physician-scientist, the Charles and Helen Schwab Professor in Dyslexia and Learning Development, and Co-Director of the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity at the Yale University School of Medicine. As a child neurologist and neuroscientist, he is a leader in applying Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to understand the neurobiology of reading and dyslexia in children and adults. These studies identified a neural signature of dyslexia, making a previously hidden disability visible, and for the first time demonstrated the brain basis for the lack of fluency in dyslexia. Dr. Shaywitz’s recent studies focus on differences in brain connectivity between dyslexic and typical reading children and adults. Studies in progress use fMRI to investigate attentional mechanisms in reading and dyslexia.

The author of over 350 scientific papers, his honors include election to membership in the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Washington University. He currently serves on the Boards of the Park Century School and the Westmark School. Bennett previously served on the Institute of Medicine Immunization Safety Review Committee, the National Vaccine Program Safety Subcommittee, and the Scientific Advisory Board of the March of Dimes. He has been selected annually for Best Doctors in America and America’s Top Doctor.

Bennett, along with his wife Sally, have been instrumental in furthering dyslexia research. Their life long passion has touched many lives and continues to do so today with the pair refusing to retire.