Overview
Dr Franz is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, who has served as PI, Co-I, and medical director on autism clinical trials, both behavioral and medical. She has also served as MPI and Co-I on studies using AI/machine learning and medical records to predict the likelihood of autism and late talking and understand developmental trajectories.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
·
2023 - Present
Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychiatry,
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development
·
2026 - Present
Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychiatry,
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Associate Research Professor of Global Health
·
2023 - Present
Duke Global Health Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
·
2019 - Present
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences,
University Institutes and Centers
Recent Scholarly Works
Using clinical notes to identify children with speech-language delay and understand differences in diagnostic timing.
Journal article JAMIA Open · June 2026 Featured Publication OBJECTIVE: Speech-language delay (SLD) is a developmental condition often identified by pediatricians. While early intervention is recommended, it is common for pediatricians to take a "watch and wait" approach. We sought to assess whether there is discord ... Full text Link to item CiteThe Relationship Between the Survey of Well-being of Young Children and Speech-language Delay Diagnosis.
Journal article J Dev Behav Pediatr · May 2026 OBJECTIVE: The Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC) supports developmental screening at well-child visits. However, a US Preventive Services Task Force report suggests insufficient evidence for this approach for speech-language delay identificatio ... Full text Link to item CiteCognitive Disengagement Syndrome in Young Autistic Children, Children with ADHD, and Autistic Children with ADHD.
Journal article J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol · 2026 OBJECTIVE: Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS; previously called Sluggish Cognitive Tempo) refers to a constellation of cognitive and motor behaviors characterized by a predisposition toward mind wandering (cognitive subdomain) and slowed motor behavior ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Duke-NCCU Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Training Program in Child Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Conditions Program (DN-IPT)
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health · 2024 - 2029Duke University Psychiatry Physician-Scientist Residency Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Mental Health · 2024 - 2029Electrophysiological biomarkers of social engagement in autism
ResearchCo-Mentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2028View All Grants
Education
Stellenbosch University (South Africa) ·
2002
M.B.B.Ch.