Dr Samantha Cohen Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician San Diego Neurodiversity

Meet Dr. Samantha Cohen

I am a developmental behavioral pediatrician in San Diego, CA. I grew up in southern California, and attended university at UC Santa Cruz. I then moved to Wisconsin where I received my Medical Degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2008. I returned home to California and completed my Pediatric Residency training through UC San Diego/Rady Children's Hospital. I worked as a General Pediatrician for San Ysidro Health center for a few years before going on to complete a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics fellowship program at the UC Davis MIND Institute. During fellowship, I developed and ran a research study looking at the effects of yoga on preschool age children with ADHD symptoms. The results of that study were published in the Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics in 2018. After graduating from fellowship, I worked for SCPMG as a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician in the John Richards Developmental Clinic at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego. I learned and grew so much during all of these valuable experiences, and bring that knowledge and the strong foundation it gave me to my private practice.

Dr Samantha Cohen Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician San Diego Neurodiversity

I am also the mother of an amazing young boy with Autism. He is thriving due to early intervention, is full of joy, and always brings a smile to my face. Being his mother has taught me so much, and given me the unique perspective of being a provider and a parent. The lived experience of receiving a diagnosis, navigating how to get supportive services started, learning to manage behavior challenges in real time, and celebrating the milestones and successes along the way allows me to connect with my patients and their parents on a deeper level. Participating in his therapies and being able to share that experience with patients has enriched my practice, and the way I connect with and empathize with my patients and their parents. Being his mother also boosts my innate drive to continue learning and growing in my practice so that I can support him and the patients I care for to reach their fullest potential. 

Dr Samantha Cohen Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician San Diego Neurodiversity

I specialize in assessment, diagnosis, and providing care for children with developmental and/or behavioral differences.

My areas of expertise include autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, developmental delays, and other common challenges such as anxiety, difficulties with emotion regulation, social skills, sleep, and/or eating. I am also certified facilitator of an evidence-based social skills program called “Secret Agent Society Small Group Program: Solving the Mystery of Social Encounters ®” (https://www.secretagentsociety.com/sas-my-child), and am excited to be able to offer this program as part of my private practice. My goal and approach to care is rooted in helping patients and their families to optimize developmental and behavioral outcomes while embracing neurodiversity.

Postgraduate Medical Education:

  • University of California, Davis (UCD) Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship (2014 - 2017)

  • University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Pediatric Internship and Residency (2008 - 2011)

Education:

  • Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)  Degree: Medical Doctor (2004 - 2008)

  • University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (1997 - 2001)

Licensure & Certification:

  • DEA  (2010 - 8/31/25)

  • California Medical License (2010 - 11/30/25)

  • American Board of Pediatrics Certification  (2011 - present)

  • American Board of Pediatrics Subspecialty Certification in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (2019 - present)

  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) (2008 - 2012)

  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) (2008 - 2014)

  • California Children Services Paneled Physician  (2012 - present)

Honors & Awards:      

  • AAP Resident Award (2010)

  • NICU Intern of the Year, UCSD (2009)

  • Psychology Honors, UCSC  (2001)

  • Stevenson College Honors, UCSC (2001)

Research: 

  • Principal Investigator, UC Davis MIND Institute | Randomized wait-list control pilot study of yoga as an intervention for preschoolers with ADHD symptoms (2014 - 2017)

  • Principal Investigator, UC Davis MIND Institute | Survey study assessing parental perceptions about the effects of exercise, including yoga, on their children’s ADHD symptoms (2014 - 2017)

  • Principal Investigator, UCSD Pediatric Process Group | A quality improvement study on resident stress and burnout (2009 - 2011)

  • Research Assistant, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC) | Clinical trials on coronary heart disease (2002 - 2004)

  • Undergraduate Research Fellow, Mayo Clinic | Basic science research on volatile anesthetics and cardiac contractility (1999)

Memberships:

  • Western Society for Pediatric Research (2014 - 2017)

  • Society for Pediatric Research (2014 -2017)

  • Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics  (2014 - present)

  • American Academy of Pediatrics  (2008 - present)

  • American Medical Association (2014 - 2015)

  • American Medical Student Association (2004 - 2008)

  • Pediatric Interest Group, MCW (2004 - 2008)

Work Experience:

  • Samantha Cohen, MD, Inc., Developmental Behavioral Peds Private practice (2023 - present )

  • Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician, Southern California Permanente Medical Group (SCPMG) Partner, John Richards Developmental Clinic (JRDC) at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego (2017 - 2023)

  • Pediatrician, National City Family Clinic, San Ysidro Health Center (2011 - 2014)

  • Pediatrician, Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista, Mom/Baby Unit (2011 - 2014)

  • Pediatrician, Sharp Hospital in Chula Vista, Mom/Baby Unit (2011 - 2013)

  • Women’s Health Research Registry Assistant, CSMC (2005)

  • Personality Psychology Teaching Assistant, UCSC (2002)

  • General and Organic Chemistry Learning Assistant, UCSC (2001 - 2002)

Volunteer Experience:

  • Parent participant, PEERS for Preschoolers recordings for training purposes (2022 - 2023)

  • Med/Peds Continuity Clinic Preceptor, UCSD Volunteer Faculty (2013 - 2014)

  • Saturday Free Clinic, Physicians for Social Responsibility (2004 - 2006)

  • Institutional Review Board, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center  (2002 - 2004)

  • Women’s Health Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2002 - 2004)

  • Mealtime Mates, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2003 - 2004)

Leadership:

  • TEACH ME ADHD, Licensed Provider / Senior Field Agent (2024)

  • Secret Agent Society Small Group Program: Solving the Mystery of Social Encounters ®, Certified Trained Facilitator (2023)

  • Child Health & Wellness Expo Speaker  (2013)               

  • Epic Super User, Rady Children’s Hospital  (2009)

  • Tar Wars Co-Chair (a non-smoking campaign), MCW (2005 - 2006)

  • Jewish Student Union Vice President & Treasurer, MCW  (2005 - 2006)

  • Warrior Yoga Leader, MCW  (2004 - 2005)                 

Extracurricular Activities: 

  • Participant, Inquiry Program Quality Improvement Training (2009 - 2010)

  • Organizer, UCSD Pediatrics Recruitment Happy Hours (2009 - 2010)

  • Student, Pop-Wuj Medical Spanish School & Clinic, Guatemala (2008)

  • Student Editor, Dr. Kochar’s Internal Medicine Textbook (2006)

  • Dialysis Buddy, MCW Pediatric Interest Group (2005 - 2006)

  • Applicant Host, MCW Applicant Host Program (2004 - 2006)

  • Student, I.C.A. Spanish School, Guatemala (2005)

Abstract Presentations:

  • Lewis SC, Schweitzer JB (March 2015). Work in Progress: The Effects of Yoga on Attention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity in Pre-school Age Children “At-Risk” for ADHD. Maternal Child Health Bureau Annual Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  • Lewis S (October 2015). The Effects of Yoga on Attention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity in Pre-school Age Children with or “At Risk” for ADHD. Society for Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Research Scholar Symposium, Las Vegas, Nevada. 

  • Cohen SCL, Taylor S, Rashedi RN, Ramakrishnan A, Hansen RL, Schweitzer JB (January 2016). Parental Perceptions About Exercise and ADHD. Western Society for Pediatric Research Annual Meeting, Carmel, California.

  • Cohen SCL, Hansen RL, Angkustsiri K, Schneider A, Goldin P, Steinfeld MB, Tancredi DJ, Rashedi RN, Schweitzer JB (March 2016). Work in Progress: The Effects of Yoga on Attention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity in Pre-school Age Children with ADHD Symptoms. Maternal Child Health Bureau Annual Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship Meeting, Palo Alto, California.

  • Cohen SCL, Harvey D, Sheilds R, Tancredi DJ, Angkustsiri K, Hansen RL, Schweitzer JB (January 2017). The Effects of Yoga on Attention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity in Pre-school Age Children with ADHD Symptoms. Western Society for Pediatric Research Annual Meeting, Carmel, California.

  • Cohen SCL, Harvey D, Sheilds R, Tancredi DJ, Angkustsiri K, Hansen RL, Schweitzer JB (March 2017). The Effects of Yoga on Attention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity in Pre-school Age Children with ADHD Symptoms. Maternal Child Health Bureau Annual Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship Meeting, Aurora, Colorado

Other Presentations:

  • Cohen SCL, Harvey D, Sheilds G, Sheilds R, Tancredi DJ, Angkustsiri K, Hansen RL, Schweitzer JB (December 2016). The Effects of Yoga on Attention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity in Pre-school Age Children with ADHD Symptoms. University of California Davis Pediatric Grand Rounds, Sacramento, California.

  • Cohen SCL, Harvey D, Sheilds R, Tancredi DJ, Angkustsiri K, Hansen RL, Schweitzer JB (May 2017). The Effects of Yoga on Attention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity in Pre-school Age Children with ADHD Symptoms. Pediatric Academic Society Meeting, Poster Presentation, San Francisco, California.

  • Cohen SCL (April 2018). Yoga and Mindfulness Tools for Families. KP San Diego Pediatrics Department Meeting.

Publications:

  • Cohen SCL, Harvey DJ, Shields RH, et al; Effects of Yoga on Attention, Impulsivity, and Hyperactivity in Preschool-Aged Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms. Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, April 2018; 39(3): 200-209. 

  • Hartano T, Lewis S, Schweitzer J; Don’t Stop the Movement! Attention Magazine, February 2016: 20-23.

  • Azarang A, Cohen S, Hagerman R, Maselli R; Autism in a case of Congenital myasthenic syndrome. Clinical Case Reports and Reviews, 2016; 2(8): 523-525. 

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Please note: This form is intended for general questions only. Any details regarding patient information should be sent using a HIPAA secure modality: either the form on our contact page or via Dr. Cohen’s HIPAA secure email: Samantha.Cohen@hushmail.com.