Bio

Bio

Dr. Mohammad Zubairi is a Developmental Pediatrician & Associate Professor at McMaster University in the Department of Pediatrics. He is currently Director for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Postgraduate Medical Education at McMaster University. He is also former medical director for the McMaster Children’s Hospital Autism Program (2020-2024), and Program Director for Core Pediatrics Residency Program (2021-2025). His primary area of clinical work is with Autistic children and youth and their families, specifically those with complex needs and related neurodevelopmental disorders. He has collaborated with community agencies, researchers and clinicians locally, provincially and nationally to identify how to be culturally responsive and safe when providing clinical care. He has additionally led work in how to support Autistic children and youth presenting to emergency departments and inpatient settings.

Current Focus Areas

Current Focus Areas

• Improving the care of children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders in emergency department settings: Understanding the knowledge-to-practice continuum of emergency department providers.
• Supporting complex autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Where and how culture is evoked in clinical encounters, and how we can best teach about and support critical reflection around such issues.

Career Highlights

Career Highlights

Dr. Zubairi has previously served as the Vice-Chair, Chair and Past Chair of Physicians of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Advocacy (PONDA) Network (2017-2023), and has been a member of PONDA since 2016. He was also a member of the Section on Developmental Pediatrics with the Canadian Pediatric Society and a previous Board Member with Empowered Kids Ontario and SAAAC Autism Centre. In 2019, he was a member of the Ontario Autism Program’s Advisory Panel. He currently reviews content for Our Kids Health initiative.

Key publications & presentations include:

1. JAMA Pediatrics: A Collaborative Approach to Assessment and (Non)Diagnosis of Autism

2. Pediatrics & Child Health: Improving the care of children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders in emergency department settings: Understanding the knowledge-to-practice continuum of emergency department providers

3. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions: Building and Participating in a Simulation: Exploring a Continuing Education Intervention Designed to Foster Reflective Practice Among Experienced Clinicians

4. Webinar: Autism Ontario – Why & Where Culture Matters For Families with ASD

5. Interview: SAAAC Autism Centre – Importance of Cultural Competence in the Autism Diagnostic Journey

6. Today’s Parent article: How Your Culture May Affect Your Child’s Autism Diagnosis