The Legacy of Darold Treffert, MD
The SSM Health Treffert Center seeks to preserve, make available and expand the legacy of Darold Treffert, MD, an internationally respected researcher in autism, hyperlexia, savant syndrome and related conditions.
Dr. Treffert passed away unexpectedly on December 14, 2020.
Published Works
In addition to writing two award-winning books on savant syndrome, Dr. Treffert’s findings and insights appear in over 50 national and international publications, including professional journals and popular press.
- Extraordinary People: Understanding Savant Syndrome (1989), now translated into ten languages, was the first work to comprehensively summarize what is known about this fascinating condition.
- Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired and Sudden Savant (2010) provides updates on well-known savants Dr. Treffert followed over the years, particularly the “acquired savant”.
Movies & Television
Dr. Treffert consulted on the award-winning movie Rain Man, in which Dustin Hoffman played the part of an autistic savant, Raymond Babbitt.
Dr. Treffert also contributed to international documentaries and has made numerous television appearances, including:
- Today
- CNN
- The Early Show
- Dateline
- CBS Sunday Morning
- Discovery Channel
- 60 Minutes
Dr. Treffert's Biography
- Dr. Treffert graduated from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1958, interned in Eugene, Oregon, and then completed a residency in Psychiatry at University Hospitals in Madison, Wisconsin.
- In 1962, he joined the staff of Winnebago Mental Health Institute where he developed the child-adolescent unit.
- In 1964, he was named superintendent of the institute, a position he held for 15 years.
- Dr. Treffert served as president of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin in 1979-80 and chairman of the Board of Directors of that organization from 1981-87.
- In 1979, he left his position at Winnebago Mental Health Institute to divide his time between the private practice of Psychiatry and a position as executive director of the Fond du Lac County Health Care Center.
- He was the president of the Wisconsin Psychiatric Association and the American Association of Psychiatric Administrators.
- He was a member of the Controlled Substances Board of Wisconsin for 12 years from 1970 to 1982.
- In 1991, he retired from those positions, but continued to do research on savants, hyperlexia, and autism.
- He was re-appointed to the Controlled Substances Board of Wisconsin by the Governor in August 2004.
- He was a member of the Wisconsin Medical Examining board from 1995 to 2003 and served as chairman of the MEB in 2002. Dr. Treffert has held positions as clinical professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
- In spring 2016, Agnesian HealthCare established the Treffert Center.
- Dr. Treffert passed away unexpectedly on December 14, 2020. His work will be carried on each day at the SSM Health Treffert Center.