James P. Comer, M.D.
Associate Dean
Yale School of Medicine
Yale Child Study Center

James Comer grew up in a low-income family in East Chicago, IN, but credits his parents with leaving no doubt about the importance of education. He obtained a BA degree from Indiana University. He went on to obtain a degree in medicine from Howard University College of Medicine, a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and psychiatry training at the Yale University School of Medicine's Child Study Center. He currently is the Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale University Child Study Center and an associate dean at the Yale University School of Medicine.

During his years at Yale, Comer has concentrated his career on promoting a focus on child and youth development as a way of improving schools. He is best known for founding the Yale Child Study Center School Development Program in 1968, which promotes the collaboration of parents, educators, and community to improve social, emotional, and academic outcomes for children. He has written numerous articles and books, lectured widely and has received many honors. His efforts in support of healthy development of young people are known nationally and internationally and his latest book, published by Yale Press, September 2004, is entitled Leave No Child Behind: Preparing Today's Youth for Tomorrow's World.