February 1, 2008

Drexel University College of Medicine will host its highly anticipated Black Tie White Coat Ball Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 6 p.m. at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market Street. The event will be a fun-filled evening of music, dinner, and dancing, featuring a concert by Village People. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit autism treatment and research at Drexel University College of Medicine.

Today, one in 150 children is diagnosed with autism, making it the fastest-growing disability in the United States. Yet there remains no means of prevention and no cure.

"Here at Drexel University College of Medicine, our physicians and researchers have combined their strengths and resources to develop a unique multidisciplinary program aimed at improving the diagnosis and clinical options for children with autism, while pursuing a variety of promising research into its origins and treatment," said Manuel Stamatakis, chairman of the board of Drexel University College of Medicine. "All the proceeds from this event will be devoted to accelerating this pivotal work."

The Drexel University College of Medicine Autism Consortium brings together scientists and clinicians from various disciplines, including psychiatry, pediatrics, pharmacology, and biochemistry — all of whom have dedicated their research efforts to solve the autism puzzle. The highly interactive group works closely with the Drexel Autism Center, a clinical practice located at Friends Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia led by director Richard Malone, MD, professor of psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine, and a renowned autism researcher.

"We have clinicians who are very experienced in dealing with autism, which is not common in the community," said Malone. Physicians at the Drexel Autism Center are also very experienced in medication treatments and can enroll children in federally funded studies. "We've seen children make great strides - both with medication and also by getting them access to appropriate behavioral therapies, which can make a big difference to the entire family."

The Drexel University College of Medicine Black Tie White Coat Ball is one of the biggest health care fundraisers in the Philadelphia region, and has twice been recognized as "Best Event" by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. For more information, including sponsorship opportunities and ticket information, please call 215-255-7330.