Margaret Souders, PhD, CRNP

Specialties & Focus Areas

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnostics and treatment
• Developmental pediatrics
• Pediatric sleep disorders and chronic insomnia
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Genetics and autism phenotyping
• Family-centered autism care
• Early diagnosis and intervention
• Integrated behavioral and developmental care

Who They Help

Dr. Souders treats children and young adults up to age 21, and families navigating autism spectrum disorder and related developmental conditions. She has extensive experience supporting patients with:

• Suspected or confirmed autism diagnoses
• Sleep disturbances and chronic insomnia
• Neurodevelopmental and behavioral challenges
• Complex developmental care needs
• Genetic and developmental evaluations

She is especially passionate about helping families access early diagnosis, individualized care plans, and long-term developmental support.

Treatment Approach

Dr. Souders believes in a multidisciplinary, family-centered approach to autism and developmental care. Her work integrates clinical diagnostics, developmental support, behavioral strategies, genetics, and sleep medicine to create individualized treatment plans tailored to each child’s unique needs.

Her expertise in sleep medicine allows her to develop targeted interventions for children with autism and insomnia, including structured sleep routines, calming behavioral techniques, environmental modifications, and holistic strategies that support healthy circadian rhythms and overall well-being.

Dr. Souders also emphasizes caregiver education, advocacy, and collaboration to empower families throughout the diagnostic and treatment journey.

Professional Background

Over the course of her career, Dr. Souders provided care to more than 3,000 families through the Autism Integrated Care Programs at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She retired in July 2025 from her clinical and academic roles within the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

She was the first nurse practitioner in Child Development at CHOP in 2000, where she developed an innovative integrated model combining autism diagnostics with comprehensive developmental care. In 2010, she became the first nurse practitioner in the Clinical Genetics Center at CHOP and served as a co-investigator in research focused on identifying autism subtypes through dysmorphology phenotyping.

Dr. Souders has contributed extensively to autism advocacy, education, and policy initiatives, including participation in the Philadelphia Autism Project and service on the Executive Board of the Center for Autism.

Her research has explored the relationship between genetics, circadian rhythms, sleep regulation, and autism spectrum disorder. She has presented nationally and internationally through organizations including the International Society for Autism Research and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Certifications & Affiliations

• Director of Autism Diagnostics and Developmental Pediatrics at RiseNow Autism Innovations
• Associate Professor Emerita, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
• Former Clinical Leader, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
• Contributor to Pennsylvania Psychopharmacology Guidelines
• Former Executive Board Member, Center for Autism
• Presenter and workshop leader for international autism and sleep medicine conferences

Locations & Availability

Dr. Souders is affiliated with RiseNow and continues to support families through autism diagnostics, developmental pediatrics, and neurodevelopmental consultation services.

For inquiries or collaboration opportunities, contact: souders@risenowai.com