Michele Elizabeth Villalobos
( out of 10 reviews )

Michele Elizabeth Villalobos, PhD, MS

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

Eccles Primary Children's Outpatient Services Building

University Developmental Assessment Clinic
81 N Mario Capecchi Drive
Salt Lake City , UT 84113
801-587-2255
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  • Dr. Villalobos is a Developmental Psychologist who received her degree from the University of Utah, she completed her Internship at the Yale Child Study Center with an emphasis in Autism Spectrum Disorders, she completed her post-doctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children´s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is currently an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Utah and the Quality Director for the Primary Children's Developmental Pediatrics and Autism Service Line. Prior to her career at the University of Utah, she was an Associate Professor at UNC Chapel Hill in the Department of Psychiatry TEACCH Autism Program from 2013-2020 where she continues to hold an Adjunct Associate Professor position. Dr. Villalobos served as the Director of the UNC TEACCH Autism Program in Asheville for seven years. She is currently serves on the Board for the International Society for Autism Research as acting Treasurer.

    Dr. Villalobos works within the University Developmental Assessment Clinics, providing evaluations of children with suspected autism and other developmental disabilities as part of a multidisciplinary team. She sees patients with autism and other developmental disabilities for ongoing care. Her specific clinical interests and expertise is focused on autism in infancy and early childhood as well as disparities in access to care in underserved communities.

    Academic Bio:

    Dr. Villalobos’ specializes in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorders in underserved communities. She has published on early diagnosis and screening of autism, and has trained professionals worldwide on the fundamentals of autism and evidence based techniques. She has also authored several peer-reviewed publications and book chapters focused on screening and barriers to care. She serves as a consultant on several grants requiring expertise on the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.

    Her research efforts have focused on disparities and access to care in young children with autism around the globe. Specifically, Dr. Villalobos is interested in working with underserved communities and better understanding barriers to accessing autism services. She has published on caregiver experiences and barriers to care for families seeking a diagnosis of autism. Her work is also focused on implementing and disseminating evidence-based practices to underserved communities.

    Dr. Villalobos has worked on autism research projects around the globe. Specifically, she has authored studies on universal screening projects for autism as well as epidemiological studies of autism in Mexico and Uganda. She served as a Consultant for Autism Speaks as part of an Epidemiological effort in Mexico and mentors trainees in Uganda as part of a Fogarty Award.

    Dr. Villalobos has also been heavily involved in training of students, providers and educators around the globe. Her passion for mentoring is exhibited in her over 13 years of commitment to the International Society for Autism Research where she helped to build both Student and Early Career Committees aimed at supporting researchers pursuing careers in autism. Her efforts are now largely focused on global mentoring initiatives. Dr. Villalobos has also spent the past 10 years training autism providers across the globe in fundamental of autism and evidence-based interventions.

    Specialties

    Patient Rating

    4.8 /5
    ( out of 10 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER

    She was very kind and professional. My toddler felt very comfortable with her. She was amazing.

    PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER

    I feel like the telehealth appointment was the exact same questionnaire I filled out prior to the appointment and felt like a waste of time and money despite her being kind and caring

    PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER

    She was very helpful very kind and explained things to me very well. I appreciate her calling me back.

    PRIMARY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER

    Michelle was wonderful. She explained things for us and what to do moving forward. She also made sure we knew we could contact her with any issues or concerns following our appointment until we are seen next.

  • Dr. Villalobos is a Developmental Psychologist who received her degree from the University of Utah, she completed her Internship at the Yale Child Study Center with an emphasis in Autism Spectrum Disorders, she completed her post-doctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children´s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is currently an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Utah and the Quality Director for the Primary Children's Developmental Pediatrics and Autism Service Line. Prior to her career at the University of Utah, she was an Associate Professor at UNC Chapel Hill in the Department of Psychiatry TEACCH Autism Program from 2013-2020 where she continues to hold an Adjunct Associate Professor position. Dr. Villalobos served as the Director of the UNC TEACCH Autism Program in Asheville for seven years. She is currently serves on the Board for the International Society for Autism Research as acting Treasurer.

    Dr. Villalobos works within the University Developmental Assessment Clinics, providing evaluations of children with suspected autism and other developmental disabilities as part of a multidisciplinary team. She sees patients with autism and other developmental disabilities for ongoing care. Her specific clinical interests and expertise is focused on autism in infancy and early childhood as well as disparities in access to care in underserved communities.

    Academic Bio:

    Dr. Villalobos’ specializes in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorders in underserved communities. She has published on early diagnosis and screening of autism, and has trained professionals worldwide on the fundamentals of autism and evidence based techniques. She has also authored several peer-reviewed publications and book chapters focused on screening and barriers to care. She serves as a consultant on several grants requiring expertise on the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.

    Her research efforts have focused on disparities and access to care in young children with autism around the globe. Specifically, Dr. Villalobos is interested in working with underserved communities and better understanding barriers to accessing autism services. She has published on caregiver experiences and barriers to care for families seeking a diagnosis of autism. Her work is also focused on implementing and disseminating evidence-based practices to underserved communities.

    Dr. Villalobos has worked on autism research projects around the globe. Specifically, she has authored studies on universal screening projects for autism as well as epidemiological studies of autism in Mexico and Uganda. She served as a Consultant for Autism Speaks as part of an Epidemiological effort in Mexico and mentors trainees in Uganda as part of a Fogarty Award.

    Dr. Villalobos has also been heavily involved in training of students, providers and educators around the globe. Her passion for mentoring is exhibited in her over 13 years of commitment to the International Society for Autism Research where she helped to build both Student and Early Career Committees aimed at supporting researchers pursuing careers in autism. Her efforts are now largely focused on global mentoring initiatives. Dr. Villalobos has also spent the past 10 years training autism providers across the globe in fundamental of autism and evidence-based interventions.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Pediatrics -Associate Professor (Clinical)
    Academic Divisions General Pediatrics

    Education history

    Undergraduate Major: Psychology; Minor: Biology - San Diego State University B.Sc. (Hons)
    Fellowship Career Opportunities in Research Training Program, Minority Scholars Program - National Institute of Mental Health Fellow
    Internship Section on Integrative Neuroimaging - National Institutes of Health Summer, National Institute of Mental Health Intern
    Graduate Training Clinical Psychology - University of Utah M.S.
    Doctoral Training Clinical Child and Family Psychology - University of Utah School of Medicine Ph.D.
    Fellowship Pediatrics (Autism Focus) - University of Utah School of Medicine Clinical Fellow
    Fellowship Autism - Yale University Fellow
    Fellowship Autism Research - University of Pennsylvania, Children¿s Hospital of Philadelphia Postdoctoral Fellow
    Fellowship Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities - University of Pennsylvania, Children¿s Hospital of Philadelphia Postdoctoral Fellow

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Mizuno, A., Villalobos, M.E., Davies, M.M., Dahl, B.C., Müller, R.A. (2006). Partially enhanced thalamocortical functional connectivity in autism. Brain Res, 1104(1), 160-74. (Read full publication)
    2. Kemmotsu, N., Villalobos, M.E., Gaffrey, M.S., Courchesne, E., Müller, R.A. (2005). Activity and functional connectivity of inferior frontal cortex associated with response conflict. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res, 24(2), 335-42. (Read full publication)
    3. Fombonne, E., Marcin, C., Manero, A.C., Bruno, R., Diaz, C., Villalobos, M., Ramsay, K., Nealy, B. (2016). Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Guanajuato, Mexico: The Leon survey. J Autism Dev Disord, 46(5), 1669-85. (Read full publication)
    4. Maxwell, C.R., Villalobos, M.E., Schultz, R.T., Herpertz-Dahlmann, B., Konrad, K., Kohls, G. (2013). Atypical laterality of resting gamma oscillations in Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord, 45(2), 292-7.
    5. Gabrielsen, T.P., Farley, M., Speer, L., Villalobos, M., Baker, C.N., Miller, J. (2015). Identifying autism in a brief observation. Pediatrics, 135(2), e330-8. (Read full publication)
    6. Miller, J.S., Gabrielsen, T., Villalobos, M., Alleman, R., Wahmhoff, N., Carbone, P.S., Segura, B. (2011). The each child study: systematic screening for autism spectrum disorders in a pediatric setting. Pediatrics, 127(5), 866-71. (Read full publication)
    7. Villalobos, M.E., Mizuno, A., Dahl, B.C., Kemmotsu, N., Müller, R.A. (2005). Reduced functional connectivity between V1 and inferior frontal cortex associated with visuomotor performance in autism. Neuroimage, 25(3), 916-25. (Read full publication)
    8. Allen-Brady, K., Robison, R., Cannon, D., Varvil, T., Villalobos, M., Pingree, C., Leppert, M.F., Miller, J., McMahon, W.M., Coon, H. (2010). Genome-wide linkage in Utah autism pedigrees. Mol Psychiatry, 15(10), 1006-15. (Read full publication)
    9. Berger JT, Villalobos ME, Clark AE, Holubkov R, Pollack MM, Berg RA, Carcillo JA, Dalton H, Harrison R, Meert KL, Newth CJL, Shanley TP, Wessel DL, Anand KJS, Zimmerman JJ, Sanders RC Jr, Liu T, Burr JS, Willson DF, Doctor A, Dean JM, Jenkins TL, Nicholson CE, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Networ (2018). Cognitive Development One Year After Infantile Critical Pertussis. Pediatric critical care medicine, 19(2), 89-97. (Read full publication)
    10. Crais B, McComish CS, Kertcher EF, Hooper SH, Pretzel R, Mendez L, Villalobos M (2020). Autism Spectrum Disorder Identification, Diagnosis, and Entry into EI Services: Learning from the Voices of Caregivers. Focus on autism and other developmental disabilities,
    11. Coon H, Villalobos ME, Robison RJ, Camp NJ, Cannon DS, Allen-Brady K, Miller JS, McMahon W (2010). Genome-wide linkage using the Social Responsiveness Scale in Utah autism pedigrees. Molecular autism, 1(1), 8. (Read full publication)
    12. Cannon DS, Miller JS, Robison RJ, Villalobos ME, Wahmhoff NK, Allen-Brady K, McMahon WM, Coon (2010). Genome-wide linkage analyses of two repetitive behavior phenotypes in Utah pedigrees with autism spectrum disorders. Molecular autism, 1(1), 3. (Read full publication)
    13. Kaiser K, Villalobos ME, Locke J, Iruka IU, Proctor C, Boyd (2022). A culturally grounded autism parent training program with Black parents. Autism, 26(3), 716-726. (Read full publication)
    14. Bonney E, Abbo C, Ogara C, Villalobos ME, Elison J (2022). Sex differences in age of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder: Preliminary evidence from Uganda. Autism research, 15(1), 183-191. (Read full publication)
    15. Bonney E, Villalobos M, Elison J, Sung S, Wosu A, SSemugabo C, Pariyo G, Kajungu D, Rutebemberwa E, Hyder AA, Gibson (2021). Caregivers' estimate of early childhood developmental status in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 11(6), e044708. (Read full publication)
    16. Maxwell CR, Villalobos ME, Schultz RT, Herpertz-Dahlmann B, Konrad K, Kohls (2015). Atypical laterality of resting gamma oscillations in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 45(2), 292-7. (Read full publication)
    17. Carbone PS, Stipelman CH, Villalobos ME, Ellzey A, Stuart A, Stoddard GJ, Campbell (2024). A Comparison of Parent-Reported Severe Autism With Mild/Moderate Autism Among US Children. Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics, 45(5), e422-e430. (Read full publication)
    18. Carbone PS, Campbell K, Villalobos ME, Stuart A, Ellzey A, Stoddard GJ, Roundy J, Tripp ZT, Stipelman (2025). Primary Care Autism Screening with the Parent’s Observations of Social Interactions. Review journal of autism and developmental disorders,
    19. Villalobos ME, Vivanti G, Jayanath S, Carpenter K, Shen MD, Shic F, Locke (2025). Identifying and Responding to Gaps in the Academic Research Pipeline: Findings From the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Early Career Committee. Autism research, 18(4), 717-724. (Read full publication)
    20. Carbone PS, Dada Y, Villalobos M, Stoddard GJ, Roundy J, Campbell (2025). The Caregiver Concerns Questionnaire: A Tool to Target Care for Children on the Autism Spectrum. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, (Read full publication)
    21. Carbone PS, Campbell K, Villalobos M, Stuart A, Ellzey A, Stoddard GJ, Roundy J, Tripp ZT, Stipelman (2025). Primary Care Autism Screening with the Parent's Observations of Social Interactions. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, (Read full publication)

    Book Chapter

    1. Villalobos, M.E. (2013). Predictive Value of Screening Measures. In Volkmar F (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders (pp. 2239-40). New York: Springer-Verlag.
    2. Villalobos, M.E. (2013). Childhood Onset Pervasive Developmental Disorder. In Volkmar F (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders (pp. 613-4). New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Commentary

    1. Villalobos ME, Vivanti G, Jayanath S, Carpenter K, Shen MD, Shic F, Locke Identifying and Responding to Gaps in the Academic Research Pipeline: Findings from the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Early Career Committee. Autism research,

    Editorial

    1. Divan G, Chiang CH, Villalobos ME, Bakare M, Hoekstra (2023). Shifting the centre of gravity: Towards a truly global representation in autism research. 28(1), 3-5.

    Abstract

    1. Villalobos, M.E., Gaffrey, M.S., Müller, R.A. (2006). Reduced leftward asymmetry of superior temporal gyrus during semantic processing in autism [Abstract]. Neuroimage.
    2. Villalobos, M.E., Gaffrey, M.S., Davies, M.M., Mizuno, A., Müller, R.A. (2005). Verbal IQ correlates with leftward asymmetry of activation during semantic decision in autism [Abstract]. Neuroimage, 26(Supplement 1), S48.
    3. Villalobos, M.E., Mizuno, A., Cauich, C., Kemmotsu, N., Dahl, B.C., Müller, R.A. (2004). BOLD signal covariance shows functional connectivity between area 17 and inferior frontal cortex during visuo-motor coordination [Abstract]. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, (Suppl 1), D19.
    4. Noonan, S.K., Turner, K.C., Villalobos, M.E., Müller, R.A. (2004). Stage-Dependent changes in functional connectivity during motor sequence learning [Abstract]. Neuroimage, 22(Suppl 1), TU58.
    5. Turner, K.C., Frost, L., Villalobos, M.E., Mizuno, A., Müller, R.A. (2004). Reduced functional connectivity between caudate nucleus and prefrontal area 10 [Abstract]. Neuroimage, 22(Suppl 1), WE117.

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