Presentation description:
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is possibly the most important public health study ever done and the largest study of its kind to examine the health and social effects of adverse childhood experiences over the lifespan. The ACE study has demonstrated that childhood adversity appears to determine the likelihood of the ten most common causes of adult death in the United States. This study demonstrates the relationship of childhood abuse, neglect, domestic violence and related experiences on health throughout the lifespan. The findings are consistent with recent discoveries about the neurobiology of stress and the effect of stress on the developing central nervous system. Unlike other studies, the ACE study assessed a wide array of traumatic childhood experiences as well as many health and social problems from adolescence to late adulthood. The number of ACEs has a graded relationship to many common medical and public health problems. An overview of these concepts and findings from the study will be presented.

About Robert Anda:
Dr. Anda graduated from Rush Medical College in 1979 and received his Board Certification in Internal Medicine in 1982. During 1982-1984 he completed a Fellowship in Preventive Medicine at the University of Wisconsin where he also received a Master's Degree (MS) in Epidemiology. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Public Health Service at CDC conducting research in a variety of areas including disease surveillance, behavioral health, mental health and disease, cardiovascular disease investigations, and childhood determinants of health.

He played the principal role in the design of the ACE study, subsequent analysis of the ACE Study data, and preparation of its numerous scientific publications and serves as its Co-Principal Investigator.

He has more than 100 peer-reviewed publications as well as numerous government publications and has authored several book chapters. In addition, he has received numerous awards and recognition for scientific achievements.   He is frequently invited to speak about the ACE Study as a keynote or plenary speaker at regional and national meetings and has presented the ACE Study findings at Congressional briefings.