Fifty years of clinical observation into savant syndrome began in 1962 at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute. Darold A. Treffert focused his psychiatric career on the study of autism spectrum disorders and the cognitive mechanisms underlying phenomenal memory, eventually becoming a leading figure in documenting the capabilities of individuals who display extraordinary specific skills despite significant developmental challenges.
Medical Education and Early Clinical Work
Darold A. Treffert attended Bethany Lutheran College, where he completed pre-medical requirements and received an associate in arts degree in 1953. By 1958, he obtained his medical doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Following an internship in Eugene, Oregon, he finished his psychiatric residency at University Hospitals in Madison, Wisconsin. In 1962, he established the child-adolescent unit at the Winnebago Mental Health Institute, serving as superintendent by 1964. This environment provided his initial exposure to patients with savant syndrome.
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Starting in 1979, Treffert managed a private psychiatric practice alongside his role as executive director of the Fond du Lac County Health Care Center. He also served as the medical director for the Alcoholism Rehabilitation Unit at St. Agnes Hospital. His leadership extended to the State Medical Society of Wisconsin, where he served as president from 1979 to 1980 and board chair from 1981 to 1987. He also led the Wisconsin Psychiatric Association and the American Association of Psychiatric Administrators. In 1995, he joined the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board, becoming its chair in 2002.
Research and Authorship
Treffert dedicated much of his career to the epidemiology of autism and savant syndrome. His first book, Extraordinary People, released in 1989, detailed historical cases such as Blind Tom, Leslie Lemke, Alonzo Clemens, and a subject identified as Ellen. Later editions addressed the influence of the film Rain Man and included profiles of Kim Peek. In 2010, he published Islands of Genius: The Bountiful Mind of the Autistic, Acquired, and Sudden Savant. He maintained an extensive online resource on these conditions through the Wisconsin Medical Society and served as a research director at the Treffert Center within Agnesian HealthCare.
Media and Public Engagement
Beyond academic and clinical contributions, Treffert participated in numerous media programs to discuss his research. His appearances included 60 Minutes, the CBS Evening News, The Phil Donahue Show, the Discovery Channel, Larry King Live, the Newshour, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Today. He also contributed articles to publications such as Scientific American and MIND. He remained active in providing guidance to families internationally until his death at his home in Fond du Lac on December 14, 2020.
Fast facts
- Born: March 12, 1933
- Died: December 14, 2020
- Education: Bethany Lutheran College, University of Wisconsin Medical School
- Primary Field: Psychiatry
- Notable Book: Extraordinary People
- Notable Book: Islands of Genius
- Key Interest: Savant Syndrome
- Residence: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Questions readers ask
What is savant syndrome?
It is a condition where individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism, demonstrate exceptional, often isolated, cognitive skills or memory abilities.
Which historical figures did Treffert study?
His research included documented cases such as Blind Tom, Leslie Lemke, Alonzo Clemens, Kim Peek, and a subject referred to as Ellen.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Fields: psychiatry
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