Michael R. Cummings MD
Michael R. Cummings
MD
Vice Chair and Assistant Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Psychiatry
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDEducation and Training:
- Residency, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2004)
- Residency, General Psychiatry, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2001)
- MD, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cum Laude (1998)
- BS, Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Division of Nutritional Sciences (1994)
Employment:
- Psychiatric Consultant, OPWDD (Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities) Sunmount Developmental Center (2025-present)
- Medical Director of Developmental Disabilities Residential Services, Services for the Underserved (2024-present)
- Psychiatric Consultant, The Center For Discovery's Children's Specialty Hospital (2024-present)
- Clinical Consultant, Autism, NYS Office of Mental Health, Project Teach (2022-present)
- Medical Director NYSTART/CSIDD Region 2, Yai (2022-present)
- Medical Director NYSTART/CSIDD Region 1, Arc of Chemung (2019-present)
- Vice Chair, Psychiatry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2019-present)
- Associate Medical Director, Erie County Medical Center (2016-present)
- Medical Director APIC Program, University Psychiatric Practice, Inc (2014-present)
- Psychiatric Consultant, Crisis Services (2010-present)
- Medical Director NYSTART/CSIDD Region 4, Services for the Underserved (2020–2024)
- Medical Director Intensive Treatment Program, OLV Human Services (2018–2022)
- Psychiatric Consultant, Erie County Holding Center (2009–2019)
- Medical Director NYSTART/CSIDD Region 1, Arc of Chemung (2015–2017)
- Psychiatric Consultant, Gateway-Longview Children (2011–2017)
- Program Director Pediatric Behavioral Health, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo (2014–2016)
- Executive Director of Behavioral Health, Erie County Medical Center (2013–2016)
- Director of the Division of Community Psychiatry, Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2009–2015)
- Medical Director, Family Voices Network of Erie County (2009–2015)
- Psychiatric Consultant, Erie County Secure Detention for Youth (2010–2014)
- Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mid-Erie Counseling and Treatment Services (2006–2014)
- Director of Adolescent Psychiatry, Erie County Medical Center (2002–2009)
- Director of Inpatient Psychiatry, Erie County Medical Center (2006–2008)
Awards and Honors:
- Distinguished Physician Award (2024)
- What's Great in NYS (2018)
- Change Maker Finalist (2017)
- Outstanding Professional of the Year (2015)
- Award for Outstanding Contributions (2011)
- Outstanding Professional of the Year (2011)
- Josie Olympia Award for Overall Contribution (2010)
- Family Voices Network Most Valuable Voice: Community Engagement (2009)
- Physician Excellence Award, Erie County Medical Center (2007)
- Outstanding Contributions to Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Education (2006)
- Child and Adolescent PRITE Award (2003)
- General Psychiatry PRITE Award (2001)
- Outstanding Service to General Psychiatry Residency Program (2001)
- General Psychiatry PRITE Award (2000)
- Farney R. Wurlitzer Award for Academic Excellence in Psychiatry (1998)
- James A. Gibson Anatomical Society (1997)
- Commendation from the Dean for Scholastic Achievement (1996)
- Commendation from the Dean for Scholastic Achievement (1995)
- Merrill Presidential Scholar (1994)
- Beinecke Memorial Scholarship (1993)
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- September 2014–December 2019
Access to Psychiatry through Intermediate Care (APIC)
Tower, Wendt, Patrick Lee, and Oishei Foundations
Role: Principal Investigator
Journal Articles:
- Allison Li1 *, John F. Lindo2 , Hilary Beckles3 , James L. Mohler4 , Marvin Reid5 , Michael Boyne6 , Jack DeHovitz7 , Patricia I. Diaz8 , Paul Brown9 , Joshua Anzinger2 , Christine Carrington10, Kathryn B. Anderson11, Alan Landay12, Michael Cummings13, Elizabeth Chernyak14, Gina Prescott15, Raymond Cha15, Saravanan Thangamani16, Ernest Barthelemy14, Steven Dubovsky13, Ative Ennis17, Tracy Evans-Gilbert18 and Gene D. Morse1 on behalf of the State University of New York (SUNY) -– the University of the West Insides (UWI) Health Research Consortium. (2023) University consortium to address public health priorities and research capacity building in the Caribbean. Frontiers in Education (Nov), 1241031(8): 1-8. doi:10.3389/feduc.2023.1241031
- Cummings MR, Dubovsky SL, Ehrlich I, Kandefer S, Van Cleve J, Yin Y, Cranwell V, Gordon J, Youngs M. (2020) Preliminary Assessment of a Novel Continuum-of-Care Model for Young People With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) (Dec), 71(12): 1313-1316.
- Boora K, Cummings MR, Marshall DR. (2010) Generalized seizure in three adolescents with bupropion overdose. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol (Apr), 20(2): 159-160.
- Waxmonsky JG, Pelham WE, Gnagy E, Cummings MR, O‘Connor B, Majumdar A, Verley J, Hoffman MT, Massetti GA, Burrows-MacLean L, Fabiano GA, Waschbusch DA, Chacko A, Arnold FW, Walker KS, Garefino AC, Robb JA. (2008) The efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate and behavior modification in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and severe mood dysregulation. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol (Dec), 18(6): 573-588.
- Cummings MR, Miller BD. (2004) Pharmacologic management of behavioral instability in medically ill pediatric patients. Curr Opin Pediatr (Oct), 16(5): 516-522.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Bartimole, CR; Cummings, MR; Lawrence, J. (2014) Teens who Attempt Suicide: Profile of Survivors. Scholar's Press.
Presentations:
- "Partnerships in Building Sustainable Healthcare Solutions in Jamaica: An Autism Pilot Project" SUNY UWI Health Research Consortium (2025)
- "A Multidisciplinary Approach the the Polypharmacy Crisis in People with Developmental Disabilities" The ICL Whole Health Learning Collaborative (2025)
- "A Multidisciplinary Approach to the PolyPharmacy Crisis in People with Developmental Disabilities" Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Region 1 State Operations Medical Symposium (2025)
- "Chairi Malformation and Mental Health" NYSTART/CSIDD Community Education Teams Region 2 (2025)
- "Accessing Service Provision Through OPWDD" Erie County Department of Social Services Childrens' Services Lecture Series (2025)
- "Development and Evaluation of Sustainable, Culturally Tailored ASD Intervention Programs in Jamaica" SUNY-UWI Health Research Consortium Conference (2024)
- "Impact of Chronic Medical Conditions on the Mental Wellness of Individuals with IDD" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 2 (2024)
- "Why Nursing Education and Empowerment May Be the Solution to the Polypharmacy Crisis in People with Developmental Disabilities" The New York State Intellectually Disabled and Developmentally Disabled Nursing Association Annual Conference (2024)
- "Addressing the Polypharmacy Epidemic in the Developmentally Disabled Part 1: Causes and Solutions" 2024 START National Training Institute (2024)
- "Addressing the Polypharmacy Epidemic in the Developmentally Disabled Part 2: A Case Study" 2024 START National Training Institute (2024)
- "Diagnostic Overshadowing: What It is and How to Avoid it in the ASD Population" 7th Annual Converge Autism Conference (2024)
- "Creating a Sustainable Family-Driven Support System for the Autistic Child" SUNY - UWI Health Research Consortium Conference (2023)
- "Diabetes and its Implications in the Neurodevelopmentally Disabled" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 1 (2023)
- "The Culture of Poverty" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 4 (2023)
- "Epilepsy" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 1 (2023)
- "Huntington's Disease and its Implications for the Neurodevelopmentally Disabled" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 2 (2023)
- "Treatment Interventions for ADHD and Autism" New York State Office of Mental Health's Project TEACH (2023)
- "Cultural Considerations in the Neurodevelopmentally Disabled" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 1 (2023)
- "Poly-pharmacology in the ID/DD/ASD Population" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 2 (2023)
- "Depression and the NDD Population" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 2 (2023)
- "Thyroid Disorders and Mental Health Considerations" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 1 (2023)
- "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Teams Region 2 (2023)
- "Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) and Executive Function" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 4 (2023)
- "Trichotillomania and Excoriation in the NDD Population" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 1 (2023)
- "Positive Psychology" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 1 (2023)
- "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 1 (2023)
- "Autism" SUNY-UWI Health Research Consortium meeting and launch of the UWI Global Health Institute (2023)
- "Borderline Personality Disorder and the Neurodevelopmentally Disabled Population" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 1 (2023)
- "A Guide to OPWDD Services" New York State Office of Mental Health's Project TEACH (2023)
- "Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) and Executive Functioning" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Team Region 1 (2023)
- "Biopsychosocial Misinformation in the Media" Community Education Team (CET) OPWDD NYSTART/CSIDD Crisis Response Teams Region 1 (2023)
- "The Parent, Provider, Practitioner, and Payor..." Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) annual conference (2022)
- "Guidance in the Gray: Coordinating Care in Times of Crisis" Association of Professional Behavior Analysts annual conference (2022)
- "Assessment of Competency in the Court Room" New York State of Family Court Judges Annual Meeting; New York State Association of Family Court Judges (2010)
- "An Update of Community Psychiatry in Buffalo" National Alliance of the Mentally Ill; Buffalo Chapter (2010)
- "Children's Behavioral Health System Change Round Table" New York State Assembly Subcommittee on Autism Retention (2009)
- "Child Psychiatry 101" Hamburg Middle School Mental Health Awareness Night (2009)
- "Recognizing and Responding to Mental Illness: An Introduction for Mental health" New York State Courts and The Center for Court Innovation (2009)
- "Children's Behavioral Health System Change Round Table" Families Together in New York State Annual Conference; Families Together in New York State; Resilience a Call to Cross-System Families to Bend but Never Break (2009)
- "Children's Behavioral Health System Change Round Table" New York State Assembly Subcommittee on Autism Retention (2008)
Service Activities:
- Erie County Medical Center Medical Staff; Chair of Quality Executive Committee (2023–2024)
- Erie County Medical Center Medical Staff; Medical Staff First Past President (2023–2024)
- 5/14 Survivor Fund Steering Committee; Member (2022–2023)
- Erie County Medical Center Medical Staff; Chair of Leadership Council (Peer Review) (2021–2022)
- Erie County Medical Center Medical Staff; Medical Staff President (2021–2022)
- Erie County Medical Center Medical Staff; Medical Staff Present Elect (2019–2020)
- Erie County Medical Center Medical Staff; Medical Staff Treasurer (2017–2018)
- New York Medicaid Reform Initiative; Millennium Care Collaboration PPS board member and chair of the quality subcommittee (2016–2018)
- Erie County Medical Center Medical Staff; Medical Staff Secretary (2016–2017)
- Erie County Community Corrections Advisory Board; Chair (2011–2012)
- UBMD Governing Board; Member (2011)
- Committee for Autism and Mental Health Advocacy; Co-Chair (2009–2015)
- The Police Mental Health Coordination Project Collaboration of local police, courts, hospitals, mobile outreach, and family advocacy groups.; Member (2009–2016)
- Erie County Six Sigma Project: Managing CPL 730 Bed Day Use, Clinical Consultant; Consultant (2008)
- UPP, Inc Executive Committee; Member (2007–present)
- University Psychiatric Practice, Inc.; Treasurer (2007–2008)
- Faculty Council; Member (2005–2007)
- Executive Committee Western New York Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Association; Committee Member (2003–2006)