Distinguish Service Award Honoree: Betsy Busch

Since 1941, the Tufts University Alumni Association (TUAA) has honored accomplished individuals for service to their profession, communities, and to Tufts. The Distinguish Service Award is presented to an alum who has demonstrated significant service to the Tufts University Alumni Association and/or to Tufts University.

Betsy Busch, M75, is an internationally known Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician, and Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM). She is a thought leader, clinician, and consultant in ADHD, psychopharmacology, child mental health and prevention of child maltreatment. She has consulted with almost 2 dozen biotech/pharmaceutical companies regarding new therapeutics for ADHD. She is a certified examiner for Major League Baseball and the National Football League; a Gubernatorial appointee to the Board of the Massachusetts Children’s Trust; a mentor to under-represented minority students through the Biomedical Sciences Careers Program; a founding member of the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD); and a Cummings Foundation volunteer. Betsy was awarded the Dr. Ray E. Helfer, M.D. Award for her work in the prevention of child maltreatment.

Having met and married her wonderful husband, Jack Szlyk (M73), at TUSM, Betsy graduated from TUSM in 1975. Following an internship, residency and fellowship in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, she joined the Department of Pediatrics at Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC) and TUSM, where she taught General Pediatrics, Human Development, Interviewing and Problem-Based Learning. She started a program for pediatric ADHD and learning disorders, was attending physician on the Inpatient Pediatrics service, and trained countless Tufts medical students and residents. Betsy then became the founding Clinical-Research Director of the Center for Children with Special Needs at Tufts MC and initiated new fellowship and funded research programs in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. Betsy also served on the Tufts MC Institutional Review Board (IRB) and consults with the Dean of Student Affairs at TUSM regarding student accommodations.

Betsy is active in the Tufts University Alumni Association (TUAA) and the Tufts Medical Alumni Association (TMAA); she was the 2nd female President of TMAA. In 2010, Betsy became a Tufts University Alumni Trustee, and was Chair of its Honorary Degree Committee. She also serves on the Tisch College Board of Advisors.