Elisa Shipon-Blum DO, is the President & Director of the Selective Mutism, Anxiety and Related Disorders Treatment Center (SMart Center) located in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. She is the President of the Selective Mutism Research Institute (SMRI) a foundation established to study Dr. Shipon-Blum's theories and treatment methodologies on Selective Mutism. In addition, Dr. Shipon-Blum is the Founder and Director Emeritus of the international organization, the Selective Mutism Association.

Dr. Shipon-Blum practices in Jenkintown, PA, and has developed the evidenced-based Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® (S-CAT)® from her years studying and researching individuals with Selective Mutism. She consults worldwide with families, treating professionals, and educators, and has helped over four thousand children from around the world overcome Selective Mutism.

Dr. Shipon-Blum lectures throughout the country and internationally on the topic of Selective Mutism, performs school evaluations and trainings for treating professionals, educators, and parents, and is considered one of the world’s leading experts in the treatment and understanding of Selective Mutism. She has been a featured expert on national television programs such as 20/20, CNN, Inside Edition, and Good Morning America as well as other local, national, and international television and radio broadcasts. In addition, she has been featured in Time Magazine, People Magazine and has interviewed with newspapers across the USA and Internationally, such as the New York times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, San Diego Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Palm Beach Post.

Dr. Shipon-Blum is presently involved in multiple collaborative research projects with top researchers and clinicians. In addition to her research, she has written numerous articles and books on Selective Mutism and anxiety including ‘Easing School Jitters for the Selectively Mute Child, the Ideal Classroom Setting For the Selectively Mute Child, Understanding Katie, the Summer Vacation and Back to School Guide. She has also produced numerous DVDs on the topics of treatment and assessment of Selective Mutism, and the development of school accommodations and interventions for mute children.

Dr. Shipon-Blum (or Dr. E as her patients refer to her) prides herself on being 'down to earth' and 'easy to speak to’ and resides with her family in the northeast suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Notably, she is also the mother of a now adult, Sophie, who suffered from and overcame Selective Mutism and is the inspiration for the work she does each day. * Sophia is now a physician specializing in family medicine/integrative medicine.