Mass General Brigham PANS Program to Close in 2027
The specialized clinic will shut down in January 2027, forcing Boston-area families to find new care providers.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Autism
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Mass General Brigham plans to close its PANS/PANDAS program in January 2027 following the departure of lead psychiatrist Dr. Kyle Williams on December 31, 2026. This change will affect Boston-area families currently seeking specialized care for these pediatric autoimmune conditions.
Why it matters
The closure of this specialized program will reduce local access to clinicians experienced in treating PANS and PANDAS, which are complex disorders often requiring coordinated care. Families will need to navigate new treatment pathways as the hospital system winds down these services.
Clinical observations from Dr. Yujuan Zhang, a pediatric rheumatologist at Tufts Medical Center, confirm a volume of more than 580 PANS/PANDAS patients treated over the last two years. The long-term impact on care capacity remains unknown following the program's scheduled closure.
The players
Dr. Kyle Williams
A psychiatrist who specializes in treating pediatric patients with PANS and PANDAS.
Mass General Brigham
A hospital system providing specialized pediatric care and research in the Boston area.
Dr. Yujuan Zhang
A pediatric rheumatologist at Tufts Medical Center who manages care for children with autoimmune disorders.
The details
PANS and PANDAS are conditions that trigger neurobehavioral symptoms following infections, requiring treatment to address underlying triggers. Care often involves antibiotics to manage infection or anti-inflammatory medications to address immune responses. Severe cases may require intravenous immunoglobulin infusions combined with psychiatric therapy or medication to stabilize symptoms.
Timeline
Dr. Kyle Williams leaves Mass General Brigham on December 31, 2026.
Mass General Brigham plans to shutter its PANS/PANDAS program in January 2027.
Health Landscape
The closure highlights the difficulty of sustaining specialized programs even with the protection of the Massachusetts PANS/PANDAS insurance mandate. This reduction in local capacity marks a significant shift in the regional availability of specialized pediatric autoimmune care.
Families currently receiving care should discuss transition plans with their primary care physician before the program closes in January 2027. Since Massachusetts law mandates insurance coverage for these conditions, residents may want to verify that new specialists remain in-network.
The takeaway
The upcoming closure of the specialized PANS/PANDAS program at Mass General Brigham will necessitate a shift in care plans for many local patients. Families should consult with their pediatrician or neurologist to determine alternative options for ongoing treatment and immune-focused therapy.
Further reading
For more on the challenges of managing neurodevelopmental and autoimmune symptoms, visit Autism.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Boston Globe.
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