Joe Desiato, MD

Dr. Joe Desiato is a board-certified pediatrician with specialized training in the evaluation and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). At Safe Harbor Psychiatry, he provides comprehensive autism diagnostic evaluations for children ages 2½ through 6 years old.

Dr. Desiato earned his undergraduate degree and medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, before completing his pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Michigan. Following residency, he practiced pediatrics in Michigan before relocating to Massachusetts in 1986. After several years with pediatric medical groups in the Merrimack Valley, he founded his own pediatric practice in Andover, where he provided compassionate, family-centered care for nearly two decades until retiring from general pediatrics in 2019.

Throughout his career, Dr. Desiato has maintained a strong interest in neurodevelopmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and learning disabilities. He completed a Mini-Fellowship in Developmental Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital in 1987 and has continued to expand his expertise through advanced training in autism diagnosis. In 2025, he completed specialized training at Tufts Medical Center's Pediatric Developmental-Behavioral Clinic and successfully completed Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Training Program, focusing on evidence-based assessment of young children.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Desiato served as one of the first pediatricians administering COVID-19 vaccines at Massachusetts mass vaccination sites, including Fenway Park and the Hynes Convention Center. He later served as Clinical Pediatric Medical Director for Cataldo Ambulance Service's pediatric vaccination initiative, helping improve vaccine access for immigrant children and their families throughout Massachusetts.

Dr. Desiato is passionate about helping families obtain timely, accurate autism evaluations that provide clarity, guidance, and individualized recommendations to support each child's development. His approach emphasizes thoughtful assessment, clear communication, and compassionate care throughout the diagnostic process.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Desiato enjoys spending time with his family and is the proud father of four children.