Chuck Cowan

Dr. Chuck Cowan is the husband of Dr. Ronnie Levitt and father of Mara and Daniel.  First and foremost, the most important part of his life.

Professionally he is a retired Developmental Pediatrician, Emeritus Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Univ. Washington School of Medicine.  Dr. Cowan’s professional passions include the ethical, equitable and excellent practice of medicine, care for underserved populations, teaching other healthcare providers, and advocacy for people with disabilities.

He has worked as a General Pediatrician and during the latter half of his career as a Developmental Pediatrician with particular expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorders at Seattle Children’s Hospital.  He helped establish the Autism Center at Seattle Children’s and advocated widely throughout Washington State and parts of Alaska for high quality care of children and their families with autism disorders.

He has been fortunate to be able to travel widely both for fun but also to do healthcare work.  He helped with a research project about infant diarrhea in Karachi, Pakistan 1967; served as Pediatrician at Khao I Dang UNHCR Refugee Camp, Thai/Cambodian Border 1982; Volunteer Pediatrician Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Cambodia, 2007, taught about Autism at the Gaza Community Mental Health Program 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020.

He's been involved in support of community non-profits and has served on multiple non-profit boards mostly in support of services for children with disabilities.  He’s a fair amateur photographer, a pretty good bread baker and learned to crochet to a make a baby blanket this past winter for his new granddaughter, now his major passion.