USD Med School Program Receives HHS to Help Children With Autism
SD LEND, administered by the maternal and child health bureau within the Health Resources and Services Administration, is a specialized and interdisciplinary graduate-level program. It prepares trainees from a wide variety of health care and related disciplines for leadership roles in the delivery of services to children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities in clinical practice, research and public policy. It is one of 49 programs located within universities and hospitals across the nation.
Dr. Eric Kurtz, the principal investigator and director of SD LEND, will lead the efforts to prepare the next generation of health care and related service professionals to assume highly specialized roles. “LEND graduates are aware of a broader, interconnected health care dynamic and understand the need for family-centered, culturally competent and interdisciplinary services,” Kurtz said. “This award ensures that we will continue to increase the number of providers available to diagnose and treat infants, children and adolescents with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders, and improve the quality of care they and their families receive.”
The center has been operating the SD LEND program since 1991. “As the center continues to grow in new and exciting directions, students can benefit from the vast array of clinical, research and training opportunities available and, in turn, their contributions are a valuable asset to the work of the center,” said Dr. Wendy Parent-Johnson, Center for Disabilities executive director.
“This is great news for the state of South Dakota,” said Dr. Mary Nettleman, dean of the Sanford School of Medicine and vice president for USD Health Affairs. “By expanding education and training related to autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, SD LEND will work to decrease health disparities and increase the wellbeing of children across the state and region.”
There were 15 trainees in this past year’s SD LEND program, and their disciplines covered areas like school psychology, speech-language pathology, audiology, leadership, occupational therapy, clinical psychology and nutrition, among other areas. Next year there will be 21 trainees.
Learn more about the SD LEND program.
Download a photo: Trainees in the SD LEND program at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre, S.D.
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