The Developmental Disabilities Institute (MI UCEDD) Welcomes New Director

December 1, 2015

The Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sharon Milberger, Ph.D., as the director effective Jan. 1, 2016.

Dr. Milberger joins Wayne State from the Henry Ford Health System, where she is director of Henry Ford LiveWell, a wellness center of excellence. In that position, she focuses on optimizing the well-being of health system employees, patients and community members. Previously, she was the DDI's associate director for research, where she led programs addressing early intervention, osteoporosis in women with Down syndrome, expansion of the Family Support Subsidy, and violence and abuse against women with physical disabilities.

Dr. Milberger replaces Barbara LeRoy, Ph.D., who has been the DDI's director since 1991. During her tenure, the DDI coordinated several statewide system-change initiatives including inclusive education, transition and family support. In addition, Dr. LeRoy received several appointments to international disability boards and research teams generating global awareness of the DDI's programs. Dr. LeRoy will continue with the DDI for the next year as a part-time researcher.

The DDI is Michigan's University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, funded under the Administration on Community Living in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The DDI was established at Wayne State in 1983.

Dr. Milberger earned a Ph.D. and master's in public health from Harvard University and a bachelor's in nursing from the University of Michigan.