Division Director - Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2017
The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks an inaugural director for the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DDBP). Until now, this Division has been part of the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The recruitment of a world class leader for this division is a top priority of the Department of Pediatrics.
The Mission:
- Provide family centered care, including through transition to adulthood or to adult healthcare
- Provide excellent, evidence-based clinical care in an interdisciplinary model
- Train to build leadership and capacity in the field of developmental disabilities
- Contribute to evidence-based practice through innovative research
- Lead and partner with Genetics and other disciplines to advance new knowledge about the basis and treatment for neurodevelopmental disorders including the development of a Neurodevelopmental Disorders Center
- Advocate with and on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families
- Collaborate with families, primary care providers, related programs at UAB, educational systems, and community agencies
DDBP will serve children requiring diagnostic evaluation for:
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Developmental delay
- Cognitive/Intellectual disability
- Developmental concerns related to genetic syndromes/conditions
- Complicated attention deficit and learning concerns (limited services)
Currently this care is provided in a dedicated clinic, the Civitan-Sparks Clinic and is served by three full time MD faculty and a large interdisciplinary team. There is considerable opportunity for expansion. The new division director will have ample resources to grow the clinical, research and training programs. An endowed chair is available for an appropriate candidate. This is a significant leadership opportunity.
Training opportunities are available through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders (LEND) training program, the University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), and graduate programs at UAB. The Civitan-Sparks Clinics can provide a unique training opportunity to different basic and clinical disciplines because of the diversity of ages, cultures, and genetic and developmental disorders seen in the clinics.
The Civitan International Research Center (CIRC) is an interdisciplinary center focusing on the development of the mind-brain through the mission of service, education and research. The CIRC was established in 1989 on the campus of the UAB with the support of Civitan International - a volunteer service organization. It is a strong asset to the Civitan-Sparks Clinics and to the new DDBP. The mission of the Civitan International Research Center is to improve the well-being and the quality of life of individuals and families affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Department of Pediatrics is located at Children's of Alabama (COA), which is an independent children's hospital that serves as the base for the UAB Pediatric enterprise for clinical care, training and research. COA is a premier children's hospital that is growing people and programs. COA is ranked among the best children's hospital programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Last year, patients made more than 670,000 outpatient and 14,000 inpatient visits to COA from every county in Alabama and from 41 other states and four foreign countries. COA is the only medical center in Alabama dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children. The Department of Pediatrics and COA have an aligned academic vision about the impact and importance of a new DDBP.
Please contact Mitch Cohen for additional information.
Mitchell B. Cohen, MD
Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Physician in Chief, Children's of Alabama
Email: [email protected]
