Dr. Maria Mercedes Avila, VT LEND Director, Appointed Health Equity Inclusive Liaison at the University of Vermont College of Medicine (VT LEND)
January 30, 2018
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Maria Mercedes Avila, Ph.D., an associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (VT LEND) Program, has been appointed Health Equity Inclusive Excellence Liaison in the University of VT (UVM) College of Medicine's Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Avila also serves as adjunct faculty in the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She has served as chair of the AUCD Multicultural Council and currently serves on the AUCD Board of Directors. Dr. Avila has provided culturally responsive care and practice training to more than 3,500 providers across 46 organizations and 9 states. She is the recipient of the UVM 2017 ALANA Outstanding Faculty Award, the Child Mind Institute's 2016 National Change Maker Award, the 2015 UVM Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2014 Edith D. Hendley award from the UVM Women's Center. As the Health Equity Inclusive Excellence Liaison, Dr. Avila will work with each department on the development of a departmental strategic diversity plan to guide ongoing diversity efforts.
