In Memoriam: Eldon Schulz, MD

June 5, 2018

Eldon Schulz, M.D., long-time leader in the LEND network passed away on June 2. He was a state leader and champion for Arkansas children and families affected by developmental disabilities.

Eldon began working with the interprofessional clinical team at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in 1992 and was part of the initial LEND faculty at the university in 1994 as the discipline coordinator for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. He became the Director of the LEND program in 2006 and continued in that capacity until his death. He was instrumental in the LEND program including Mississippi and Louisiana by expanding the scope of the program to a regional level. Eldon was involved in most of the autism initiatives in Arkansas. He was the principal investigator for the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) network, a CDC project which determined the prevalence rates of autism in multiple states, including Arkansas. He started the Community-Based Autism Liaison and Treatment (CoBALT) project, which trains local community teams to diagnose or rule out autism. He provided leadership for UAMS to become an Autism Treatment Network site.

"Eldon was a rare person who made everyone comfortable in his presence," said David Deere, AR Regional LEND Training Director. "Whether he was with a rural family, a new trainee, or the governor of the state, Eldon showed respect for the person and a true joy for life. He could fight for marginalized people, yet make his opponent feel good about the encounter. He truly loved people and had a passion for individuals with disabilities. His absence leaves a gaping hole for our disability community. Many of us just lost a true friend."

For a full obituary, go to http://www.ruebelfuneralhome.com/obituaryindividual.php?id=2315.