2023 AUCD International Award
November 7, 2023
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The International Service Award recognizes outstanding contributions that further programs or policies designed to create more inclusive communities for people with disabilities and their families throughout the world. The award is given in recognition of personal and professional efforts in program areas that proactively support people with disabilities and their families at local, regional, or national levels in the host country.
Kerim M. Munir, MD, MPH, DSc
Director of Psychiatry, Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH): Boston MA
In Recognition of Outstanding Contributions that Further Programs or Policies Designed to Create More Inclusive Communities for People with Disabilities and their Families Throughout the World
Since 2000 Dr. Munir has made over 90 international presentations, often supporting,and partnering with his international fellows or former mentees. Dr. Munir has played a key role in training physicians and psychologists from Turkey,Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and throughout Central Asia. he impact back in their home countries has been enormous and continues to develop; and the impact these scholars imparted onto our other long-term LEND fellows was also enlightening.
Biography
Kerim M. Munir, M.D., MPH, D.Sc, DFAACAP is Director of Psychiatry in the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program in the Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). He also serves as the Hinton Society Fellow in Global Health at Harvard Medical School (HMS). His research focuses on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across the lifespan, with an emphasis on understanding determinants of developmental psychopathology and comorbidity. He served as a member of the WHO International Classification of Diseases, 11th edition (ICD-11) Review Group on Intellectual Disabilities, as well as the WHO Development Group on Rehabilitation 2030. He chairs the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Section on Psychiatry of IDD and was chair of the WPA Presidential Action Plan 2021-2023 on IDD. He also served as vice president of the International Association of Child and Allied Professionals (IACAPAP). Dr. Munir is a distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). He has directed numerous National Institute of Health (NIH) funded research and research training programs in mental health and developmental disorders, as well as in research ethics. He is a recipient of the George Tarjan Award of AACAP for contributions in IDD, the Klaus Peter Award of HMS in international medical education, and T. Berry Brazelton Award of BCH Medicine for pediatric innovation. Dr. Munir chaired the Autism Forum of the World Innovation Summit in Health (WISH) in Doha, Qatar. He serves on the advisory groups of on the NeuroGAP global research partnership of the Broad Institute and the Stanley Center and the Global Mental Health@Harvard that aspires to elevate the profile of mental health as a fundamental public good and universal human right. He has advised programs and administrations in numerous countries on child mental health, inclusive education, and social care.
