Ilka Riddle, PhD, Appointed New Director of the University of Cincinnati University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

June 17, 2013

Cincinnati, OH - The University of Cincinnati University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UC UCEDD) has named Ilka Riddle, PhD, as its new director. She succeeds Karen Edwards, MD MPH, who has been the UC UCEDD Director for the last two years.

Dr. Riddle earned her master's degree and PhD in human development and family studies from the University of Delaware, Newark, DE.  Prior to coming to the UC UCEDD as Associate Director last year, Riddle was the Health Unit Leader and a Project Director at the Center for Disabilities Studies at the University of Delaware.

"Professionally, I grew up within the UCEDD and AUCD network throughout my graduate and early career years, and I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the UC UCEDD. There are many opportunities for the UC UCEDD to build upon its existing strengths in family support and respite and to grow and develop our efforts with the health and medical communities to improve health care transition, access to health care, and health promotion," said Riddle.  "I am very honored by my division's and staff's trust in my ability to lead the UC UCEDD with great strength, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues to improve service systems and quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members on the local, regional, state, and national levels."

Riddle's areas of interest and research are health care transition of youth/young adults with developmental disabilities, improved access to health care and health promotion and addressing existing health disparities for individuals with disabilities. 

For more information about the University of Cincinnati University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, go to www.ucucedd.org.