LENDs

LEND Programs are interdisciplinary leadership training programs federally funded through HRSA's Maternal Child Health Bureau. View more information about individual LEND disciplines by clicking on the menu at left.

Medical and Dental Curricula on IDD: Training Inclusive Providers

A Study on How Medical and Dental Schools Teach Students about IDD

Past research has shown that many medical and dental students do not learn about IDD in school. The WITH Foundation, AUCD, and UC-LEND, led by Dr. Kashia Rosenau, collaborated to learn more about how medical and dental schools are teaching students about intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The study found that most of the schools had self-advocates to help them teach their medical and dental students about caring for patients with IDD. The study also found that medical and dental students want to learn more about caring for their patients with disabilities. Overall, the study highlights the importance of teaching medical and dental students about caring for patients with IDD and including more self-advocates in this training.

Research Paper from the Indiana LEND selected for the 2022 IACC Summary of Advances

The 2022 IACC Summary of Advances in Autism Research provides summaries of the top 20 advances in autism biomedical and services research selected by members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Articles in the Summary of Advances are grouped according to the topics represented by the seven Questions of the 2021-2023 IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Research, Services, and Policy (Screening & Diagnosis, Biology, Genetic & Environmental Factors, Interventions, Services & Supports, Lifespan, Infrastructure & Prevalence). In addition, the IACC has released an easy-read version to accompany the 2022 Summary of Advances that uses plain language to summarize the full publication in a brief, accessible format.

2024 EHDI Conference Scholarships for LEND Audiology Trainees

Deadline: February 16th at 11:59pm

AUCD is offering scholarships to support LEND audiology trainees in attending the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Annual Conference on March 17-19, 2024. All current LEND audiology trainees, including those in their externship year, are eligible to apply.

Special Announcement from the Division of Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development

Updated Maternal and Child Health Leadership Competencies

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau's Division of MCH Workforce Development is proud to announce an update to the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Competencies! The MCH Leadership Competencies help equip the MCH workforce with the knowledge, skills, personal characteristics, and values to improve the health of MCH populations.

Harnessing Uniqueness: MNLEND Fellow Leverages Neuroscience Advances to Explore Brain-Behavior Links

A MN LEND fellow searches neuroimaging databases for patterns that could lead to more personalized and effective strategies for regulating emotions, or developing social cognition, among other skills.

South Dakota LEND Trainees and Discipline Heads Travel to Guatemala for Clinical Outreach

South Dakota LEND trainees, Kylie Hamman (Audiology), Abby Myers (Physical Therapy), and Kaylee Schmidt and Emily Bruinsma (Occupational Therapy) joined clinical outreach ventures to Antigua and Santiago Atitl�n in Guatemala during spring break 2023. The groups were led by LEND discipline heads Patti Berg-Poppe (PT), Shana Cerny (OT), and Liz Hanson (SLP), and were also joined by former discipline head, Lana Svien (PT-retired), all from the University of South Dakota.

Opening Doors, and Minds

A MN LEND faculty member's massive open online course (MOOC) is a Coursera hit. Wendy Looman's course is about families with young children, and how environmental factors such as housing and nutritious food, influence their outcomes.