New Acting Director of NCBDDS

AADMD INFO BLAST - FOR AADMD MEMBERS

Correspondence regarding a new appointment at the National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

Rick Rader, MD
AADMD VP of Public Policy and Advocacy

Dear Colleagues:

Thank you for your ongoing support for the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD).  We appreciate that there is strong interest in the leadership of the Center with Dr. Edwin Trevathan assuming his new position as Dean, School of Public Health at Saint Louis University, beginning in September.

Dr. Frieden has now announced that Coleen Boyle, Ph.D., will step in as acting director of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), effective September 13, 2010. Dr. Boyle is currently serving as Director of the Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.  Drs. Trevathan and Boyle are working together to ensure a smooth transition.

Coleen received advanced degrees in biostatistics (M.S. Hyg.) and in epidemiology (Ph.D.) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.  She joined CDC in 1984; she was appointed chief of the Surveillance and Epidemiology Section in the Developmental Disabilities Branch in 1991 and then branch chief four years later.  In 2001, Coleen was named the associate director for science and public health for then-new NCBDDD and was later appointed director of the Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, NCBDDD.  She is a two-time recipient of the Charles C. Shepard Award for scientific excellence, has represented CDC on several interagency committees—especially related to newborn screening—and has played a key role in NCBDDD’s global work in China and Vietnam.

We thank Ed Trevathan for his work as director of NCBDDD, including escalating the center’s role in preparedness and response, and including his work as the strategic lead for the pediatric response to H1N1.  His many contributions at CDC range from his tour as an EIS officer, to leading NCBDDD in addressing new risk factors for birth defects and developmental disabilities, to enhancing collaborations with other HHS agencies on several interagency committees, including the National Children’s Study, and Autism.

Many of you know Coleen and her longstanding commitment to NCBDDD.  As the initial Associate Director for Science in NCBDDD, she understands and promotes the work of the entire Center.  More recently as the Director for the Division on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, she applies her strong science skills to advance an understanding of disabling conditions and gain the respect of CDC colleagues.

Please join us in thanking Ed for his service and in welcoming Coleen to her new role.

Adriane

Adriane K. Griffen, MPH, CHES

Project Director, CDC Cooperative Agreement

Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)

1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 920

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Phone: 301-588-8252, x208

Fax: 301-588-2842

Email: agriffen@aucd.org 

Web:  www.aucd.org 

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