Marilyn Augustyn, MD – Division Director, Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics
Sarabeth Broder-Fingert, MD MPH – Vice Chair for Clinical Research in Pediatrics – University of Massachusetts Medical School
Shari Krauss, MA MPH – Program Director, The Autism Program
Alexander Friedman, MPH – Program Manager, The Autism Program
Jacqueline McKendry, MS, BCBA, LABA - Behavior Specialist, The Autism Program
Elizabeth Ferriero, BA, CEIS-Autism Resource Specialist, The Autism Program
TEACH
TEACH (Teens Educating, Advocating, and Collaborating in Healthcare) is comprised of youth with ASD who convene quarterly to share critical insights on healthcare experiences to inform the work of the Autism Friendly Initiative.
- Gavin Zhang
- Tris Wideman
- Declan Woodring
- Olivia Gaffney
- Will Palmucci
- and our other incredible TEACH members!
Scientific Advisory Board
The Autism Friendly Initiative’s Scientific Advisory Board provides guidance, support, and insight to ensure that interventions are driven by best practice.
- Pam Palmucci, MSW, LCSW – Autism Program PLAN Parent, Autism Friendly Initiative Steering Committee member, and Clinical Neurodivergent Specialist at Building Independent Living Together (BILT)
- Molly Ann Duggan, MS, CCLS – Child Life Manager, Child Life, Boston Medical Center
- Erika Crable, MPH PhD – Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego
- Lauren Betancourt, MPH – Senior Manager of Population Health, Boston Medical Center Health System
- Beth Jerskey, PhD - Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
- Oluwatobi Abubakare - Self-advocate and clinical psychology PhD student at Indiana University Bloomington
- Jocelyn Kuhn, PhD - Licensed Psychologist, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
- Belinda O'Hagan, MA - PhD student, Behavioral and Social Health Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health
Steering Committee
The Autism Friendly Initiative's Steering Committee is a multidisciplinary group of hospital and community leaders that assists with strategic planning, decision-making, and overall optimization of the Initiative.
- Barbie Mullin, RN – Nurse – Pediatric Emergency Department
- Bernadette Chirokas – Microbiology Laboratory Manager, Boston Medical Center
- Beth Jerskey, PhD - Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University
- Bob Vinci, MD – Former Chairman, Pediatrics
- Christine Naoum-Heffernan, CPNP – Nurse Educator, Pediatric Neurology, Pulmonology, Allergy, Pain Clinics
- Dana Rubin, MD, MSW – Psychiatrist, Pediatrician, Departments of Pediatrics and Child Psychiatry
- Elizabeth Hutton, MD – Medical Director, Pediatric Inpatient Unit; Hospitalist, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
- Erica Knowles – Phlebotomy Manager
- Jack Maypole, MD – Director, Comprehensive Care Program (CCP), Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
- Jodi Wenger, MD – Pediatrician, Comprehensive Care Program, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
- Karen Kames – BMC Board Member
- Katie Jordan, LCSW - Clinical Social Worker, Boston Medical Center
- Kristin Long, PhD - Director, Child & Family Health Laboratory, Boston University
- Laurie Douglass, MD - Section Chief, Division of Pediatric Neurology; Director, Pediatric Epilepsy
- Lindsay Demers, PhD - Director, Education Evaluation Core, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
- Molly Ann Duggan, MS, CCLS – Child Life Manager, Child Life
- Pam Kuzia, RN – Sedation Nurse - Pedi Sedation
- Pam Palmucci – PLAN Parent & Scientific Advisory Board member
- Rosamond Delori – Member, Boston Medical Center Philanthropic Trust
- Sheryl Katzanek – Director, Patient Advocacy
- Soukaina Adolphe, MD – Pediatrician, Pediatrics
- Zachary Houston, MS, BCBA, LABA - Assistant Director for ABA, Boston Public Schools