Champions for Children Awards Ceremony
The Mailman Center for Child Development was honored at the 2026 Children’s Trust Champions for Children Awards with two Program of the Year recognitions and one Excellence in Direct Service Award. Families First and the Little Seals Early Intervention Summer Program were recognized for their impactful, family-centered services for young children, while Twala Kelly was honored for more than 20 years of dedicated frontline work supporting students’ medical and mental health needs. Together, the honorees highlight a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children and families across Miami-Dade County.
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Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHO) Power of Connections National Meeting
Dr. Ofilia Alvarez, director of the UM Sickle Cell Center, co-presented “Florida’s CYSHCN Program: Connecting Quality Improvement, Health Care Transition, and Pediatric Specialty Clinics to Impact Critical Care Outcomes for Youth with Special Health Care Needs” at the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) national conference in Washington, DC, March 7-10, 2026. The theme of the conference was “The Power of Connections.” Other co-presenters were Joni Hollis, MSN, RN, CNL, Bureau Chief, Child Health Quality and Director, Title V Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Program for Children’s Medical Services (CMS) at the Florida Department of Health; Linda Starnes, Statewide Family Leader with the same Title V CYSHCN Program and member of the Mailman Advisory Council; and Sandra Widland, MPH, Project Director with the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ).
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Pictured left to right: Joni Hollis, Ofelia Alvarez, Sandra Widland, Linda Starnes
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Chair of Pediatrics
Dr. Glenn Flores has been named the 2026 recipient of the Society for Pediatric Research’s Douglas K. Richardson Award, honoring his career advancing pediatric health care and outcomes for children and families. A leader at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, he has authored more than 260 publications and led influential research on language access, health disparities and insurance coverage that has shaped national policy and expanded care for underserved children, while also mentoring future pediatric leaders.
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Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
The UM Children’s Hearing Program proudly represented the University of Miami at the EHDI Conference, with a strong presence across multiple presentations. The program delivered five podium presentations and shared six research posters highlighting its work in pediatric hearing health. Special recognition was given to Casey Martin, a pediatric LEND trainee, who received the People’s Choice Outstanding Poster Award for their contribution.
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Mailman Center New Member Spotlight
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Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
Dr. Shu Wu is a Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Neonatal Developmental Biology Laboratory in the Department of Pediatrics/Division of Neonatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She has been a member of the Pediatric Department for more than 20 years. One of her primary passions is neonatal research. As a physician-scientist, she has received diverse training in Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Neonatology, as well as extensive training in molecular and cellular biology.
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Professor of Psychology
Dr. Lynn K. Perry is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Miami, where she serves in the Developmental area and is the Principal Investigator of the Object and Word Learning (OWL) Lab. Her research focuses on the real-time and developmental interactions between language and cognition in both typically developing children and adults, as well as in children with communication differences, including autism spectrum disorder and hearing loss.
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Guest Speaker: Dolly Ferraiuolo, PhD, LCSW-QS, CST
April 24, 2026 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Register here
This presentation explores how autism presents in adulthood and examines the persistent barriers autistic adults face in accessing effective, affirming mental health care. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the clinical and systemic gaps that contribute to misdiagnosis, masking, and poor treatment experiences, while also learning practical, evidence-informed strategies to better support autistic adults in therapeutic settings. The session integrates current research, clinical application, and lived-experience perspective to help providers create more accessible, neurodiversity-affirming care.
Credit Designations:
- 1 CE credit approved for Psychology
- 1 CE credit approved for LCSW, LMHC, LFMT
- 0.1 ASHA CEU
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Grand Rounds Replay: Madeleine Thakur
This talk addressed how The Children's Movement of Florida created and activated Florida's Early Learning Roadmap with input and participation from nearly 1,000 parents, educators, and leaders across the state. We explored the key components identified to strengthen children's educational opportunities from birth through age five, and discussed how we all have a role to play: policymakers, business leaders, medical professionals, and more.
Click here to watch on our YouTube channel
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Dr. Pulgaron partnered with Actors’ Playhouse to bring high school students from the School Health Initiative Student Champion Program to see the award-winning show Dear Evan Hansen, offering many their first live theatre experience while reinforcing their participation in a ULINK-funded suicide awareness study. The experience encouraged reflection and connection through the integration of mental health, science, and the arts. In addition, Drs. Campez-Pardo and Pulgaron participated as community partners in pre-show conversations, serving as mental health experts and engaging audiences in meaningful dialogue that helped reduce stigma around mental health and suicide.
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Cameron Tovin and Casey Martin had the opportunity to attend the Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, DC as part of their LEND training experience. During their time at the seminar, they gained valuable insight into critical policy issues, including Medicaid cuts, the expiration of Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits, and reductions in IDEA funding. Hearing directly from members of Congress, disability self-advocates, families, and direct support professionals brought these issues to life in a powerful and meaningful way.
A highlight of their experience was participating in a rally on Capitol Hill, where they joined others in advocating for accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare and long-term supports for individuals with disabilities. They were honored to represent the University of Miami LEND program, build new connections, and deepen their understanding of advocacy at both the state and national levels.
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In a student spotlight for the School of Education and Human Development, Jada Garnett, a graduating senior in the University of Miami’s CAPS program, reflected on her transformative practicum at the Mailman Center that helped shape her future path. Through her work with the Families First Program and the LEND program, she co-facilitated parenting workshops and contributed to a systems-level project addressing child neglect in Miami-Dade County.
She noted that mentorship from Mailman Center and LEND staff helped her grow from an aspiring advocate into a confident leader, strengthening her commitment to supporting children and families. The experience ultimately solidified her interest in community psychology and prepared her for graduate studies in child psychology.
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Simran Prakash, a medical student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has long been driven by a desire to help others, an ambition shaped by her early exposure to community-based care and her own journey with hearing loss. Her passion for disability advocacy grew through hands-on experiences in college and continued at UM, where she co-founded the Miller School’s Disability Alliance and contributed to more inclusive medical education.
Her involvement with the Mailman Center and the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program further strengthened her commitment to accessible, community-centered care. Now pursuing a career in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Prakash is focused on helping patients redefine what’s possible and ensuring healthcare better supports individuals with disabilities.
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Self-Advocate Leadership Training Program
Click here to apply - Deadline May 26th
Applications are now open for the next SALT (Self-Advocacy and Leadership Training) class, a leadership and advocacy program for adults with disabilities. The three-day, in-person intensive will take place June 1, June 2, and June 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Mailman Center for Child Development.
SALT provides a leadership skills curriculum designed to help individuals with disabilities develop strategies to advocate for themselves and others, and to create broader systems-level change. The program is open to individuals ages 18 and older. Applications can be completed online, and more information is available through the Mailman Center for Child Development website or by contacting program staff Jairo Arana (305-243-6801) and Shelly Baer (305-689-7058).
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Henry Gelband Pediatric Research Symposium
Fourth-year medical student Emily Valdes presented her research project, "Influence of Screen Time and Reading Frequency in Early Childhood on Social Development," at the Henry Gelband Pediatric Research Symposium on March 19, 2026. Emily's work was one of only six projects selected for oral presentation from among dozens of submissions. She completed this research under the mentorship of Dr. Maite Schenker, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Mailman Center for Child Development.
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Henry Gelband Pediatric Research Symposium
Second-year medical student Carolina Carvajalino presented her research project, "Experiences and Perspectives of Hispanic Pediatric Patients with Obesity and Their Families Related to Food Insecurity and Adverse Childhood Experiences," at the Gelband Pediatric Research Symposium on March 19, 2026. Carolina's poster was selected for live presentation at the symposium, an honor extended to only a small number of submitted projects. She completed this work under the mentorship of Dr. Montserrat Corbera-Hincapie.
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Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
Casey Martin, the pediatric LEND trainee and Audiology Extern at the University of Miami Children’s Hearing Program, received the People’s Choice Outstanding Poster Award at the 2026 Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Conference for her presentation, “Diagnostic Delays in Children with Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder and Hearing Loss: Exploring Contributing Factors that Affect Age of Diagnosis.” Her project was completed in collaboration with Dr. Chrisanda Sanchez, Director of the University of Miami Children’s Hearing Program.
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
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