Honoring Three Remarkable Legacies
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The Mailman Center for Child Development is honored to celebrate the retirements of Dr. Walter Lambert, Dr. Alan Delamater, and Kathleen Vergara, MA. Over the years, each has contributed distinct expertise and their contributions have shaped the experiences of colleagues, trainees, children and families across the Mailman Center. We are grateful for their many contributions, will miss their presence and wish them well in retirement.
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A New Professional Milestone
Dr. Michelle Berkovits recently earned board certification in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). This board certification attests to excellence in meeting education, training, and professional standards established by the specialty for recognizing advanced expertise in working with children and adolescents. To earn this certification, Dr. Berkovits underwent a thorough review of her educational, training, and clinical experience, submitted a professional statement and written work samples for peer evaluation, and successfully completed an oral examination before a peer committee. This achievement reflects a continued commitment to providing the highest quality of care to children and families in the community.
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We are incredibly proud to celebrate our psychology trainees as they reach this meaningful milestone. During their time at the Mailman Center, they strengthened their clinical skills while contributing to the care of those we serve. We are excited to see them carry the knowledge, experience, and connections they have gained into the next chapter of their careers. We look forward to seeing where their training takes them and congratulate them on this well-earned achievement.
Pictured: Hannah Gilliam, Karina Silva, Rachel Chavez, Morgan Mannweiler, Valerie Valledor, and Gabriela Rivera
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Student Emerging Leaders Program
The Student Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development is a free, three-month weekly after-school leadership program for high school students with a disability and students who have a sibling with a disability. It focuses on developing leadership skills, exploring healthcare workforce opportunities, learning about disability populations, and creating meaningful action projects that make a difference in the community.
The next cohort begins on Wednesday, September 16 from 4-6pm! The application deadline is August 28.
Click here to apply online.
For more information, please contact:
Shelly Baer, LCSW - (305) 689-7058
Jairo Arana - (305) 689-6801
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2026 National Fragile X Foundation Awards
Congratulations to Dr. Deborah Barbouth on receiving the NFXF Clinical Award!
This award recognizes dedicated and compassionate service to families in the Fragile X community. As director of Florida's sole tertiary Fragile X clinic, Dr. Barbouth leads a multidisciplinary team providing comprehensive care and support to individuals and families affected by Fragile X, while advancing research, education, and innovative approaches to care. We are especially excited about their vision to expand services and support individuals with Fragile X across the lifespan.
Click here to read more about Dr. Barbouth and the Fragile X clinic
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Young Leader, Big Impact
At 16, Peyton Schwadron turned her love of music into a fundraiser for the Debbie Institute.
Peyton organized Serve for Sound, a padel fundraiser that raised $10,000 for the Debbie Institute at the Mailman Center for Child Development. The funds will benefit early intervention, education and cochlear implant resources for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We are grateful to Peyton for using her initiative to make a difference for children and families. Her effort shows how young people can translate a personal interest into tangible support for a cause.
Click here to read Peyton's story
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NIH Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program
Yaray Agosto, PhD, MPH, has been awarded funding through the NIH ECHO Program's Opportunities and Innovation Fund (OIF). Her two-year project, "Identifying Disability Type, Functional Limitations, and Obesity Risk Among ECHO Children," will use data from the nationwide ECHO Cohort to examine the relationship between disability and childhood obesity. The study will examine how disability characteristics and lifestyle factors relate to obesity risk, with the goal of strengthening early prevention strategies for children with disabilities.
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Speaker: Daniel Armstrong, PhD
September 11, 2026 | 12-1pm | Mailman Center 8th Floor Auditorium & Zoom | Register
The State of the Mailman Center highlights the dedication and hard work of the past year across all areas of our mission. From advancing Education & Training and delivering innovative Clinical Services to driving impactful Research and strengthening Community Engagement, this presentation reflects the many ways the Mailman Center continues to grow and serve.
We encourage everyone to attend the State of the Mailman Center in person. Lunch will be provided, and attendees will receive a Mailman Center lapel pin while supplies last.
The deadline for in-person registration is Wednesday, August 26.
Registration is required for both in-person and Zoom attendance.
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Publications & Presentations
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Health Connect Conference
The School Health Initiative teamparticipated in Health Connect, held during The Children’s Trust annual conference in Miami-Dade County. With this year’s theme, “Together for Healthier Schools and Communities,” the conference brought together professionals committed to supporting the health and well-being of children and families. Chloe Cristian, Psy.D., a postdoctoral fellow supervised by Dr. Elizabeth Pulgaron, presented practical distress-tolerance strategies that community mental health providers can use with students in school settings.
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School Health Initiative
High school students participating in the University of Miami/Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation School Health Initiative’s Student Champions Program are helping reshape conversations about mental health and suicide awareness. Led in part by Dr. Elizabeth Pulgaron, director of mental health services for the School Health Initiative, students work alongside clinicians and researchers to develop peer-led presentations and activities designed to reduce stigma and connect classmates with important mental health resources. The program also provides researchers with valuable insight into how young people engage with mental health messaging, with plans to expand the initiative to additional school communities.
Read the full article to learn more
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
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