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We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kelly Liker as the new Chief of the Division of Child Protection in the Mailman Center for Child Development and Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, UHealth, and Holtz Children’s Hospital at Jackson Health System.
A nationally recognized leader in child-abuse pediatrics, Dr. Liker previously served as Chief of the Division of Child Advocacy at Dayton Children’s Hospital and brings extensive experience as a clinician, educator, administrator, and advocate. She completed her pediatric residency and chief residency at the University of Miami/Holtz Children’s Hospital and is board certified in both Pediatrics and Child Abuse Pediatrics.
Dr. Liker succeeds Dr. Walter F. Lambert, whose 37 years of exceptional leadership and dedication have had a lasting impact on child protection, education, and advocacy. We look forward to Dr. Liker’s leadership and thank Dr. Lambert for his extraordinary service and commitment to protecting children.
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The University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) have launched the Batchelor Bridge for Autism Grant Program, a new initiative to advance innovation in autism research, implementation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Funded by The Batchelor Foundation, Inc., the program provides competitive pilot funding for cross-campus projects focused on improving autism screening, intervention, family support, and systems of care. Proposals must include meaningful engagement of individuals with lived autism experience and foster collaboration between the Mailman Center and the Department of Psychology/CARD.
The program also supports early- and mid-career investigators in developing collaborative research with the potential to secure future external funding and improve autism services for communities in South Florida and beyond.
Read more about the Batchelor Bridge for Autism Grant Program
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National Inclusive Curriculum for Health Education-Medical
The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has been selected as one of the awardees for Cohort Eight’s 2025-2026 National Inclusive Curriculum for Health Education-Medical (NICHE-MED) grant by the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD). The program includes more than fifty medical schools across twenty-six states and, through its grant, supports expanded training opportunities for medical students in developmental medicine and disability-focused healthcare to advance Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) education and health equity initiatives. Funded by Elevance Health, the program aims to improve medical students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards disability care while promoting health equity and addressing ableism over five years.
Read more here
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The University of Miami's Emerging Transformational Leadership Program (ETLP) graduated it's 14th Cohort on 6/26/2026. This year's fellows Ana Ramirez Toft-Neilsen, Anna Fowler, Cecilia Alvarez-Tabio, Daniela Santana, and Eddys Maestre, bring expertise from the fields of education, psychology, speech and language pathology, applied behavior analysis, communication, and legal. Their project is entitled "LINK: Linking Information, Network, & Knowledge".
ETLP is a 9-month-long experiential leadership program that centers around creating system-level change for the disability community. Fellows work to improve leadership skills through the planning of a capstone project on an issue impacting people with disabilities. This program runs annually starting in September and is available to individuals who want to create impact in the community.
ETLP is currently recruiting for Cohort XV set to begin 9/25/2026. Learn more about ETLP here.
The deadline to complete an application is 8/1/2026.
Please contact Shelly Baer, LCSW (rbaer@med.miami.edu) or Camille Perez, LMHC (cdp102@med.miami.edu) for more information!
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Grand Rounds & Presentations
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Speakers: Daniel Armstrong, PhD
September 11, 2026 | 12pm - 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.
Registration is required for both in-person and Zoom attendance.
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Speakers: Norie Del Valle & Michelle Espinosa
August 13, 2026 | 12pm - 1pm | Zoom
Join us for this Early Childhood Joint IPC meeting to start the conversation with United Way Miami about its Blueprint for Impact and plans to strengthen early education across Miami-Dade. Learn where our priorities intersect and explore opportunities to combine the center's expertise with United Way’s community reach to support families and create lasting change for young children.
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Speakers: Isabella Ribeiro, Carlos Gonzalez, Casey Martin, and Emma Jaisle
Our Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) trainees proudly presented their advocacy projects, showcasing their passion, leadership, and commitment to creating meaningful change for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities. We're excited to celebrate their hard work and the impact of their efforts!
Oral Health Crisis - Presented by: Isabella Ribeiro
Expanding Inclusive Education for School-Age Children with Sensory Processing Disorders and Related Disabilities - Presented by: Carlos Gonzalez and Casey Martin
Increasing Transportation Access for Low-Income Families in Miami-Dade County - Presented by: Emma Jaisle
Click here to watch
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Research Articles & Publications
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Dr. Daniel Armstrong, Director of the University of Miami Mailman Center for Child Development, recently collaborated with The Children's Trust on a guest article highlighting the critical role of prevention and early intervention in supporting children and families. Drawing on more than three decades of experience, Dr. Armstrong discusses how evidence-based parenting and family support programs, including Families First and Parent Club, help strengthen families before challenges become crises. The article emphasizes that investing in prevention creates lasting, often unseen, benefits for children and the community.
Read the full article here
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
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