AUCD Experts

Maria Mercedes Avila, PhD, MSW

Center:

VT-Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, LEND

Contact Information:

UHC Campus RE4 477, 4318 Rehab 1 S. Prospect St., Burlington, VT, 05401

802-656-8376

[email protected]

Leadership:

LEND Director

Leadership Administrative Staff:

Education/Social Work Faculty Course Co-Coordinator

Primary Activity Coordinators:

Community Support
Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness
Research
Information/Dissemination
Person Centered Planning

Discipline Coordinators:

Medicine
Social Work
Education

Specialty Resource Contacts:

Culturally Responsive Practice
Workforce & Leadership Diversity

Discipline(s):

Disability Studies
Education: Administration
Human Development/Child Development
Education/Special Education
Mental and Behavioral Health
Interdisciplinary
Social Work
Family Member/Community Member
Family/Parent/Youth Advocacy

AUCD Council Membership:

Council on Community Advocacy
National Training Directors' Council
Community Education Directors' Council
Multicultural Council

Vita/Bio:

Dr. Avila is Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics where she has been involved in numerous SAMHSA and HRSA federal programs. She provides consultation on Cultural and Linguistic Competence to several Departments of Health and Mental Health, and has trained more than 7500 providers in 80 organizations and across 20 states (including 20+ network Centers). She is Adjunct Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences where she teaches Racism and Health Disparities in the U.S. courses.

Since 2011, Dr. Avila has been invited to lead 28 national presentations and 100+ regional sessions on topics related to National CLAS Standards, health disparities, social justice in health care, culturally responsive care and practice, and cultural competence in advocacy and leadership.

Dr. Avila received the 2014 Edith D. Hendley award recognizing a woman who has demonstrated excellence in research, scholarship and teaching, and who has performed dedicated service to women and the community, and the 2015 Kroepsch-Maurice Excellence in Teaching Award. Most recently, she was recognized with the 2016 ALANA Outstanding Faculty Award, the 2016 Child Mind Institute National Change Maker Local Hero Award, the 2016 AUCD National Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity, and the 2017 Outstanding Faculty Woman Award.

Service:

Chair, Health Disparities and Cultural Competence Advisory Council, Vermont Department of Health's SBIRT Program Co-Chair, AUCD Multicultural Council Member, State Plan Steering Committee for Vermont's State Implementation Grant for Enhancing the System of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs through Systems Integration Member, UVM College of Medicine Dean's Advisory Committee on Diversity & Inclusion (DACDI) Member, Vermont Governor's Children and Family Council for Prevention Programs Member, Vermont Governor's Workforce Equity and Diversity Council Member, Vermont Office of Minority Health Advisory Council Member, UVM President's Commission on Inclusive Excellence Member, Vermont Department of Health State Health Assessment and Health Improvement Plan Steering Committee

Linked Projects

VT Interdisc. Leadership Education for Health Prof