Strengthening the MCH Workforce and System of Care: Using Innovative Methods to Measure and Demonstrate Program Impact

Elizabeth McGhee Hassrick, PhD

A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University

Dr. McGhee Hassrick is an associate professor with the Life Course Outcomes Research Program at the A. J. Drexel Autism Institute. She received her masters and doctoral degrees in Sociology from the University of Chicago and a masters in Education from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Before her career as an academic researcher, she was a classroom teacher for 10 years in public and private schools in the United States and abroad. She has held faculty research positions at the University of Chicago and Weill Cornell Medical College. Her research, investigating collaboration networks across home and school settings, has been published in peer review journals and funded by grants from the Health Resource and Services Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Spencer Foundation and the National Academy of Education.

See full bio here: https://drexel.edu/autisminstitute/about/our-team/all-staff/Elizabeth-McGhee-Hassrick/

Lauren Bishop, PhD

Waisman Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison

My research focuses on helping adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) achieve better health and quality of life as they age. My current research, which is funded by a career development award (KL2) through the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, focuses on: (1) characterizing patterns of health problems in a representative sample of decedents with ASD; (2) investigating heterogeneity in health risk in middle aged and older adults with ASD ; and (3) adapting and piloting an intervention designed to reduce distress and improve health for middle aged and older adults with ASD. I also have a broad interest in health disparities in ASD, particularly as they impact the emergence of health problems as individuals with ASD age.

See full bio here: https://www.waisman.wisc.edu/staff/bishop-lauren/

Sarah Laughlin, PhD

University of Pittsburgh

Sarah F. Laughlin, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and an Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine, Department of PMR. Dr. Laughlin is a LEND faculty member contributing to LEND clinic, psychology doctoral student recruitment, the LEND Outcomes Study, and the development of LEND autism curriculum.

Dr. Laughlin works clinically within the Neuropsychology Service in the Division of PMR at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP). She provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation for children with acquired or neurodevelopmental conditions that affect brain development. She provides services on an outpatient and inpatient basis, and contributes to multidisciplinary specialty clinics/services within CHP (e.g., Epilepsy Service). Dr. Laughlin uses evaluation results to make recommendations to families and the child’s broader care team that consider the child’s unique profile of neurocognitive, behavioral and social-emotional strengths and weaknesses. In this clinical setting, Dr. Laughlin engages in teaching/training with medical fellows and psychology doctoral students.

See full bio here: https://www.lend.pitt.edu/people/sarah-laughlin-phd

Gail Chödrön, PhD

Waisman Center at University of Wisconsion, Madison

Gail Chödrön, PhD, has a passion for applied research and training aimed at improving access to integrated systems of care for children with ASD/DD and their families. She has been involved in interdisciplinary university instruction related to social sciences and health for over fifteen years, and currently provides training leadership through her roles as the director for the Wisconsin Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program and the coordinator of community training and technical assistance for the UCEDD. She completed her doctoral degree in Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto, Canada. Her research interests focus on early identification of ASD/DD and access to service systems for socially and economically marginalized families. She is particularly interested in community leadership development, community-participatory approaches to identifying and responding to barriers to service system access, and implementation science in the service of health equity outcomes.

See full bio here: https://ucedd.waisman.wisc.edu/staff/chodron-gail/