Home / LEND / Director’s Note: Strengthening Our Commitment to Pediatric Care and Development

By Sunny Juul, MD, PhD, Director of the UW IHDD

Photo of Dr. Sandra Juul, M.D., Ph.D., Director of IDDRC, IHDDI’m pleased to announce that the Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD) is now officially a division within UW Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. This collaboration strengthens our ability to support pediatric care and allows us to work more closely with pediatric professionals to improve the care provided to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

At the IHDD, we are committed to advancing research, providing clinical care, and offering education and training for professionals. Our clinics provide an important training component for Pediatric Residents, Fellows in Developmental Pediatrics and Neonatology and other disciplines. Through programs like the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND), we’re preparing healthcare leaders to meet the unique needs of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Our clinical services, including the UW Autism Center, Child Development Clinic, Infant Development Follow-up Clinic (IDFC), and Cardiac Neurodevelopment Clinic, will continue to provide specialized care to families. These clinics are dedicated to ensuring children with developmental challenges receive tailored support, comprehensive evaluations, and high-quality care.

To learn more about our work, please visit our IHDD website and our UW Pediatrics page. Thank you for your continued support.

Best regards,
Image: Sunny Juul

Sunny Juul, MD, PhD
Director, UW Institute on Human Development and Disability
Photo: Two students holding hands, smiling, and walking to school.Image: Composite photo of the 2024 IHDD Pilot Grant recipients Michelle Guignet, Hannah Rea, Tanya St. John, Olivia Brandon and Emily Neuhaus.