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Thank You to Dr. Jen Gerdts for Her Leadership and Service at UW LEND
After more than six years of dedicated service as Director of the Clinical Training Unit (CTU) and the LEND Program at the UW IHDD, Dr. Jen Gerdts is transitioning from her role. Dr. Gerdts has been a key leader, guiding the program’s interdisciplinary efforts to support education and training in developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.
Reflecting on her time at UW LEND, Dr. Gerdts shared, “It has been the greatest honor of my career to serve as your director, and I will take so much from my time here. You have shown me the true power of interdisciplinary work, the value of lived experience, the impact of training the next generation of leaders, and the grace of growing and learning in front of one another.”
Under Dr. Gerdts’ leadership, UW LEND became a hub for collaboration across disciplines, advancing care and understanding for individuals with developmental disabilities. Her guidance has shaped the next generation of healthcare professionals and community leaders. As Dr. Gerdts transitions from her role, we are excited to welcome Dr. Kathleen Lehman as the new Director of the CTU. Kathleen brings a wealth of experience and passion for interdisciplinary collaboration, and we look forward to her leadership in this new chapter.
Although Dr. Gerdts is moving on from her directorship, she will continue to support UW LEND through her ongoing work with ECHO Autism and Autism COE. Her contributions will remain an important part of the LEND community.
We extend our thanks to Dr. Gerdts for her leadership, dedication, and impact she has made on the program and the field of developmental disabilities.
