Dear colleagues,
SDBP has been extremely busy since our Fall Annual Meeting! As 2025 comes to a close,
I wanted to share some of the new and ongoing initiatives that we have been working on. Here are
some highlights:
New Board Position
I would like our members to welcome our newest board member, Emily Wassmer, MD, a
Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who joins
the board as our “inaugural” Trainee/Recent Graduate Representative.
SDBP Grand Rounds
In 2025, we implemented the SDBP Grand Rounds to help provide high-quality, clinically relevant
education to our members, especially to those who do not have access to regular DBP continuing
education sessions. For those who have not been able to attend, below is a list of our SDBP Grand
Rounds presented so far:
• “The Psychopharmacology of Autism Spectrum Disorder for Developmental-Behavioral
Pediatricians” with Christopher J. McDougle, MD
• "Etiologic Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: Diagnosis in Context"
with Steven M. Lazar, MD, MED
• "ABA: Myths & Evidence" with Dorothea Lerman, PhD
• "Accurate Diagnosis of Speech Sound Disorders and Evidence-Based Recommendations"
with Becky Baas, M.A., CCC-SLP
• “Building Belonging: The Power of Inclusive Employment and the BeanZ & Co. Story”
with Co-Founder, Kim Morrison
• “Racism: A Driver of Child Development, Behavior, and Health”
with Adiaha Spinks-Franklin, MD, MPH
• “Learning Disorders” Sheryl Frierson, MD, MEd
• “Please Prescribe My Child Leucovorin!”: What Providers Should Know” with Thomas Challman, MD
Recordings and session slides for all of these SDBP Grand Rounds sessions are currently available
as a MEMBERS ONLY benefit on our SDBP website (https://sdbp.org/sdbp-grand-rounds/), and in
2026, we will be offering CME for SDBP Grand Rounds attendees. Stay tuned!
SDBP Communications
Alyssa Hobbs, SDBP’s current Association Manager, will take on the additional role of
Communications Manager and SDBP will onboard an additional staff to alleviate some of Alyssa’s
current work. Alyssa will work closely with a seasoned, senior Degnon Communications and
Marketing Specialist on creating and implementing a comprehensive marketing plan to increase
member engagement, organizational coherence, and SDBP’s visibility that will align with our
strategic plan.
Advocacy Efforts
SDBP continues to address misleading healthcare claims by developing our own society
statements (and endorsing others) that impact the developmental-behavioral pediatric healthcare
workforce, access to services, and the well-being of the children and families we serve. Our recent
statements include:
• SDBP Statement on Tylenol, Leucovorin, and Autism
• SDBP Statement on DOE "Professional" Program Classification
These statements can be found in their entirety on the website: https://sdbp.org/sdbp
statements/.
SDBP Clinical Practice Guidelines
Following the successful launch of our initial SDBP Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment
and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Complex ADHD (available to members on the
website: https://sdbp.org/adhd-guideline/cag-guidelines/), SDBP members have begun working on
two new evidence-based clinical practice guidelines:
• Transition to Adulthood for Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
• Developmental and Behavioral Follow-up Care for NICU Graduates
Accolades
Congratulations to SDBP members who have made us proud through their recent receipt of NIH
Autism Data Science Initiative grants:
• Judith Miller and Kate Wallis at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for “Genomic and Exposomic
Factors in the Cause and Rise of Autism”
• Katie Zuckerman, Ben Sanders, Erika Phelps Nishigushi, and Olivia Lindly for “Advancing Success &
Developmental Outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder through Analysis of Secondary Data”
End of Year Giving
As you plan your end of year giving, I encourage you to consider SDBP to help sustain these
valuable efforts that ultimately support the growth of our field. You can do so by clicking here.
Winter Virtual Meeting
Be sure to join us virtually for the 2026 SDBP Winter Conference on Friday, February 20 for a full day
of plenaries, workshops, and long-term access to session recordings. Register now!
Gratitude
Given how extremely busy everyone is with their “real jobs,” it amazes me how SDBP members
routinely extend extra effort for the benefit of our Society. Special thanks to:
• Carol Weitzman, Rebecca McNally Keehn, and Cy Nadler, primary authors of our SDBP Statement on
Tylenol, Leucovorin, and Autism
• Dinah Godwin and Jennifer Cervantes, primary authors of our SDBP Statement on DOE
"Professional" Program Classification
• All leaders and members of our Committees, SIGs, and Sections for their continued work on our
Strategic Plan Initiatives
• Janice Wilkins, Alyssa Hobbs and Daglyn Carr of Degnon Associates – all activities of the SDBP
would come to a grinding halt without their superb professional management!!
As we close out 2025, I would like to wish each of you and your families a very happy holiday
season and a healthy new year, and I very much look forward to all that we will accomplish together
in the year ahead.
With thanks,
Bob Voigt, MD
President, SDBP
