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Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) programs are graduate-level interdisciplinary leadership training programs that are federally funded through the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB).

LEND programs are located in every U.S. state and territory and are all part of universities or medical centers. They serve as a bridge between the university and the community, bringing together the resources of both to achieve meaningful change.

Over the course of five decades, IU School of Medicine LEND trainees have gone on to serve Indiana and the nation. Graduates include expert clinicians, university faculty, policy makers, researchers and administrators. The LEND program is provided by the Division of Developmental Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Apply

Interested applicants must complete the online LEND application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Candidates may be contacted for an interview to discuss specific learning goals.

LEND Application

Building leaders in developmental disabilities

Training Outcomes

The LEND program produces leaders and innovators in the field of autism and other neurodevelopmental and related disabilities who are solidly grounded in their own disciplines and able to work collaboratively with colleagues in interdisciplinary settings. Trainees learn to anticipate, manage and take advantage of changes in knowledge and health care delivery systems. Graduates are leaders who recognize the value of family-centered planning and services and cultivate community connections.

LEND program graduates are well-respected and highly marketable throughout the United States. They serve in leadership positions at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs), Title V agencies and even the LEND program itself. Trainees participate in a national network of Young Career Professionals for additional training, resources and valuable career opportunities.