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The White House has announced that Deborah M. Spitalnik, PhD, Executive Director of The Boggs Center and Professor of Pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, will be reappointed to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Dr. Spitalnik was appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities in 2014, having previously served on the Committee from 2011 to 2013, from 1994 to 2001, and as Chair from 2000 to 2001. Dr. Spitalnik is Chair of the New Jersey Medical Assistance Advisory Council, having joined the Council in 2005. She is former Chair of the National Council on Quality and Leadership and past President of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities.

The mission of the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) is to provide advice and assistance to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on a broad range of topics that impact people with intellectual disabilities and the field of Intellectual Disabilities. Undergirding the Committee's mission is the goal to improve the quality of life that is experienced by people with intellectual disabilities, by upholding their full citizenship rights, independence, self-determination, and life-long participation in their respective communities.

View the White House Press Release

The Boggs Center recently celebrated the accomplishments of this year’s Interdisciplinary Trainees with a graduation colloquium, gathering together faculty and staff as each student presented on their significant projects and the lasting impact of their Trainee experiences. The Boggs Center’s Interdisciplinary Traineeship offers an array of learning opportunities oriented toward developing a workforce of professionals who will be prepared to provide leadership and vision in the field of developmental disabilities. The Interdisciplinary Traineeship is available in both a long-term and intermediate format based on the number of hours and scope of requirements.

This May, four long-term Trainees graduated from The Boggs Center's Interdisciplinary Traineeship Program:

• Kathrine Baldwin, a graduate student at Rutgers School of Public Health/Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences completed the Interdisciplinary Traineeship under the supervision of Daniel Baker, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Community Positive Behavior Support, Transition, and Supported Employment Projects.
  
• Victoria Cabrera, a MSW student at Rutgers School of Social Work completed her field education placement at The Boggs Center. She was supervised by Michael Knox, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Deputy Director.
  
• Alison O’Connor, a doctoral student at Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology completed the Interdisciplinary Traineeship under the supervision of Deborah Spitalnik, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Executive Director at The Boggs Center, while simultaneously completing her practicum at the Arc of Monmouth, supervised by Nancy Razza, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics.
  
• Ashley Ritchey, a MSW student at Rutgers School of Social Work completed her field education placement at The Boggs Center. She was supervised by Robyn Carroll, MSW, Communications Manager.

One student completed the Intermediate Traineeship Program at The Boggs Center. Samantha McDonald, a graduate student at Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences completed the Intermediate Interdisciplinary Traineeship under the supervision of Philip Smith, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Project Manager for Community Positive Behavior Supports at The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities.