Mission

Optimizing the care and defining best practices for the care of teens, adults, and older adults with complex childhood-onset conditions from transition to lifespan care. As part of this goal, we need to expand the disability competency of the interprofessional, collaborative workforce to further a person-centered culture in healthcare.

Collaborators

• Mary Stephens, MD, MPH, FAAFP (Lead)
• Allison Casola, PhD, MPH, MCHES
• Nethra Ankam, MD
• Jane Tobias, DNP, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC
• Alex Fossi
• Adel Herge, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA
• Wendy Ross, MD
• Sabra Townsend
• Karin Roseman, MSW

Community Partners

Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Down Syndrome Association of Delaware.

Themes

Third-year clerkships, fourth year electives, disability, curriculum development, community collaboration & education on IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities), participation with local, regional, and national IDD organizations, interprofessional workforce development.

Project List

Jefferson Continuing Care Program (JCCP) - a primary care medical home for teens and adults. JCCP serves as the home base for clinical activities for Mary Stephens. 

Jefferson Center for Autism and Neurodiversity - Alex Fossi, Jane Tobias, Wendy Ross, Sabra Townsend. 

•   Vizient data analysis - NEJM Catalyst (led by Jon Gleason)
• Standardized patients with autism in collaboration with SON
• Ongoing evaluation of new approaches to healthcare and the medical-home model for care of neurodiverse individuals
• Advocacy and policy
• Patient and family experience

National Curriculum Initiative in Developmental Medicine (NCIDM)

• Grant ends June 2021 - ongoing analysis of data and continued curriculum development
• Study Team: Mary Stephens, Nethra Ankam, Allison Casola
• Special Olympics Selective (MS1-4 and interprofessional involvement) and third year clerkship focus on IDD and physical disabilities through PDAT (Patients with Disabilities as Teachers) and the NCIDM toolkit

OT/ID & Dementia – Jefferson Elder Care

E. Adel Herge, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA

• Occupational therapy clinical and consultative services to individuals with ID and memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias and their caregivers
• Skills to Care®ID
• Home Safety Assessments
• Community/national education efforts · National Task Group 
• American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry
  Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group 
  Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group USA
• Potential for interdisciplinary clinic with JCCP/OT

Undergraduate Medical Education Director for Rehabilitation Medicine, Wellness Thread Director for JeffMD, Co-Faculty Lead of the Jefferson Health Mentors Program, Disability Education Innovation Initiative Committee Chair - Nethra Ankam

Evaluation of JeffMD curriculum from the standpoint of the Core Competencies on Disability for Health Care Educationto determine gaps in medical student education.

• Use of Critical Disability Theory to look at the presence or absence of ableism in the JeffMD curriculum
• Curriculum development to mitigate any ableism or gaps found.