Training Pediatric & Family Medicine Providers to Diagnose Autism in Young Children Kicks Off
In an important step toward improving early diagnosis and care for children with autism, the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island (CTC-RI), with funding from UnitedHealthcare and Rhode Island Department of Health, has launched a new initiative to train pediatric and family medicine providers in the early identification of autism and developmental delays. The goal of this effort is to develop, test, and evaluate practical strategies for building capacity in primary care to recognize clear-cut cases of autism, reducing long wait times for specialist evaluations and connecting families to needed services sooner.
The call for applications was launched in May of 2025 with fiften providers being selected. The selected providers include leaders from pediatric practices across the state: Beata Nelken, MD, President/CEO, Jenks Pediatrics, Christina Dierolf, MD, Partner, Aquidneck Pediatrics, LLC, Colette Vieau, MD, Pediatrician, Partners In Pediatrics, Colleen Vitale, MD, Owner/ Pediatrician, Atlantic Pediatrics, Jason Villa, PA, Assistant Medical Director, CCAP Family Health Services, Jaqueline Arieta, FNP, Judith Westrick, MD, Jordan Gervasio, NP, Nurse Practitioner, Kingstown Pediatrics, Caitlin Levesque, DNP, CPNP, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Kingstown Pediatrics, Maria McGurrin, DNP, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Wood River Health, Michelle Beller, MD, Pediatrician, Barrington Pediatrics, Katherine Hart, MD, Physician, Barrington Pediatrics, Robert Griffith, MD, Pediatric Associates, Pediatric Medical Director for Meeting Street Center, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Brown University Medical School, Carol O'Shea, MD, Vice President, PRIMA INC, and Richard Ohnmacht, MD.
Training will be led by Cynthia Loncar, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics & Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Clinic Director, Center for Children and Families, Brown Center for Children, Sarah Hagin, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Director, Hasbro Hospital’s feeding program, Project Manager, Pedi PRN, and Viren D’Sa, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Clinician Educator, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Director, Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Hasbro Children’s Hospital with additional support from Jeffrey Hine, PhD, BCBA, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Licensed Psychologist, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center – TRIAD Director of Primary Care Outreach and Training, Division of Developmental Medicine, VKC-TRIAD. This collaborative, cross-sector effort will equip providers with the skills and tools needed to identify autism earlier and more confidently, helping ensure children and families receive timely, equitable, and effective care.
