Mission

The UAB Division of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (DDBP) aims to provide comprehensive, evidence-based, and timely care for individuals with or at risk for developmental and behavioral conditions, including:

• Developmental Delay

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Intellectual Disability

• Learning Disabilities

• Prematurity

• Behavioral Problems

• Sleep Disorders

• Genetic conditions

We will accomplish our mission through:

• Providing a unified, accessible center with the highest levels of expertise in behavioral and developmental conditions. Working closely with the child’s medical home and build collaborative partnerships with caregivers across medical, psychological, educational, and therapeutic disciplines to ensure a holistic approach to patient- and family-centered care.

• Collaborating with community organizations and local, state, and national government to advocate for children with developmental and behavioral conditions.

• Providing outstanding training and education on assessment and treatment of developmental and behavioral conditions to learners across disciplines.

• Conducting research to advance the knowledge of the biomedical and epidemiologic bases of developmental and behavioral conditions, further the evidence base for treatments and therapies, and expand our capabilities to measure meaningful outcomes for our patients and families.

• Perform quality improvement work in continually striving to provide efficient, effective, cost-effective, and coordinated delivery of care.

Research

Research projects by our faculty include:

• National collaborative work with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development’s Neonatal Research Network to learn how to maximize outcomes for children at risk for developmental delays

• Measuring outcomes for children with autism

• Characterization of young children presenting to the emergency department with behavioral concerns

Education

Our faculty are actively engaged in training future care providers across disciplines. 
Some of our teaching roles include:

• Directing and coordinating the required Behavior and Development clinical rotation for the UAB pediatric residents, which provides subspecialty exposure to children with developmental conditions as well as community experiences to learn about care of children beyond the walls of the clinics and hospital

• Mentorship of residents and medical students on clinical and research projects who have interest in developmental and behavioral problems

• Giving presentations at local, regional, and national conferences

• Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO: Autism) 

• LEND program
  

Connecting with the community

We are strongly committed to advocating for the children and families we serve.  Our pediatricians collaborate and serve with many organizations, including:

• American Academy of Pediatrics

• Society for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

• Autism Society of Alabama 

• Alabama Department of Human Resources 

• United Ability 

• Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council

• Families First

Faculty & Staff

Division Director

Laura McGuinn, M.D.

Faculty List

Developmental & Behavioral Faculty

Clinical Psychologists & Staff