The Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics is devoted to improving the system of care and care delivery for children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Faculty and staff participate in multidisciplinary clinical care, training and research. Research spans a variety of areas, including development of an autism registry and bio-banking repository for autism etiological research in collaboration with the UAB Department of Neurobiology. The division is a member of the NIH Neonatal Research Network for neonatal follow-up, including neonatal opioid exposure with the Division of Neonatology. Division faculty also collaborate with researchers on Rett syndrome and tuberous sclerosis in the Division of Pediatric Neurology.

Sarah O’Kelley, Ph.D., serves as a collaborator on a number of multidisciplinary research projects, including work with Dr. Martina Bebin on Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) longitudinal studies and Dr. Rajesh Kana (University of Alabama) on fMRI evaluation of ASD reading and social skills interventions. She serves as the UCEDD and LEND training director.

Myriam Peralta, M.D., serves as co-principal investigator with Dr. Namasivayam Ambalavanan, UAB Division of Neonatology, on the Outcomes of Babies with Opioid Exposure (OBOE) project, a NICHD-funded multicenter project to evaluate long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes and structural brain changes by MRI in infants exposed to opioids in the perinatal period. Dr. Peralta also serves as the follow-up PI for the UAB Center of the NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN). She is the follow-up co-investigator for the PREMOD trial: A randomized Controlled Trial of Umbilical Cord Milking vs. Delayed Cord Clamping in Premature Infants. Dr. Peralta is the follow-up investigator for the Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the Overall Adverse Event Rate of Inguinal Hernia Repair (IHR) prior to NICU Discharge vs. IHR after NICU discharge and beyond 55 weeks post-menstrual age in premature infants.

Kimberlly Stringer, M.D., continues as a co-investigator for the Early Childhood Health Promotion System for High Need Program, which is a Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)–sponsored grant through the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The goals of this project are to increase the prevalence of developmental screening rates throughout Mississippi, establish a well-trained workforce in regard to early childhood development, and achieve policy change and sustainability based on the novel system developed.

J Autism Dev Disorders. 2021 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Utility of the ADOS-2 and the ADI-R in Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children. doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04839-z. [Epub ahead of print]. Lebersfeld JB, Swanson M, Clesi CD, O’Kelley SE.

J Pediatr Psychol. 2021 OpenNotes: Anticipatory Guidance and Ethical Considerations for Pediatric Psychologists in Interprofessional Settings. Fogler JM‏, Ratliff-Schaub K‏, McGuinn L‏, Crutchfield‏ P,  Schwartz J‏, Soares N.

J Psychopath Beh Assmt. (in press) An Examination of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Aggression Among Children with a History of Adverse Childhood Experiences. McRae E, Stoppelbein L, O’Kelley S, Fite P, Smith S.

Mat Ch Health J. 2021 Testing a Tailored Social-Ecological Model for Autism Spectrum Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10995-020-03064-5. [Epub ahead of print] Brisendine AE, O'Kelley SE, Preskitt, JK, Sen B, Wingate MS.

Psychol Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, Policy. 2021 DOI: 10.1037/tra0001051. [Epub ahead of print]. Pathways from Child Maltreatment to Proactive and Reactive Aggression: The Role of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptom Clusters. McRae EM, Stoppelbein L, O’Kelley SE, Fite PK, Smith SB.

Sarah O’Kelley, Ph.D.

• Dr. O’Kelley serves as an executive committee member of the Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council (AIACC) as the UCEDD representative.
• She is also the chair of the Birth to 5 Standards of Practice subcommittee of the AIACC, which has included leadership within a related work group developing strategies for early identification, diagnosis and intervention for children with ASD in the state Early Intervention system.
• She serves chair of the planning committee for the annual Alabama Autism Conference.

Myriam Peralta, M.D.

• Dr. Peralta serves as an executive member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SODBP).
• She also serves as a member of the subcommittee on Autism representing SODBP on the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities (COCWD).

Sarah Ryan, Ph.D.

• Dr. Ryan serves as the chair of the Adult (21+) Services subcommittee of the Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council (AIACC).

Justin Schwartz, M.D.

• Dr. Schwartz serves as an executive committee member of the Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council (AIACC) as the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics representative.
• He serves as the chair of the Diagnostics and Health subcommittee of the AIACC.

Kimberlly Stringer, M.D., M.P.H.

• Dr. Stringer serves as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SODBP) Practice Committee Liaison to the SODBP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
• She serves as an executive board member for the Jefferson County Child Developmental Council, a local Head Start agency, advising the agency on best practices to evaluate development.