New Partnership with UVA

MBU and the University of Virginia (UVA) are partnering to expand healthcare options for individuals living with autism and other developmental disabilities in a region where such services are scarce.

In August, UVA launched Blue Ridge Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), a $2.2 million grant-funded program that serves the rural Blue Ridge and Appalachian region of Virginia and bordering states. Through Blue Ridge LEND, students and practicing professionals can access a wide range of training and continuing education opportunities.

MBU augments UVA’s focus areas in nursing, psychology, special education, speech-language pathology, and medicine with expertise in occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT).

“The new Blue Ridge LEND partnership brings together the talents of both universities right at the heart of our mission — preparing students to work with professionals in multiple healthcare fields and provide care here in our community,” said Lisa Shoaf, dean of Mary Baldwin’s Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences.

MBU professors Pamela Stephenson (OT) and Carolyn Moore (PT), who both share an expertise in working with children in their fields, will join the Blue Ridge LEND faculty and teach as part of the partnership.

The program also opens doors for OT and PT students at MBU in the highly competitive field of pediatric care.

LEND fellows, including MBU students Kaylee Nichols OTD ‘23 (far right) and Paolo Cruz DPT ‘23 (not pictured), take part in weekly interdisciplinary classes and clinical work alongside UVA students.

Starting this academic year, select students in their second year of graduate school have the opportunity to train as LEND fellows, taking part in weekly interdisciplinary classes and clinical work alongside UVA students. They will graduate with a specialized LEND certificate after the yearlong experience.

The MBU-UVA program joins a national network of 60 LEND programs across the country that receive funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.