Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Goals of the Program?

  • Providing intensive leadership education to the next generation of healthcare and education leaders in the field of neurodevelopmental and related disabilities
  • Providing leadership to increase knowledge and skills about disabilities and autism spectrum disorders and to create positive attitudes about inclusion
  • Forging partnerships with community-based leaders, organizations, agencies, advocacy groups, and individuals with disabilities and their families for training, program development, program evaluation, research, policy development, and systems change
  • Disseminating information about children with disabilities, leadership programming, public policy, and LEND programs to a national audience

What does it mean to be a LEND Leadership Trainee?

LEND Leadership Trainees include:

  • Graduate students and pre- and post-doctoral students in professions related to Maternal and Child Health (audiology, communication disorders, dentistry, developmental psychology, early intervention, education, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, public health, and social work)
  • A family member or parent of a child with a disability, or someone who has experienced disability within their own life, and who is looking to expand their knowledge and experience with leadership.

LEND Leadership Trainees participate in a comprehensive training program through a variety of activities such as:

  • Attending weekly classes in leadership courses
  • Professional seminars
  • Contributing to research efforts in collaboration with University of Pittsburgh faculty
  • Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams in the LEND CARES program
  • Participating in outreach activities and community organizations that focus on improving the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families
  • Engaging in policy and advocacy opportunities
  • Working on individual projects regarding LEND goals alongside faculty mentors

The LEND schedule follows the academic calendar of the University of Pittsburgh.

What Professional Development Opportunities Will the LEND Experience Offer LEND Leadership Trainees?

  • Increase their knowledge about neurodevelopmental and related disabilities and acquire leadership expertise in communication, cultural competency, and interdisciplinary team skills.
  • Better understand the role of socioeconomic, racial, cultural, geographic, linguistic, and financial factors on service delivery and utilization by children and their families
  • Facilitate their understanding of the importance of advocacy for services
  • Understand the implications of legislation and policy on program funding, planning, and development and patterns of service delivery
  • Demonstrate leadership skills in clinical, mentored research, and/or community-based training
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills in academic course work, clinical settings, communication with families

Are There Other Opportunities Available?

  • LEND Leadership Trainees are eligible to earn a stipend
  • Travel expenses for meetings and conferences, locally, regionally, and nationally may be covered
  • Increased networking within the community and healthcare field is available

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible for a stipend, LEND Leadership Trainees must be United States citizens and cannot be receiving any other type of financial support from University departments or national, federally-funded programs. Special considerations may apply.

Applicants will:

  • Demonstrate an interest in working with children with special health care needs and their families
  • Demonstrate leadership potential
  • Fit one of the following:
    • Graduate students and pre- and post-doctoral students in professions related to Maternal and Child Health (audiology, communication disorders, dentistry, developmental psychology, early intervention, education, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, public health, and social work)
    • Practicing professionals in one of the aforementioned fields
    • A family member or parent of a child with a disability, or someone who has experienced disability within their own life, and who is looking to expand their knowledge and experience with leadership
  • Submit a completed application with all accompanying materials

Students enrolled in graduate or post-graduate programs for the next academic year as full or part-time students may apply. Students from diverse backgrounds and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

What Do I Need To Apply?

  • Complete an online application including an essay (< 500 words): 
  • Have 3 letters of recommendation submitted using the form found here: LEND Online Recommendation Form
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Unofficial graduate program transcript

The application must be completed online. All other materials can be submitted electronically or mailed to:

The LEND Center of Pittsburgh
Children’s Hospital Office Building
3414 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2583
 
Coordinator: Amy Wetmore 
Phone: 412-692-6538 or 412-692-6300
Email: alw137@pitt.edu

When are the Deadlines?

February 9, 2024:        Application Deadline

February 12, 2024:     Letters of Recommendation Due (submit here)

February 12, 2024:     Invitations to Interview Will be Sent 

February 16, 2024:     Interview Day

March 1, 2024:            Notification of Acceptance

 

TypeError: Argument 1 passed to xmlsitemap_node_create_link() must be an instance of stdClass, boolean given, called in D:\Sites\lend\sites\all\modules\xmlsitemap\xmlsitemap_node\xmlsitemap_node.module on line 28 in xmlsitemap_node_create_link() (line 194 of D:\Sites\lend\sites\all\modules\xmlsitemap\xmlsitemap_node\xmlsitemap_node.module).

Frequently Asked Questions | Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Related Disorders

Website is currently offline.

Please check back later. Thank you for your patience.