Ten years after the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development was founded, our trainees have gone on to careers in research, clinical practice, and academic leadership. We caught up with three former trainees to learn more about how their experience at Duke prepared them to make an impact in the field.
Kathleen Campbell, MD, MHSc
Duke Trainee 2013-2017
I trained in clinical research and implementation science with Dr. Geraldine Dawson at the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development from 2013 to 2017 while earning a combined MD and Master's in Health Science at Duke. I worked on autism screening studies in primary care and studies using computer vision to detect delayed response to name in autistic toddlers. Now I am a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and postdoctoral researcher in electroencephalography measures of infant brain development. My mentors at Duke inspired me to pursue a combined career in clinical care and research. The studies that I worked on helped me think about how to measure brain processes that happen faster than conscious perception.
Kate MacDuffie, PhD, MA
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine
Duke Trainee 2015-2016
I trained at the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development as a practicum student in 2015-2016 while earning a PhD in clinical psychology at Duke. When looking for postdoctoral opportunities, Dr. Geraldine Dawson connected me with Dr. Annette Estes, director of the University of Washington Autism Center in Seattle. There, I applied for an F32 training grant in bioethics, which included research training as well as formal coursework towards a Master of Arts in Bioethics. Building on experience with autism and neurodiversity research at Duke, I focused on how new technologies for autism detection impact families. My current work has expanded beyond autism, but is very much informed by the work and connections earlier in my career at the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development.
Kevin Ramseur, MS
Duke Trainee 2018-2020
I worked as a research assistant for Dr. Lauren Franz from 2018 to 2020 while completing my Master of Science in Global Health at Duke. Upon graduation, I accepted a full-time position as a senior clinical research specialist with the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development. I built skills in research and clinical assessment with projects funded by the National Institutes of Health. These experiences solidified my interest in pursuing a career in clinical psychology and helped form my passion for intervention design and implementation science, as well as my primary focal area, social skills development and social support. I hope to continue using this knowledge as I advance as a trainee and soon as a licensed professional.