Maya Raman, MD, PL-3 and Clarissa Camarillo, MD, PL-3
The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has increased to one in 59 children in the United States. Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy has been proven to be effective for children with ASD, however it is difficult to access. Families in the Bay Area typically experience a 3-6 month delay from referral to the time initial ABA assessment is completed. There is often additional delay of weeks to several months until providers begin working with the patient.
Our project aims to support families waiting for access to ABA by demonstrating hands-on strategies for implementing behavioral interventions. Working with multiple local ABA providers and community organizations, we will create a five-part video series as an innovative way to reach caregivers who lack the time, transportation, or childcare needed to attend in-person training. The content of the video series will be refined with input from focus groups with parents/caregivers of children with ASD and from ABA and early intervention providers. Proposed topics include: What is ABA, basics of behavior management, reciprocal play, visual communication systems and schedules, and navigating the maze of ASD services.
We hope to improve families’ understanding of behavioral strategies, and timely initiation of early intervention for children with ASD via a web-based video series that will be publicly available to families/caregivers.
Maya Raman and Clarissa Camarillo are second-year pediatric residents at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.
Meet the project leaders:
Maya Raman, MD completed her undergraduate studies in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and received the Order of the Laurel and Palm award for exemplary leadership and excellent scholarship. She received her MD from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine with induction into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She received the Excellence in Community Service Award for her extensive work with the Keep Your Heart Healthy program; she designed, executed, and published a study of the efficacy of the program in creating behavioral change in underserved Chicago communities. In residency, Dr. Raman is pursuing a career in general pediatrics with an interest in global health. As part of the UCSF Global Health Pathway, she hopes to use her certification in medical Spanish to volunteer in Latin America. She is a coordinator for the patient care fund and a member of the ethics and resident wellness committees.
Clarissa Camarillo, MD received an undergraduate degree in Biology from University of Oregon and graduated Magna Cum Laude with induction into Phi Beta Kappa honor society. During that time, she volunteered at free health clinics for underserved patients and in mobile health clinics for impoverished communities in Peru. She received her MD from Oregon Health & Science University and continued to volunteer at health centers for low-income patients as well as coordinating outreach to the local Latino population as a board member of the Latino Medical Student Association. She is interested in pediatric hospital medicine with particular interest in underserved populations. She is a mentor to high school students interested in health care and remains involved in diversity efforts through the Coalition for Diversity & Advocacy.