NEWSLETTER Spring 2008

IN THE NEWS

A Different Drum: By Gina Keating, writer for The Business Journal
South Africa native learned compassion in face of apartheid

Raun Melmed has a unique perspective on diversity. He celebrates the differences that make us human, and has made it his life’s work to effect great change in the world of developmental and behavioral pediatrics.

Melmed founded Melmed Center in Phoenix in 1989 to provide multidisciplinary support and treatment to those with developmental, behavioral and learning challenges. He also co-founded the nonprofit Southwest Autism Research Center, known as SARRC, in 1997.

What some colleagues would label as childhood “delays,” Melmed prefers call "differences".

His compassionate and sincere approach to the early detection and intervention of childhood disorders developed when he was a young boy in South Africa. Melmed was acutely aware of his privilege to attend a private school and receive a good education while black children were denied basic human rights during apartheid in the 1960s and the ‘70s. He says it was difficult for him to juxtapose the cruelty of man with what he felt was the most idyllic place on earth. Melmed and his family lived on the southern tip of South Africa, near Cape Town. They were nestled between the Indian and South Atlantic oceans and were mesmerized by the magnificent mountains."The physical beauty of the land is stunning. But an incredible thorn, apartheid, made day-to-day life for blacks close to impossible," he said. He credits a teacher for helping him make sense of the disparity among people.“My teacher told me when you are given a privilege, take responsibility of it whether you deserve it or not,”

Melmed said. He didn’t listen, and he makes no excuses for his rambunctious behavior. “I was a naughty boy, and I was always in trouble,” he said. “I always took myself seriously, but I guess I was not as present as my teachers would have liked me to be.” After reading a series of British humor books titled “Doctor at Sea,” about inept doctors in uproariously funny situations, he chose his vocation.“I knew it would be my direction,” Melmed said.

He eventually toed the line and decided to leave South Africa following medical school because he no longer could tolerate the laws of a land that ignored the needs of all its people.“It was distinctly unpleasant,” Melmed said. “It was an incredibly harsh time, and I knew I had to leave.”

Dr. Melmed completed his postgraduate studies in New York and Boston. He was a fellow with Dr. Mel Levine at the Children’s Hospital in Boston, where he also served as an instructor at Harvard Medical School.

Now, as one of only about a dozen developmental pediatricians in Arizona, Melmed has made it his mission to improve detection of behavioral and developmental disorders in children to allow earlier intervention.

The father of four daughters has helped cultivate a spirit of collaboration within the national autism community. He leads SARRC’s research partnership with the Translational Genomics Research Institute and serves as an adjunct senior researcher at TGen.Through his research efforts, some physical findings in autism have been delineated and the SARRC team has been able to focus on the complex issue of regression in autism.Melmed has led SARRC researchers in studies that examine the different ways autism presents itself in children. These findings were presented during the International Meeting for Autism Research in 2006 and 2007.

Melmed is respected, loved and almost as funny as his favorite British novels.As a physician and researcher, he has pledged his life’s work and passion to the betterment of children and their families affected by developmental disorders.

Although he’s a citizen of the world, Melmed still calls South Africa home. “I feel the rhythm of African drums in my soul.”

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CENTER:

"If I were planting a garden and I wanted to have a number of flowers,I would never think of giving every flower the same amount of sun,the same amount of water and soil.  I'd be sure to cultivate each individual type of flower differently. Does that mean that the rose or the orchid is less because I have to do more with them? Certainly not!" -- Chin-Lor

It is evening and tired Melmed Center employees trickle out. Over in the courtyard – Melmed Center clients might recognize the reference to the opening for the excruciatingly long hallway leading to the restrooms – a young boy shouts with delight as he is pulled back and forth on a rolling platform by his Occupational Therapist, Carol. Their energy echoes against the walls of the otherwise deserted offices and spills into the parking lot. Carol either feels no wear from her daily work, her cumulative career and co-vocational recreation, or she effectively hides it behind her contagious smile. Their laughter is rejuvenating.
Melmed Center is proud to know Carol Lockhart OTR/L, as a colleague and friend. Melmed Center has chosen to recognize Carol for her tireless dedication, her professional wisdom, and her unending kindness.
In 2002, Carol used the above Chin-Lor quote in a presentation. Her vocation calls for neuron-developmental and sensory-motor approaches, utilizing therapeutic exercises and activities. She embodies this philosophy of individualized treatment and empathetic care, and has a consistent commitment to making sure everyone feels equal and deserving. All of her clients will receive respect from Carol, and grow to look at her with certain reverence.
Carol will – sometimes literally – “bend every which way” to ensure her clients are getting the best therapy she can provide. She has devoted countless time to Melmed Center children for more than a decade, in addition to her work at local schools.
The boy laughing almost hysterically this Tuesday night is moving his muscles, strengthening his ligaments, and having fun. Does it matter that she always has at least two jobs, that she drove to California on Thursday to hike a mountain and drove back on Sunday, that she's had a marathon day full of back-to-back appointments? Certainly not!

Thanks, Carol, for all your hard work. You are very, very appreciated.

Book Review by Laura Jensen

Autism Early Intervention is your GPS system for navigating the world of Autistic disorders (AD). Dr. Raun Melmed's book provides a foundation of knowledge that is absolutely indispensible when one is new to understanding AD. He guides the reader through the terminology, the myriad tests that one can encounter and the seemingly endless interventions.

Melmed is as true to the factual information as he is to the emotional whirlwind that can ensue when one is confronted with AD. He carefully navigates controversies that exist even in the diagnostic process. His knowledge of the AD field is vast, and evident in his ability to thoroughly yet efficiently review the scientific evidence in each area of AD. In addition to research results, Melmed is careful to identify ongoing anecdotal benefits that should not be ignored and could in the future find statistical significance.

How does one, then, use all this information? Autism Early Intervention outlines a simple yet effective way for a family and/or provider to stay focused through the treatment plan. AD is, as he describes, a multisystem disorder and therefore potentially confusing and overwhelming at any stage of treatment. The provider and other supporters can continually refocus the individual and family of identifying target symptoms, both long- and short-term.

Autism Early Intervention should become part of the family's and the provider's AD files. Both families and pediatricians alike could benefit from reviewing content in the book before meeting, to maintain the treatment plan. Autism Early Intervention should be underlined, highlighted, and dog-eared to make use of the invaluable information found inside.


Did you know? 

Melmed Center provides a caring, interdisciplinary approach to the assessment and treatment of behavioral, educational and developmental challenges. Our innovative programs endeavor to create synergistic treatment opportunities. The services are provided in a fun, family-oriented environment. Below is a sample of what we offer our clients:

Academic Coaching for 8 1/2 - 12 year olds
Your child will learn personalized methods to organize their study in a way that will make study much easier and less toilsome. Understanding their unique learning-style will give your child the confidence to get started on those looming projects and develop their own critical thinking skills. Academic coaching can also aid in the transition between grades – especially from elementary to middle, from middle to high school – and also improve your child's interpersonal communication skills.

Life Coaching for 13-60+ year olds
Life Coaching can help anyone increase their self-awareness, in turn improving transitions within and between relationships, careers and responsibilities. Clients are coached to better their methods in managing moods, attitudes and stress, while personalized organizational tools are tweaked to provide the most time-efficient ways of handling priorities.

Neuro-Developmental and Sensory Modulatory Therapy
A child's occupation is play, movement and exploration. After an evaluation of your child's strengths and motor differences, treatment goals are developed followed by a treatment plan. Parents are kept fully informed through our special parent education meetings, so that a concurring home therapy program can be implemented and optimal effectiveness can be achieved.

JOIN A GROUP!

Sometimes you or your child may need even more. The center and a certified professional facilitate a community of families that often come together in our group programs to learn from each other. Here are the topics for a few of our upcoming groups!

Focus
The goal of this group is to give those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder strategies to gain control of attention and behavior. Topics covered include anxiety reduction, self-esteem, and social skills to help make and maintain friendships.

Girl Talk
Girl Talk is an activity oriented social skills group for girls that combines art, drama, and games to help them learn to make and keep friends, communicate, problem solve, monitor moods, and improve decision making and social sportsmanship skills.

Stress Busters!
This is a social group to help the stress and anxiety that might hinder academics, social abilities, family life, physical and mental health. This group is designed to help children identify physical manifestations of stress and relaxation, so that they may successfully cope in anxiety-provoking situations. In a group-setting, children will benefit from learning and practicing skills to reduce stress and anxiety, improve overall performance, and enhance self-esteem.

These are just a few of our services that are designed to give personalized strategies to better one's quality of life. Our qualified staff provides a vast array of individualized services tailored to your needs or the needs of your child, teen or family. Please contact our office if you are interested in the schedules of our groups, would like to know more about our groups unlisted here, or would like to know more about our services.

UPCOMING CONFERENCE:
February 22- 23, 2008 

Dyslexia Association Annual Conference:

The Arizona Branch of the International Dyslexia Association is holding its annual conference, Cerebral Diversity and the Enlightened Classroom. The presenters are Dr. Gorden Sherman, neuro-scientist, and Dee Ledet-Rosenberg, M.A., Director of Education, New Grange School. The conference will begin Friday evening, February 22 and continue Saturday, February 23, 2008. It will be held at the Black Canyon Conference center in Phoenix, Arizona. Melmed Center is pleased to have an exhibit on at the conference, on Saturday the 23rd. The exhibit area will be centrally located in the foyer just outside the keynote address location, however if necessary, some exhibitors will be in the keynote room. Please stop by to say hello!

Are you interested in participating in a Study?