Teal Benevides, PhD, assistant professor in the Institute of Public and Preventive Health in Augusta University’s School of Public Health, was recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics for her contributions to the field of Child Development and Behavior Through Advocacy, Public Service, Scientific Endeavors and Literature.

The Dale Richmond/Justin Coleman Award is presented to a clinician for outstanding contributions to the field of child development and behavior through advocacy, public service, scientific endeavors and literature. The award is named in memory of the sons of pediatricians Julius Richmond, MD, and William Coleman, MD. Both young men were known for their public service and acts of kindness.

Benevides was one of more than 80 people recognized by the AAP for their achievements in advocacy, practice and research that impact the care of children. The awards were given out during the AAP National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, earlier this fall.

Benevides was nominated by Jennifer Poon, MD, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician, professor of Pediatrics, and division chief of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at AU’s Medical College of Georgia. Poon is also chair of the AAP Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

“I have worked collaboratively with Dr. Benevides for two years since my arrival at MCG,” Poon said. “She is an exceptional member of the Augusta University faculty with a number of contributions to be admired. She has worked tirelessly to elucidate disparities amongst individuals with disabilities, specifically those with intellectual developmental disorders and autism spectrum disorders. As such, she has secured grant funding from a number of national funders to engage people with lived experience to help inform her research.” 

Benevides is grateful for the recognition her work and research have garnered outside of the university, as well as the collaboration she has with her partners.

“I think it represents more than the work that I’m doing. It’s a collective success of the many people who have been working together over many years,” Benevides said. “I partner with people with developmental disabilities to understand their lived experience and ensure that their perspectives are an essential part of our research team. I feel this award is an acknowledgment of our commitment to making sure our research and practice are inclusive of the people that we serve.”

Benevides said the component of the American Academy of Pediatrics that nominated her for the award is the Section on Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, which usually focuses on children with developmental disabilities. Her almost 20-years of work with adults with developmental conditions is a natural extension of pediatrician’s hard work, according to Benevides.

“They work extremely hard to give children the best start that they can,” she said. “People with autism and intellectual disabilities have a long life ahead of them. The work that I do is an extension into adulthood and helping people achieve their best life possible on the priorities that matter to them.”

Over the past 10 years, Benevides has seen significant advancement in uncovering disparities in access to services, as well as racial and ethnic disparities and disparities in gender in terms of diagnostic support and lifespan support.

“Autistic females are less likely to be diagnosed as children and more likely to be diagnosed as adults. We’ve been able to address that,” she said. “In partnership with autistic people and others with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we’ve seen a substantial growth in the awareness of mental health needs and reoccurring mental health conditions that this community really is asking for better research and supports.

“That research has grown exponentially, and I’m proud that we’re part of that group that’s been funded to do research in mental health across the lifespan.”

Benevides believes the increased recognition comes with more responsibility to push forward on the priorities that the partners have identified.

“Even though I’m in the spotlight, I try to emphasize and point back to the priorities that were identified collectively by the team,” Benevides said. “I would hope that this opportunity is going to allow others to see what the priorities are, almost like an amplification of voices that I’ve been given the privilege to work with.”