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Rachel Vaughn-Coaxum

@rachelannvc.bsky.social

200 followers 160 following 1 posts

Clinical scientist, Assistant Prof at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Dept of Psychiatry), studies youth mental health

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Rachel Vaughn-Coaxum @rachelannvc.bsky.social · Feb 21

Cara is amazing, and this is devastating.

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · Feb 19

The head of the Autism, ADHD, and Externalizing Disorders Interventions Research Program at the National Institute of Mental Health was fired over the weekend, 21 days shy of the end of her one year probationary period. She posted about it on fb.

This-despite a stellar performance review weeks ago.
This-despite receiving an NIMH Director's Award.
This-despite being recruited SPECIFICALLY for my subject matter expertise in autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities, clinical trials, and community-based effectiveness research.

After two decades in academic research and advocacy, I was hired to help develop ways to get low-cost, evidence-based mental health care into schools and community settings-so ALL kids could access specialized treatment, not just those with private insurance or parents who could take time off work.

I didn't take the move to NIMH lightly-I went because I believed in shaping the future of autism and mental health research, impacting policy, and ensuring that science actually reaches the communities that need it most. And I LOVED my job. I found that same community in my division.

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