About the presenter
Julia Bledsoe, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington, and a staff pediatrician at the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome clinic. She founded the Center for Adoption Medicine, and has worked in the field of international adoption for ten years, with travels to Russia, Romania, China, and Guatemala. She has two children adopted from Korea, one of whom has Tourette's Syndrome and ADHD.
Dana E. Johnson, MD, Ph.D is Professor of Pediatrics, member of Division of Neonatology and Director of Research and Education for the International Adoption Clinic at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on the short- and long-term effects of early childhood institutionalization on child health and development. Dr. Johnson serves on the Editorial Boards of Adoption Quarterly and Adoptive Families Magazine and is a Senior Research Fellow in the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. He has authored over 200 journal articles, book chapters and abstracts.
Julian Davies, MD, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Universty of Washington, and one of two staff pediatricians at the UW Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network in Seattle. He is also the Co-Director of the Center for Adoption Medicine, where he provides pre-adoption consultations, post-placement evaluations, and ongoing general pediatric care for adopted children. He is the primary author for www.adoptmed.org an online resource for medical and developmental issues in adoption and pediatrics. He traveled, clowned, and volunteered extensively in Russia, with an arts rehabilitation program and summer arts camp for Russian orphans.
Deborah Gray, MSW, MPA,
is a national trainer, a psychotherapist in private practice, and the author of the well-received book, Attaching in Adoption: Practical Tools for Today’s Parents, Perspectives Press, 2002.
Deborah has spent 20 years helping children develop attachments and work through trauma and grief. She teaches in the Trauma Certificate Program at the University of Washington School of Social Work and both graduate adoption therapy programs at Portland State University and Northwest Adoption Exchange. Her second book on best practices with children after neglect and trauma is in preparation.
Gwen A. Lewis, PhD, ABPdN, has had a private practice in Edmonds since 1986 evaluating the neuro-development of children with a wide range of behavior and learning difficulties. She also has served as a school psychologist in public schools for more than thirty-five years. She has had an interext in the neuropsychological development of children since she entered the field as a psychologist in 1962. She completed a post-doctorate in Pediatric Neuropsychology in 2000.
Paulette Caswell, MSW, has her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California and has been working in the field of Foster Care/Special Needs Adoption for over 10 years. She completed her Certificate in Foster Care and Adoption Therapy in 2005. Paulette specializes in child specific adoption recruitment for children in foster care. She is currently a Permanency Planning Specialist for Washington State Children's Administration.
