For more than half a century, the Children's Evaluation and
Rehabilitation Center (CERC) has been a jewel in the crown of Albert
Einstein College of Medicine. Since the founding of the medical school,
our talented professional staff has provided compassionate, respectful
care to infants, children and adults with autism, learning disabilities,
cerebral palsy and other developmental retardation, as well as support
to their parents, siblings and extended families. Using
multidisciplinary teams to evaluate and care for the individual and the
family, we have become a model for programs throughout the region,
state, and nation. With sensitivity and concern, we have been able to
offer a commodity often in short supply in the lives of our patients and
their families: hope for a brighter future.
Recently, our
center has embarked on a new initiative, a clinical research program to
investigate the causes and possible treatments for the conditions that
affect our patients. It is our hope that through a collaborative effort
between members of our staff and the talented researchers who work at
Einstein, we can turn these disabling conditions which currently have no
cures or preventions, into treatable or preventable entities. In the
1950s, this was done with polio; it is our hope that in the first two
decades of the 21st century, we can do the same with autism, and with
intellectual and developmental disabilities.
At present, we are
working to turn this dream into a reality. In the meantime, our staff
will continue to deliver the outstanding care to our patients that has
become the cornerstone of our program. We invite you to join us as we
explore this very exciting future!
Robert W. Marion, M.D.
Director