Key facts
- US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed Dr. John Gaitanis to lead the federal advisory panel on autism.
- Gaitanis will replace Dr. Sylvia Fogel as chair of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC).
- Fogel had chaired the IACC since January and helped adopt a new strategic plan for people with autism.
- The IACC recommended the adoption of the term "profound autism" for those with high support needs.
- Kennedy stated that Gaitanis will chair the committee because federal members traditionally hold the position.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has appointed Dr. John Gaitanis, a pediatric neurologist and director of the National Institutes of Health's child health institute, to lead the federal advisory panel on autism. Gaitanis took over as chair of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) on Friday, succeeding Dr. Sylvia Fogel, who had held the position since January.
Fogel, a Harvard Medical School instructor and parent of an adult child with autism, was instrumental in developing and adopting a new strategic plan for the IACC. This plan focuses on priorities such as medical care, housing, and aging for individuals with autism and their families. Under her leadership, the IACC also recommended the adoption of the term "profound autism" for individuals requiring high levels of support.
According to sources, Kennedy stated that Gaitanis, as a federal member of the committee, would assume the chairmanship, as is traditional for federal members. Fogel, who is one of the committee's 20 outside public members, will continue to serve on the IACC and assist Gaitanis during the transition. Kennedy reportedly praised the IACC's work and Fogel's contributions, while also acknowledging past frustrations among public members regarding federal support.