by Christina Echegaray
Zachary Warren, PhD, professor of Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Special Education, has been named director of the Division of Developmental Medicine in the Vanderbilt Department of Pediatrics. His appointment began April 1.
Warren, executive director of TRIAD (Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders) in the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, was selected for the post following an extensive national search chaired by Paul Moore, MD, division chief of Allergy and Pediatric Pulmonary, and Jeff Neul, MD, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, along with search committee members Kecia Carroll, MD, MPH; William Cooper, MD, MPH; Kevin Ess, MD, PhD; Lori Jordan, MD, PhD; and Beth Malow, MD, MS.
“Throughout his career, Zack has established himself as a local, regional, national and international leader regarding screening, diagnosis and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders and their families,” said Steven Webber, MBChB, MRCP, chair of Vanderbilt’s Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrician-in-Chief at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and James C. Overall Professor. “Not only has he made powerful scholarly contributions, but the programs he has built and developed here at VUMC have had a massive impact in our state. In turn, his reputation of professional excellence and accomplishment has increasingly led to Zack’s involvement in helping others build and shape similar programs across the nation.
“Zack has cast a vision for the Division of Developmental Medicine that is both exciting and audacious. As the division has already achieved extraordinary prominence nationally and internationally, it’s particularly invigorating to hear Zack’s plans to position the group for even greater sustained contributions,” Webber said.
Warren takes over the helm of the division from interim chief Paul Moore, MD.
“Please join me in congratulating Zack for his new responsibilities and to express our appreciation for his willingness to take on this important role for the department, the Medical Center and the children we serve each day. I would also like to express my deepest appreciation to Dr. Paul Moore for his committed service as interim division chief while we conducted the extensive search that culminated in Zack’s selection,” Webber said.
Warren has been at Vanderbilt since 2006 after finishing a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical psychology at the Medical University of South Carolina. He earned a bachelor’s in psychology and philosophy at the College of William and Mary in Virginia and went on to earn both a masters and a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Miami in Florida. He did a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
At Vanderbilt, Warren’s many roles include director of Autism Research for the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and the Department of Pediatrics and deputy director of engagement for the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. He also is the former director of the Clinical Translational Core for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center.
“I have devoted all of my professional career to developing better systems of care for those affected by autism and other developmental disabilities. As such, I am flattered to have this opportunity to help lead our talented VUMC clinicians in further developing programs that meaningfully impact care within and beyond our hospital walls,” Warren said.
