David Dawley

University of Arizona
Maternal and Child Health
DrPH Candidate

My Grandmother provided foster care for developmentally and intellectually disabled teenagers and young adults. They were my friends and an important part of my childhood.  My Aunt dedicated her life to making the lives of those with disabilities more comfortable through her work at the Sunmount Developmental Center.  I was a firefighter/paramedic for 16 years before being injured on a call and receiving a spinal fusion.  In 2010, I received my MPH from the University of Arizona while working as a Research Specialist for the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking and Research Network.  My Master’s thesis consisted of a secondary data analysis to determine the effect of socioeconomic status on the age of Autism diagnosis.  I started my Doctoral program in Maternal and Child Health at the U of A this fall.  I have worked with families and organizations from all walks of life of life, including refugees along the U.S./Mexico border, families on tribal lands, and almost every community in and around Tucson.

Learn more about David from the Trainee Spotlight in the Sonoran UCEDD News November 2012 issue.