New Program Supports Patients with Neuro-Disabilities
By Office of the President | Oct 6, 2026
Downstate’s new Eric Davis Myers Lifespan Program is named in memory of Eric Davis Myers, whose life showed his family how much coordinated care matters for people with neurodisabilities.
His parents, Lynne Davis Myers, M.D., a Downstate alumna, and Donald Myers, Esq., made the program possible through their vision and generous support.
Developed by the Division of Child Development in the Department of Pediatrics, the program is designed to help children and adults with neurodisabilities receive integrated care throughout their lives, particularly as they move from pediatric to adult services.
Families are often seen by multiple doctors and specialists, each working in their own silos. At the same time, families struggle to find appropriate services from the public educational and disability support systems. And when a child transitions to adulthood, accessing care and services becomes even more complicated. The Lifespan Program brings together specialty and primary care, combined with family support, patient navigation and advocacy provided by family advocates, social workers and behavior specialists.
Starting in pediatric care, the plan is to extend the model to adult care to help ensure a seamless transition of healthcare providers, support access to adult programs and services, and help families prepare for changing medical, developmental, behavioral, and social needs.
The program brings together providers in Pediatric Ambulatory Care, Developmental Pediatrics, Neurology, the Gastrointestinal and Feeding Therapy Program, Nursing, Family Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Brooklyn LEND’s Family Support Program. The goal is to provide integrated care under one roof, combines medical, behavioral and social supports with advocacy.
“Eric’s life taught us how much families need knowledgeable professionals who communicate with one another and understand that care does not end when a child reaches adulthood,” said Dr. and Mr. Myers. “We hope this program will help families feel supported, understood, and better able to find the care and resources they need throughout their loved one’s life.”
The Lifespan Program's inaugural event – presented on September 23 as a combined in-person and virtual Pediatric and Psychiatry Grand Rounds in Alumni Auditorium - included remarks from the Myers family and Downstate leadership, led by Christina Guillén, M.D., FAAP, Interim Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, and Michael Myers, M.D., for the Department of Psychiatry, Balavenkatesh Kanna M.D., UHD Chief Executive Officer, and Jason Lazar M.D., Executive Vice Dean of the College of Medicine, on behalf of Dean Charles F. Brunicardi, M.D., highlighting the Lifespan program’s role in providing interdisciplinary care and preparing future healthcare professionals to care for people with neurodisabilities throughout their lives.
The core of the event was a panel discussion with representatives of Pediatric and Adult Primary Care, Neurology, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Gastroenterology and Feeding Therapy, Family Advocacy, and Applied Behavioral Analysis.
Harris Huberman, M.D., MPH, Director of the Division of Child Development, underscored the need for integrated care for the full range of neurodiverse patients in a model of care ensuring communication and coordination between health providers, patients, families and community partners across the lifespan. The event was attended by over 140 individuals, including physicians, speech and occupational therapists, educators, social workers, family- and self-advocates and community program representatives.
Thank you, Dr. Myers and Mr. Myers for honoring Eric’s memory through your support. And congratulations to Drs. Guillén, Huberman, Kanna, Lazar, and Dean Brunicardi and the many Downstate colleagues and partners who brought the program to life.
Tags: Neurology, Pediatrics