Xavier Becerra, J.D., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has appointed John Carroll University’s Tom Frazier, Ph.D., to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). The IACC is a federal advisory committee composed of public stakeholders and federal officials that coordinates national activities and advises the HHS Secretary on issues related to autism. Dr. Frazier is one of two newly appointed committee members.
Frazier says he’s humbled by the appointment and is eager to contribute to the committee.
"It is an honor to serve the IACC and try to enhance the innovation and impact of federal funding for autism research," he said.
In this new role, Dr. Frazier will participate in IACC committee meetings, a public forum to share community perspectives and concerns about autism and relevant issues. The committee uses this input to formulate advice and recommendations for the HHS Secretary about autism research, services, and policy. The committee's responsibilities include developing and updating the IACC Strategic Plan and preparing an annual Summary of Advances in Autism Research.
Over the last decade, Dr. Frazier has maintained active clinical research programs focused on evaluating and treating neurodevelopment disorders and related conditions. He has published more than 150 scientific papers, and his recent work has focused on measuring key neurobehavioral processes relevant to early identification and intervention for autism and related conditions.
In addition to neurobehavioral research and teaching psychology at John Carroll University, Dr. Frazier is a licensed clinical psychologist and the father of a young adult son with autism. He joined the Cleveland Clinic in 2006, and from 2013-2017, served as director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism and the Lerner School, overseeing the provision of behavioral intervention to children and young adults. In 2017, he was hired as the Chief Science Officer at Autism Speaks and currently serves as a member of the Autism Speaks national board and chair of the medical and science advisory committee.