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As a founding member of the NIDCAP Federation International, Director and President of its Board since 2017, Deborah has dedicated 40 years helping to create and support NIDCAP, its theoretical model, caregiving approach and training program. Deborah is a developmental psychologist who began her professional career in 1982 on the original NIDCAP pilot study, as Dr. Heidelise Als¡¯ first research assistant. Deborah is now the Director of the West Coast NIDCAP and APIB Training Center at UCSF in California (established at Oakland Children¡¯s Hospital in 1987). She is also a Master NIDCAP Trainer and Trainer for the interrelated neurobehavioral Assessment of Preterm Infants Behavior (APIB).

From research to training to raising awareness, Deborah strives to bring NIDCAP to all preterm and ill infants and their families, and the healthcare professionals who care for them. She is inspired by the model and the NFI¡¯s ever growing international community who bring these ideas and care practices to life. For it is through these incredible NIDCAP global efforts that she believes hospital experiences and infant and family outcomes are becoming better every day.