Rick Rader

RICK RADER, MD, FAAIDD, FAADM, DHL (hon)

Rick is a board-certified physician in Developmental Medicine (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities). He is cross-trained in medical anthropology and has an appreciation for the biocultural determinants of health and disease. For the past 30 years, he has served as the Director of the Habilitation Center at the Orange Grove Center (Chattanooga, Tennessee), where he is responsible for creating novel and innovative healthcare delivery systems for marginalized patient populations. He has been an advisor to four former U.S. Surgeon Generals in the area of health and disability. He is the President of the American Association on Health and Disability and a co-founder of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. He has published over 400 articles in the area of health and disability. He is the Editor-in-Chief of HELEN, The Journal of Human Exceptionality. He is the recipient of two Presidential appointments to both the President’s Committee on People with Intellectual Disabilities and to the National Council on Disability. He serves as an advisor to the Healthy Athletes Program at Special Olympics International. He is also responsible for the science content in both the enrichment music and art programs at the Orange Grove Center. He was elected to the National Academies of Practice in Medicine and is a Fellow at the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. He serves on the Board of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices.