CALENDAR ITEM: Thompson Center to Open New Facility, Introduce New Executive Director

December 3rd, 2010

WHAT: The Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri is a national leader in confronting the challenges of autism and other developmental conditions through its collaborative research, training and service programs. Officials from the center will celebrate a new facility and welcome a new executive director, Joel Bregman, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new facility allows all Thompson Center faculty and staff to work at one location. The new center is 26,000 square feet, about 10,000 square feet more than the center’s old location. It features a family-friendly design including a café area and a family resource room with toys, books and computers available for families to check out for use. In addition, the new building has two more examination rooms and five more therapy rooms.

Bregman’s appointment is effective Dec. 1. Previously, Bregman served as director of clinical research at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism and associate investigator at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System (LIJ) in New York. He has developed autism research centers at LIJ and Emory University. Bregman holds a medical degree from Yale University.

WHO: Speakers include:

• Gov. Jay Nixon
• Joel Bregman, incoming Thompson Center executive director
• MU Chancellor Brady Deaton
• Bill Thompson
• Jim Poehling, assistant vice chancellor for health sciences and former executive director of the Thompson Center

WHERE: 205 Portland Street, Columbia

WHEN: 10 a.m., Dec. 3

NOTE: This event is free and open to the public.