Baumer Appointed New Director of Sie Center

The Department of Pediatrics is thrilled to announce the appointment of Nicole Baumer, MD, MEd, as the new director of the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome (Sie Center), Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO) and visiting associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Child Neurology, effective July 1.

As a child neurologist and neurodevelopmental disabilities specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital and assistant professor in neurology at Harvard Medical School, Baumer brings a wealth of experience to our team. She currently serves as the director of the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, focusing on the treatment of individuals with Down syndrome, autism, ADHD and other neurobehavioral disorders. Her research focuses on understanding neurodevelopmental profiles in Down syndrome and exploring interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Baumer earned a medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed her pediatrics training at Massachusetts General Hospital, followed by a neurodevelopmental disabilities fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and was a fellow in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders (LEND) program at Boston Children’s Hospital.

As she steps into her new role as Sie Center Director, Baumer brings with her a vision for a comprehensive program that integrates clinical care, research, education and advocacy. Her collaborative spirit is evident in her plans to work closely with the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) and other local, regional and national partners to ensure exceptional care and support for patients and their families.

Baumer is involved as a leader in key organizations such as GLOBAL, the National Down Syndrome Congress and the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group-USA (DSMIG-USA^®) – a professional organization committed to promoting the optimal health care and wellness of individuals with Down syndrome across the lifespan – where she currently serves as president and DSMIG-USA^® representative for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Down Syndrome Consortium. This work underscores her dedication to advocacy and further exemplifies her reputation as a leader in the field. Her impressive research background, leadership of NIH-funded projects, extensive networks, successful funding acquisitions and international advocacy efforts highlight her expertise and experience.

With her recruitment, Baumer will lead targeted growth and further development of the Sie Center’s clinical, research and academic programs. "I greatly appreciate the support of CU School of Medicine Dean John Reilly, Jr., MD, and CHCO CEO Jena Hausmann, who have generously partnered with our department in support of Baumer’s selection as Sie Center Director. Additionally, Baumer’s recruitment is made possible thanks to the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation (AJSF) and  GLOBAL, who collectively made a $4.6 million gift to bring Baumer’s vision to fruition. This generous gift, which also establishes the GLOBAL Endowed Chair for Down Syndrome at Children’s Colorado brings the lifetime philanthropy from AJSF and GLOBAL to more than $10 million in support of the Sie Center. I am grateful for the outstanding collaboration between CHCO Foundation CEO Jen Darling and her team, and Michelle Sie Whitten, president and CEO of GLOBAL. Throughout their long partnership, Jen and Michelle have advanced the philanthropic support for the Sie Center in ways that will ensure its continued success and further development," comments Pediatrics Chair and Children's Hospital Pediatrician-in Chief Stephen Daniels, MD, PhD, MPH.

We are excited to embark on a new chapter with Baumer at the helm, as her passion for supporting individuals with disabilities shines brightly and aligns perfectly with our mission at the Sie Center and within our department. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Niki as she leads the Sie Center with compassion, expertise and dedication. Niki succeeds Francis Hickey, MD, FAAP, who retired in April after 14 years as director.