Celebrating Professor Sandra Friedman, MD, MPH, MS

After 16 years of visionary leadership at our institution, we announce the retirement of Sandra Friedman, MD, MPH, MS, effective September 30, 2025.

Dr. Friedman joined the Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital Colorado in 2009, relocating from Boston to lead the Section of Developmental Pediatrics. She guided the section through a period of extraordinary growth and transformation for 14 years until stepping down in 2022. Under her leadership within our department, our section, and developmental pediatrics programs:

• faculty numbers increased more than fivefold,
• clinical programs expanded significantly in scope and reach,
• access to care improved for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder and other
• developmental disabilities (ASD/DD), including in rural and frontier communities,
• the section earned ACGME accreditation for the developmental-behavioral pediatrics fellowship program,
• JFK Partners was integrated into the section in 2015, with Friedman directing its two core federal grants,
• research infrastructure was strengthened to support junior faculty and trainees, and
• the section joined national research networks focused on ASD/DD.

Friedman has also served as program director of the JFK Partners Program (LEND and UCEDD) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine since 2015. She holds the titles of professor of pediatrics, director of the University Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and director of Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. 

Her accolades include multiple “Top Doctor” recognitions from 5280 Magazine, “Exceptional Women in Medicine” honors from Castle Connolly, and a Certificate of Recognition from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

A devoted educator, her commitment to education, research and advocacy has shaped our programs into nationally recognized hubs for developmental pediatrics. Friedman developed and taught the child behavior and development curriculum for pediatric residents at Children’s Colorado, established the fellowship curriculum and mentored countless trainees, many of whom have gone on to distinguished academic careers. She has authored over 50 publications, including a book on end-of-life care for patients with intellectual disabilities and contributed to leading textbooks and national educational modules. In 2022, she was recognized by the department as a Career Teaching Scholar.