Catalight announced that Dr. Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., MSCP, its Chief Clinical Officer, has been honored as a Gold Winner in the 2025 Merit Awards for Healthcare in the Influential Clinical Executives category. This award recognizes Dr. Samelson’s transformative contributions to autism and intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) care, highlighting her leadership in redefining outcomes for individuals and families across the United States.
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Dr. Samelson is widely regarded as a leading voice in behavioral health, advocating for wellbeing as the central measure of success in autism and I/DD care. Her expertise draws from her experience as a licensed psychologist, as a person living with a disability, and as a parent to an adult son with I/DD. Through this perspective, she has championed a care model focused on dignity, inclusion, and individualized outcomes.
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Under her leadership, Catalight launched the Catalight Research Institute, a national hub dedicated to advancing clinical innovation through research and technology. Her team has developed influential tools including the Catalight Wellbeing Scales, Parental Stress Scales, and the Compass-Behavioral program, designed to support autistic youth in developing self-advocacy skills. Programs led by Dr. Samelson have demonstrated measurable impact, including an average satisfaction score of 4.3 out of 5, a 71 percent reduction in dangerous behaviors, significant reductions in family stress, a 30 percent decrease in healthcare costs, and a 93 percent telehealth adoption rate that enhances equitable access to care.
Susan Armiger, President and CEO of Catalight, praised Dr. Samelson, stating that her vision has transformed both the organization and the national behavioral health landscape. She emphasized that wellbeing is now recognized as a fundamental outcome for individuals with autism and I/DD, reflecting meaningful life experiences rather than optional metrics. Armiger highlighted that Dr. Samelson’s model of care ensures that every person can define and pursue their own path to wellbeing, regardless of ability.
Dr. Samelson’s influence extends nationally through her fellowship with the California Health Care Foundation, her prior leadership at Kaiser Permanente, and her service as Co-Chair of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Psychology Interest Group. She has authored and co-authored numerous research publications and has been featured in leading outlets such as Psychology Today, The Family Journal, Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, Behavioral Health Business, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report.
Reflecting on her award, Dr. Samelson said she is honored and proud to see wellbeing embraced as the essential outcome for individuals with autism and I/DD. She emphasized that focusing on wellbeing enables more impactful and person-centered care across the country.
The Merit Awards for Healthcare celebrate excellence and innovation within the healthcare industry. The program recognizes organizations, leaders, products, and initiatives that are advancing clinical care, health equity, patient wellbeing, and innovation. Now in its sixth year, the Merit Awards serve as a trusted benchmark of achievement, highlighting those driving meaningful progress in healthcare.
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