Appointment of Dr. Susan Brasher as AAC Board of Directors Chair
The Atlanta Autism Consortium announces the appointment of Susan Brasher, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, FAAN as the Chairperson of the Atlanta Autism Consortium Board of Directors, with her tenure beginning in January 2025. Dr. Brasher secedes Dr. Nadrat Nuhu and Dr. Tyler Whitney, who served as the Co-Chairs of the AAC Board for the past two years.
Dr. Susan Brasher is a researcher and clinician on the tenure track at Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Her background includes being a Pediatric Nurse in the hospital setting and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the community setting. She received her PhD from the University of Florida in Nursing with an emphasis in neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically autism. She has worked closely with advocates, families, community members, clinicians, and researchers for over two decades to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes of autistic youth and young adults. Her research is largely patient-centered as she builds equitable partnerships with key stakeholders to drive research that is responsive to their needs.
“Susan has demonstrated her commitment to the autism community through her research and advocacy work,” remarks Dr. Nuhu. “She has been an active member of the AAC for several years including the last couple years where she served as the program chair. Susan is a pleasure to work with and truly an asset to the AAC.”
“Dr. Brasher is as dedicated and passionate a professional as you will find in any organization or clinical endeavor,” Dr. Whitney adds. “I am excited to continue working alongside Susan and the AAC Board, watching her instill her vision into the AAC Board of Directors and the greater Atlanta Autism Community.”
Dr. Brasher’s program of research, largely influenced by community-based participatory research (CBPR) and implementation science, examines ways to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve developmental and health outcomes of individuals on the autism spectrum. She has led and contributed towards a total of 29 research studies in her role as Principle Investigator (PI), amassing $1.95 million in funding to support her research and an additional $4.57 million dollars in funding as Co-Investigator.
Dr. Brasher has been involved with the AAC since 2017 as a volunteer and panel member. She is highly invested in service to the local community. Dr. Brasher has led an autistic women’s support group since 2018 to cultivate social skills and reduce isolation among autistic women. She has also served on national councils for the past 7 years as an expert, including the CDC, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and American Academy of Nursing Expert Committee of Children, Adolescent, and Family.
About the Atlanta Autism Consortium
Founded in 2008, the Atlanta Autism Consortium is a nonprofit organization that works to connect the full spectrum of the Metro Atlanta autism community, including families, adult individuals with autism, researchers, clinicians, educators and advocates by working to foster better understanding and cultivate more meaningful collaboration throughout the Atlanta area. The AAC produces monthly FREE educational programs and events for the autism community, and partners with many other organizations throughout Atlanta on workshops, retreats, forums and other events.