One of the first things that happened when the UCEDD became an entity within DBP was to clearly develop DBP’s pediatric mission while enabling the UCEDD to continue its agespan focus required by its federal funding mandate. This task required innovation, in part because the UCEDD and the LEND training programs were closely aligned and much of DBP's interdisciplinary educational mission was funded through LEND. Hence LEND also began to change.

Several events promoted this change. First, construction began on the new Golisano Children's Hospital, which opened May 27, 2015. Before the opening, there was an increasing demand on all pediatric divisions to expand clinical service. In the case of DBP, this pressure came largely from the emerging demand for diagnostic and intervention services on behalf of children with ASD and their families. The historic UCEDD missions did not include clinical service, so the responsibility to expand services and supports fell to the divisional efforts of DBP. We will have more to say about DBP's clinical service expansion in Chapter Twelve.

Of immense importance related to DBP was B. Thomas Golisano’s personal interest in IDD and his efforts to bring the Golisano Foundation and DBP closer together. Both the University of Rochester Medical Center leadership and the University of Rochester Advancement Office raised IDD to a level of prominence not seen before. And there was almost immediate impact.

As plans were being finalized for the Golisano Children’s Hospital construction, the University of Rochester Medical Center announced that a major gift from the William and Mildred Levine Foundation would be the impetus for a new building to house the URMC ASD Clinic. That building, located on East River Road, opened March 29, 2017. It houses the outpatient services of DBP, Child Neurology and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry as well as an imaging center, thus providing patients with the opportunity for integration of care and allowing for improved cross-disciplinary training on ASD and IDD.

A number of substantial gifts were made to support the Levine building. Two of these gifts were received from DBP faculty members. John and Kathy Purcell made a generous contribution to name the waiting area for families being seen at the ASD Clinic.