The Power of Partnership: Cultivating Professional Collaboration in Behavior Analysis

Original Air Date: April 24, 2025

Short title:  The Power of Partnership

CEU offered: 1.0 BACB Learning CEU

Webinar Duration: 60 minutes

Instructors:

  • Breanne Hartley, Phd, BCBA-D, LBA
  • Steven Merahn, MD, FAAP


Abstract:

As the field of behavior analysis continues to expand its presence in healthcare, BCBAs must embrace a collaborative mindset to enhance both individual and collective impact.

This presentation explores the concept of "ensemble thinking"—a perspective drawn from musicians who set aside personal identity for the sake of creating harmonious experiences. Similarly, BCBAs must recognize the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and the shared responsibility of patient care.

This session will define professionalism in behavior analysis, highlight the benefits of working alongside other professionals, and examine how BCBAs are perceived when they take a seat at the table. We will explore effective communication strategies to foster more productive and meaningful collaborations. Additionally, we will discuss the profession's global trajectory and the willingness of BCBAs to balance autonomy with interdisciplinary teamwork.

By embracing a collective approach, behavior analysts can expand their influence, improve patient outcomes, and elevate the field’s standing in the broader professional landscape.

Learning Objectives

  1. Define professionalism within the field of behavior analysis and explore its role in interdisciplinary collaboration.
  2. Identify strategies for fostering mutually beneficial relationships with professionals in related disciplines, specifically healthcare.
  3. Examine how BCBAs are perceived in interdisciplinary settings and develop approaches to improve communication, including reducing jargon.
  4. Discuss the importance of ensemble thinking and shared care models in enhancing patient outcomes.


Instructor(s)

Chief Clinical Officer, LittleStar Breanne Hartley, PhD, BCBA-D

Breanne Hartley, PhD, BCBA-D is the Chief Clinical Officer at LittleStar ABA Therapy. She obtained certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2007 and obtained a doctorate degree in Behavior Analysis in 2009 from Western Michigan University, specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Disabilities. Her areas of interest include supervision, staff training, and systems analysis. She has publications in Behavior Analysis in Practice, and she has spoken across the country on topics regarding issues concerning behavior analyst practitioners, such as staff training, supervision, treatment plan development, and navigating the insurance denial and appeals process.

Steven Merahn, MD, FAAP

Steven Merahn, MD FAAP is a veteran physician-executive and a recognized thought leader in systems-based practice and population health, with a special focus on clinical integration to overcome health disparities in populations and communities with complex health-related needs. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of UNIFI Autism care, and is a member of the Autism Subcommittee of the American Academy (AAP) of Pediatrics Council on Children with Disabilities, as well as the only physician on the Standards Committee of the Autism Commission on Quality of the Council of Autism Services Providers (CASP).  He was the invited keynote speaker at the 2025 Autism meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysts International (ABAI) and has delivered presentations at the annual meetings of CASP and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, and is the co-author of the chapter on Behavior Analysis and Public Policy in the upcoming revision of Clinical and Organizational Applications of Behavior Analysis (Roane & Falcomata, eds).