Richard Adams, M.D. Titles and Appointments Chief, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Professor & Division Chief Schools Medical School Departments Pediatrics Biography Richard Adams, M.D., earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Science Center. He completed a pediatric residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and later, received advanced training in developmental disabilities through a fellowship at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. Dr. Adams has provided leadership on the State level as the Chair of the Texas Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention and as a member of the Texas Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. He is a member of the Camp John Marc Advisory Board, and for 30 years has served as the medical director of “Camp TLC,” an annual summer camp for 100 youths with spina bifida. Having served as chairman of the Committee on Children with Disabilities for the Texas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Texas Pediatric Society) for a decade, he was subsequently named “Chair Emeritus.” He was subsequently elected twice to the Executive Committee of the AAP’s Council on Children with Disabilities. In recognition of his advocacy work, the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners named Dr. Adams “Child Advocate of the Year” and the twice he has received a Special Achievement Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics for his work on behalf of quality outcome measures for children with special needs across the State of Texas. In addition to clinical and teaching activities, Dr. Adams has published widely in the field of developmental disabilities based on his clinical research efforts at Scottish Rite for Children. He is currently Professor and Chief of the Division of Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics within the Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern and is Medical Director of Pediatric Developmental Disabilities at Scottish Rite for Children. Research Interest Spina bifida Publications Factors associated with a decline in ambulatory status among children and adults with Spina Bifida in the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry Conklin M, Hopson B, Castillo J, Polfuss M, Rahman AF, Runge B, Chambers TM, Smith K, Castillo H, O'Neil J, Adams R, Murphy P, Rocque BG Disability and Health Journal 2026 Apr 19 Education and employment as young adults living with spina bifida transition to adulthood in the USA: A study of the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry Liu T, Ouyang L, Walker WO, Wiener JS, Woodward J, Castillo J, Wood HM, Tanaka ST, Adams R, Smith KA, O'Neil J, Williams TR, Ward EA, Bowman RM, Riley C Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2023 Jun 65 821-830 Latex allergy guidelines for people with spina bifida Meneses V, Parenti S, Burns H, Adams R Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine 2020 13 601-609 Streamlining risk stratification in infants and young children with spinal dysraphism: Vesicoureteral reflux and/or bladder trabeculations outperforms other urodynamic findings for predicting adverse outcomes Timberlake MD, Jacobs MA, Kern AJ, Adams R, Walker C, Schlomer BJ Journal of Pediatric Urology 2018 Aug 14 319.e1-319.e7 Shared decision-making and children with disabilities: Pathways to consensus Adams RC, Levy SE Pediatrics 2017 Jun 139 Expectant use of CIC in newborns with spinal dysraphism: Report of clinical outcomes Timberlake MD, Kern AJ, Adams R, Walker C, Schlomer BJ, Jacobs MA Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine 2017 10 319-325 Recognition and management of medical complexity Author Collaboration CO, Kuo DZ, Houtrow AJ, Norwood KW, Adams RC, Brei TJ, Davidson LF, Davis BE, Friedman SL, Hyman SL, Noritz GH, Yin L, Murphy NA, Pitre JB, Mann M, Peacock G, Simpser E, Smith PJ, Mucha S Pediatrics 2016 Dec 138 Out-of-home placement for children and adolescents with disabilities-Addendum: Care options for Children and adolescents with disabilities and medical complexity Author Collaboration CO, Friedman SL, Norwood KW, Adams RC, Brei TJ, Davidson LF, Davis BE, Houtrow AJ, Hyman SL, Kuo DZ, Noritz GH, Yin L, Murphy NA, Kalichman M, Smith PJ, Peacock G, Mann M, Pitre JB, Mucha S Pediatrics 2016 Dec 138 Long-Term Outcomes of Bladder Neck Reconstruction without Augmentation Cystoplasty in Children Grimsby GM, Menon V, Schlomer BJ, Baker LA, Adams R, Gargollo PC, Jacobs MA Journal of Urology 2016 Jan 195 155-161 Renal damage detected by DMSA, despite normal renal ultrasound, in children with febrile UTI Bush NC, Keays M, Adams C, Mizener K, Pritzker K, Smith W, Traylor J, Villanueva C, Snodgrass WT Journal of Pediatric Urology 2015 Jun 11 126.e1-126.e7 Results 1-10 of 48 1 2 3 4 5 Next Last Books Featured Books Management of the Child with Developmental Disabilities. In Herring JA, ed. Tachdijan's Pediatric Orthopedics. 5th ed. Adams RC, Meneses V. (2014). Elsevier Saunders; 121-135. Honors & Awards Outstanding Physician, Developmental PediatricsTexas Monthly (2021) Best Pediatric Specialists in DallasD Magazine (2018) Open Doors Leader AwardMHMR Visions Foundation, TX (2015) Fred Sage Memorial AwardAmerican Academy of Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine (2010) Special Achievement AwardAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (2009) Texas Super DoctorsTexas Monthly Magazine (2007-2016) Executive Board AwardTexas Pediatric Society (2005) Casey M Holter AwardInternational Society for Research in Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida (2004) Joan L. Venes Humanitarian AwardThe Spina Bifida Association of North Texas (1994) Professional Associations/Affiliations American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine American Academy of Pediatrics Society of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Texas Pediatric Society
