Dr. Paul Abend

Founder and Medical Director

The father of a 21- year old boy with autism, Dr. Paul Abend recognized early on the lack of advanced medical care available for children with medically complex autism. To address this need, Dr. Abend launched the Autism Think Tank, NJ, a unique medical videoconferencing solution that brings together world renowned medical experts to guide families and their physicians in addressing the medical complexities of autism.

Dr. Abend maintains a medical practice in musculoskeletal and pain medicine. Dr. Abend is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Kessler Institute, Dept. of Medicine and Family Medicine at the Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He is the Medical Director of Inpatient and Outpatient Services at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital. Dr. Abend is the past President of the New Jersey Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as the New Jersey Society of Medical Specialties. He has received some of the highest honors including the 2011 Jefferson Award for NJ and the Region. Dr. Abend and his daughter were awarded the Governors highest award in 2008 at the NJ Disability Association Meeting for his work with sports clinics for children with special needs. In 2008 he was named Citizen of the Year in Warren Township, NJ.

Dr. Abend developed a preceptorship program at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, New Brunswick, NJ, for second-year family medicine residents to help sensitize them to the needs of children and adults with autism.

Dr. Abend co-founded Autism Escapes, a non-profit network of private jet owners to fly patients with autism to specialized clinics around the country at no cost to the patient’s family. He also co-founded Mt. Bethel Village, the first supportive living, apartment residence for adults with autism and developmental disabilities, located in Warren, NJ.

Sheri A. Marino, MA, CCC-SLP

Think Tank Moderator

Sheri is a New Jersey licensed pediatric speech-language pathologist specializing in autism spectrum disorders. Sheri received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Rutgers University and attained her Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Montclair University. She was trained in Applied Behavior Analysis at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, New Brunswick, NJ, where she treated children on the autism spectrum and later coordinated home programs in New York, New Jersey, and London, England, in private practice. As a member of a trans-disciplinary team at the Milestones Child Development Center, Sheri conducted evaluation and treatment services for the birth-three-year old population, providing home based services to medically fragile infants and infants affected by neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

In 2001, Sheri founded Rocking Horse Rehab Pediatric Therapy Center specializing in equine assisted therapies for children with various disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, brain tumors, rare syndromes, neuromuscular, and psychiatric disorders. Sheri served as a pediatric health advisor for the Focus for Health Foundation where she contributed her clinical expertise to author numerous articles on autism and was published in Autism Parenting Magazine and multiple media outlets.

Sheri lectures internationally and has presented for Haven International in Ghana, Africa, Autism One in Chicago, Princeton University, Touro College/NYC, Seton Hall University, NJ Speech and Hearing Association, and PATH International. She has been a guest on the “Autism with Dr. Andy” radio show and has appeared on CBS News, NBC News, NJN, Good Morning Ghana and multiple cable networks.

Dr. Dawn Apgar, PhD, LSW, ACSW, Licensed Social Worker

Assistant Professor and Director of the Undergraduate Social Work Program, Seton Hall University

Dawn Apgar, PhD received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bucknell University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University. She has also earned a PhD in Social Work from Rutgers University.  

Dr. Apgar served as Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), with oversight of the Divisions of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDH), and the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI) from 2010 to 2017. Prior to her role with DHS, she was the Director of the Developmental Disabilities Planning Institute at the New Jersey Institute of Technology where she gained extensive experience providing, overseeing, and evaluating supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a variety of settings. Dr. Apgar also provided technical assistance to the State of New Jersey in the areas of planning and research related to persons with developmental disabilities.  

Dr. Apgar has published in national journals on the treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities and served on national policy workgroups as a member of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS), the professional organization for the chief administrators of services for those with developmental disabilities.  

Dr. Apgar offers expertise in services and resources for successful transition for students leaving their educational entitlements. She is currently an Assistant Professor and the Director of the undergraduate social work program at Seton Hall University.

Carey Masson

Program Administrator

Carey is the Program Administrator for the Autism Healthcare Collaborative. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies with a concentration in Equine Science from Centenary College. Carey’s interest in autism developed from her work at Rocking Horse Rehab Pediatric Therapy Center where she serves as the Program Director and works with the therapists and families of children with autism and other special needs.   

Carey’s administrative role for the Autism Healthcare Collaborative includes working directly with families and their physicians to prepare them for Autism Think Tank videoconferences. Carey works responsibly with medical records and prepares them to be shared with the assigned physicians. She prepares parents and doctors for the Autism Think Tank by providing training in the videoconferencing technology platform. 

Carey provides direct assistance to the Executive Director on tasks related to all programming, fundraisers, conferences, and community events.  

In her spare time, Carey can be found riding her horse or reading a good book.