The Center for Autism announces the appointment of David St.Clair, retired CEO and founder of MEDecision, Inc. and the vice chairman of the Center's board of directors, to the position of interim executive director. After over 20 years of holding the position of executive director, Jean Ruttenberg will take on a role in advocacy and public outreach for the organization.
 
 "David St.Clair brings a unique dimension of expertise and experience to running a vibrant organization," said Robert J. Murphy, Jr., chairman of the Center for Autism's board of directors. "Thanks to the strong foundation that Jean Ruttenberg has helped build, the Center is poised to take advantage of new opportunities while continuing to provide the best care to people with autism and their families."
 
St.Clair has been a member of the Center's board of directors since 1982, and has held the positions of chairman of the board and chairman of the strategic planning committee. In recent years, he has helped shaped the growth and transition of the organization as it successfully relocated to a new headquarters and opened a satellite location in Northeast Philadelphia. As interim executive director, St.Clair will be responsible for the strategic planning and leadership of the Center while the board of directors conducts a national search for a permanent executive director. St.Clair recently retired from the position of chief executive officer of MEDecision, Inc., a Wayne-based health information technology organization.
 
"The Center has a rich, 55-year history of successfully providing treatment and evaluation services to Philadelphia and its surrounding communities, and Jean Ruttenberg has played an integral role in these accomplishments," said David St.Clair. "Given recent changes in autism services and the future challenges we face, her new position in the public arena is critical to advancing the Center's mission and improving the quality of life for all people affected by autism."
 
Ruttenberg will serve as the organization's primary advocate throughout the state of Pennsylvania. She will provide consultation to professionals working in the field, collaborate with advocacy organizations, and increase public awareness of autism. Ruttenberg is also dedicated to helping advance the availability of autism services and opportunities, particularly for the underserved population of adults.
 
"I look forward to making a significant contribution to the community through this new position, as there is a serious shortage of services for adults with autism," said Jean Ruttenberg. "I know the Center will continue to be a premier provider throughout the region."