Dr. Erdie-Lalena is a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician (DBP) at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital and retired United States Air Force Colonel. She has served as a subject matter expert in Autism for the Defense Health Agency, the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Assistant Secretary of Defense, and for past and present USAF Surgeon Generals.

Her 25 year military career accomplishments culminated in her final assignment selection as the Chief of Pediatric Subspecialty Services (over 13 subspecialty divisions) at the President’s Hospital (Walter Reed National Military Medical Center). She holds an academic appointment of Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Previously Dr. Erdie-Lalena was by name selected as Program Director of the only Department of Defense DBP fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center, a position she held for 6 years, graduating 2 fellows per year during her tenure. Concurrently, she served as the Chief of the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Division, which included both the DBP fellowship, DBP department, and the child psychology division and fellowship.

Dr. Erdie-Lalena functioned as the Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Consultant to the European Regional Medical Command, being responsible for the Army’s dependent Children with Special Health Care Needs in eight countries (and consulates) to include Germany, Italy, Belgium, France, Egypt, Hungary, the Azores, and Turkey. She was the Medical consultant of 15 Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (equivalent to Birth to Three Programs) and was the Medical Director of the sole Army Craniofacial Clinic and Neuromuscular Clinic in Europe.

The recent focus of Dr. Erdie-Lalena’s research has been on the risk factors, co-morbid conditions and epidemiology of autism in children. Her initial research was on Rous Sarcoma Virus, as a similar platform to understanding Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Her clinical research helped pinpoint the appetite dichotomies experienced in with Prader Willi Syndrome due to leptin and ghrelin secretion. She has been a member of several professional societies, and has been involved at all levels of American Academy of Pediatrics from Fellow (FAAP) to West Chapter Vice President and later President, as well as PREP DB editorial board.

Dr. Erdie-Lalena earned her Medical Doctorate at Louisiana State University and completed her residency in Pediatrics in the United States Air Force. She was Chief of Pediatrics at a community hospital in Spokane, WA before she completed a fellowship in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA.