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Catalight Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Doreen Samelson Named Gold Winner in 2025 Merit Awards for Healthcare

Dec. 4, 2025, Catalight announced that Dr. Doreen Samelson, Chief Clinical Officer, received recognition in the 2025 Merit Awards for Healthcare from Walnut Creek, Calif., for advancing autism wellbeing care.
Drawing on her lived and clinical experience, Samelson advanced a dignity-centered care model, positioning wellbeing as the universal success measure in autism and I/DD care and developing tools like the Catalight Wellbeing Scales.
Catalight's data show measurable gains with a 4.3 out of 5 satisfaction score, 71% reduction in dangerous behaviors, 30% healthcare cost cuts, 93% telehealth adoption, and more than 16,000 practitioners.
The award signals industry recognition of Samelson's influence across clinical care, as Merit Awards for Healthcare in their 6th year spotlight her transformative impact on autism and I/DD wellbeing.
The Catalight Research Institute positions the group as a national hub for applied research, while affiliates Easterseals Hawaii and Easterseals Northern California support individuals and families across the care journey.

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