Maureen Samms-Vaughan was appointed Professor of Child Health, Child Development and Behaviour at the University of the West Indies in 2007. She is also Consultant – Developmental and Behavioural Paediatricianat the University Hospital of the West Indies. Professor Samms-Vaughan's research has focussed on the comprehensive identification of factors influencing children's development. She has studied the epidemiology of child abuse and developmental and behavioural disabilitiessuch as autism and ADHDin Jamaica and other low-and medium-income countries. In addition, she has developed culturally relevant tools of measurement of child behaviour and development in Jamaica.
Professor Samms-Vaughan led one of the earliest and most comprehensive longitudinal studies of child development in a developing country in 1986 and is currently leading the second birth cohort study, which commenced in 2011.She has over 80 publications in the field of child development and behaviour.
Professor Samms-Vaughan became the first Chair of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC). Under her direction, the ECC developed Jamaica's first comprehensive, cross-sectoral strategic plan for ECD, now recognised as an international model. She was instrumental in the development of Jamaica's National Parenting Policy and is currently co-ordinating the development of Jamaica's early childhood policy.