Conference Schedule – at a glance

Information included below:

  • Contact hours
  • Schedule
  • Keynote speaker
  • Session descriptions
  • Speaker biographies

Contact Hours

Certificates of Contact Hours (up to 16 hours) will be awarded to attendees who complete post-session surveys. All content (pre-recorded and recorded) will be available for viewing and professional development credit for 30 days following the live conference day.

***(Schedule subject to change)

Virtual HEAL Association Conference

10:30-10:45 am est

 

Welcome and Kickoff  

Presented by: Kelly Ihejiawu, HEAL President

10:45am-12:05 pm est

 

Live General Session/Keynote

A Journey of Smiles, Love, and Support

Presented by: Brady Lucas, MEd, Survivor, Smiler, and Storyteller

12:05-12:10 pm est

 

Break

12:10-1:10 pm est

 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

Overview of Psychiatric Medications and Their Potential Impact in the Classroom

Presented by: Kaylee Davis-Bordovsky, MD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Breakout (Live Lecture)

Development and Implementation of an Interdisciplinary Special Education Eligibility Tool for Students with Chronic Health Conditions 

Presented by: Lisa Carey, EdD, Alicia Cannon, PhD, ABPP, and Mallory Legg, JD, Kennedy Krieger Institute

 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

A Liaison’s Guide to the School Success Coaching Webinar Series

Presented by: Kyle Landry, MEd and Christie Ruehl, JD, MBA, Children’s Wisconsin

 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

Learning Can Be Ruff! The Impawtance of Collaborating with Facility Dogs in Pediatric Hospital Settings

Presented by:  Jamie Johnson, MEd and Elizabeth Olson, MS, CCLS, CSTDTP, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

 

1:10-2:00 pm est

 

 

Lunch/Awards and Poster Session – bring your lunch, celebrate our annual recipients, and visit our poster presentations!

 Poster Presentations

  • Promoting Literacy and STEAM in the Hospital; Book and STEAM Cart
    • Presented by: Melanie Bales, BS, and Amy Wilson, MEd, Children’s of Alabama
  •  
  • Translating Not Transplanting: Methods for Situating Hospital Liaison Services Across Diverse Contexts
    • Presented by: Lisa Carey, EdD, Lisa Jacobson, PhD, NCSP, ABPP, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Margaret Flood, EdD, Maynooth University, Ireland
  •  
  • The Power of Moment Making in the Hospital
  •     Presented by: Rachel Meyen, MEd, Hannah Bohlen, Brianne Starin, MAT,  
  •     Durham Public Schools Hospital School at Duke University Medical Center
2:00-2:05 pm est Break

2:05-3:05 pm est

 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

Pediatric Long COVID: Investigation into Schooling Needs and Barriers

Presented by: Laura Malone, MD, PhD and Calliope Holingue, MPH, PhD, Kennedy Krieger Institute/Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Breakout (Live Lecture)

Science Journeys: Using Patient’s Health Journey to Drive a Holistic Health and STEM Curriculum

Presented by: Lisa Bochey, MA and Rachel Smilow, MA, Children’s National Hospital

 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

Inclusive Education, Pedagogies and Emotionally-Based School Avoidance (EBSA)

Presented by: Rebecca Fielden, BA, MA, PGCE, Bishop Grosseteste University 

 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

New Member Orientation

Presented by:  Michelle Harvey, Kelly Ihejiawu, and Mindy Elliot

 

 

3:05-3:15 pm est

 

Break

3:15-4:15 pm est

 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

A Framework for Trauma Informed Practices Within Hospital-Based Schools

Presented by: Lauren Delgaty, MA, Marisa Marraccini, PhD, NCSP and Telieha Middleton, BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

Creating a Traveling Library Program in a Pediatric Hospital: Bringing Books and Literacy to Hospitalized Children

Presented by: Rebeca Grysko, PhD, CBIS, and Sara Crowe, MEd, Nemours Children’s Hospital

 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

The Journey to Establishing a Brighter Future: Preschool Service Delivery

Presented by: Sarah Donaire, BSED, Anne Quinn, MSEd, and Kaci Richardson, BSED, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 

Breakout (Live Lecture)

The Importance of School Re-entry for Pediatric Chronic Pain Populations: Holistic Benefits, Challenges, and Collaborative Approaches

Presented by: Bethany Battershell, MEd, CTRS, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital

 

 

4:15-4:20 pm est

 

Break

4:20-5:20 pm est

 

Live Closing Session

A Full Circle Experience: From Student to Advocate

Presented by:  Brady Lucas, MEd, Survivor, Smiler, and Storyteller and Kimberly Matthews, EdD, HEAL Vice President, Penn State Health Children’s Hospital

 

5:20-5:30 pm est Closing Remarks       Presented by: Kelly Ihejiawu, HEAL President
 
PRE-RECORDED SESSIONS:
  • Global Perspective: Chronic Pain in the School Setting
    • Presented by:  Leasa Ashton, BEd, CF, Perth Children’s Hospital and Deborah South, MEd, CBIS, Cincinnati Children’s
    •  
    •  
  • Breaking Barriers: How Community and Education Partnerships Helped a Student Overcome OCD to Earn His GED
  •  
  •     Presented by: Dean Heus, MS, and Michael Parulski, MS, Wauwatosa School District
  •  
  • Understanding the KID in Kidney Disease: Lessons Learned from an Interdisciplinary Care Model
    • Presented by:  Kellee Clevenger, BEd, Alix McLaughlin, PhD, HSPP, and Emily Kalscheur, PhD, HSPP, Riley Hospital for Children

 

 

 

 

 

   

         Brady Lucas

                    Survivor, Smiler, and Storyteller

 

 

 

 

Brady Lucas is a Survivor, Smiler, and Storyteller. Brady’s inspiration to become an author and write his first book Smiley’s Smile came from his experience undergoing treatment for 2 childhood cancer diagnoses and finding power within education.

Brady believes all children should have access to information that can empower them to understand and be involved regardless of their age within their healthcare journey. Brady also believes support, courage, and friendship are needed elements to create a sense of belonging.

Brady has a Bachelor of Biobehavioral Health and Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Children’s Literature from Penn State University. Brady currently resides in the Greater Seattle Area with the love of his life, Julia. Brady lives a life for Jesus and by the motto Smiles Make The World Go Round.


 

A Framework for Trauma Informed Practices Within Hospital-Based Schools

Presented by: Lauren Delgaty, MA, Marisa Marraccini, PhD, and Telieha Middleton, BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

This poster will contain an overview of the prominent educational framework in hospital-based schools (HBS) and provide an overlaying of the trauma-informed approach, ARC (Attachment, Regulation, and Competency), that includes a conceptualization of how to address mental health concerns within HBS. Utilizing current literature on both HBS education and ARC frameworks, we will suggest strategies and methods for implementing an ARC framework throughout a HBS system.


A Global Perspective: Chronic Pain in the School Setting

Presented by:  Leasa Ashton, BEd, CF, Perth Children’s Hospital and Debbie South, MEd, CBIS, Cincinnati Children’s

Pain rehabilitation liaison teachers from Perth and Cincinnati Children’s Hospitals will introduce chronic pain and its impact on function including school, discuss the role of pain liaison teachers and look at the global need for chronic pain education and support strategies in schools to enhance educational outcomes. They will also introduce the recently created International Pain in Schools Alliance (IPSA), comprised of pain clinicians and teachers from around the globe and how participants can become involved.


Breaking Barriers: How Community and Education Partnerships Helped a Student Overcome OCD to Earn His GED

Presented by: Dean Heus, MS, and Michael Parulski, MS, Wauwatosa School District

This presentation highlights the collaborative efforts between the Wauwatosa School District, healthcare providers, and community organizations to support a student in completing his GED despite severe treatment-resistant OCD. By adapting education to his therapy schedule, providing secure learning spaces, and utilizing remote technology, student successfully overcame barriers to education. This approach demonstrates the importance of flexible, coordinated support for students with mental health challenges to achieve academic success.


Creating a Traveling Library Program in a Pediatric Hospital: Bringing Books and Literacy to Hospitalized Children

Presented by: Rebeca Grysko, PhD, CBIS, and Sara Crowe, MEd, Nemours Children’s Hospital

For pediatric patients, especially those undergoing long-term treatments, the absence of familiar routines, activities, and school can have a detrimental impact on their cognitive and emotional development. One effective solution to mitigate these challenges is through the creation of a traveling library program and an initiative that brings books and shared reading experiences directly to the bedsides of hospitalized children. This session will focus on how to design, implement, and sustain a traveling library program within a pediatric hospital. Attendees will leave with a toolkit for creating their own traveling library programs, including ideas for book selection, partnership building, and overcoming challenges.


Development and Implementation of an Interdisciplinary Special Education Eligibility Tool for Students with Chronic Health Conditions 

Presented by: Lisa Carey, EdD, Alicia Cannon, PhD, ABPP, and Mallory Legg, JD, Kennedy Krieger Institute

Students with chronic health conditions have difficulty accessing special education. Literature suggests families struggle to communicate educationally relevant medical condition information to the IEP team, impeding considerations for eligibility under the special education category of other health impairment (OHI). The use of an eligibility tool to foster interdisciplinary communication and collaboration can function as a low-cost and efficient mechanism for supporting more equitable considerations of special education eligibility for students with complex chronic health conditions.


Early Learning for our Youngest Patients: Supporting Family Access to Early Intervention Services

Presented by: Roberta Rossman, MEd, MSW, LSW, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Early intervention provides services at a crucial time of development, providing therapies in the child’s environment and supporting caregivers to embed supportive learning strategies throughout the day. Accessing these services is not always seamless for our patients with complex medical conditions. Barriers to accessing early intervention, strategies to support access to appropriate educational services, and ways for medical teams and educational providers to work cooperatively will be discussed.


 

Inclusive Education, Pedagogies and Emotionally-Based School Avoidance (EBSA)

Presented by: Rebecca Fielden, BA, MA, PGCE, Bishop Grosseteste University 

A systematic literature review which explores pedagogical approaches for children and young people (CYP) perceived to be experiencing EBSA, within the broader context of philosophical conceptualisations of Inclusive Education for this group. It is proposed that to improve educational outcomes for CYP experiencing this mental health need, the contestable notions and assumptions of what it means to be educated must first be addressed. I write from the vantage point of practitioner and researcher.


Learning Can Be Ruff! The Impawtance of Collaborating with Facility Dogs in Pediatric Hospital Settings

Presented by: Jamie Johnson, MEd and Elizabeth Olson, MS, CCLS, CSTDTP, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

The Hospital School Program (HSP) and Facility Dog Program collaborate to deliver meaningful experiences to patients receiving instructional support beyond the traditional hospital setting.  The HSP’s affiliation with Facility Dogs has been observed to increase student motivation, and active engagement during instructional tasks. Educators’ have reported overall improvement with initiation, engagement and progress towards academic goals/objectives. The Facility Dog instills a level of confidence and unconditional positive regard towards the student’s efforts with assigned tasks.


Overview of Psychiatric Medications and Their Potential Impact in the Classroom

Presented by: Kaylee Davis-Bordovsky, MD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Students with mental health needs, whether returning to school after a psychiatric hospitalization or those who are being managed on an outpatient basis, are often prescribed psychiatric medications. This presentation aims to outline the different classes of psychiatric medications that students may take while discussing how they improve classroom behavior and academic function as well as potential side effects that may require further accommodations.


 

Pediatric Long COVID: Investigation into Schooling Needs and Barriers

Presented by: Laura Malone, MD, PhD and Calliope Holingue, MPH, PhD, Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Long COVID, or persistent symptoms after COVID-19, is a significant public health concern. Children are not resistant to long COVID. School plays a pivotal role in a child’s health, and yet, children with long COVID still experience difficulties with schooling. We conducted 78 standardized surveys and 22 semi-structured interviews/focus groups to identify barriers and facilitators for schooling with patients and families with long COVID, with or without intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities.


Promoting Literacy and STEAM in the Hospital; Book and STEAM Cart

Presented by: Melanie Bales, BS, and Amy Wilson, MEd, Children’s of Alabama

This project was developed in the effort to promote normalization during inpatient admissions in the form of literacy and STEAM engagement. We enlisted the use of volunteers to deliver books and STEAM activities to patients referred by Child Life Specialists and Hospital Teachers. In the first 6 months we have been able to reach over 400 patients. During these first 6 months, we have received enthusiastically positive feedback from patients and hospital staff alike.


Science Journeys: Using Patient’s Health Journey to Drive a Holistic Health and STEM Curriculum

Presented by: Lisa Bochey, MA and Rachel Smilow, MA, Children’s National Hospital

Science Journeys (R25GM146282-01) an NIH federally funded program began 2023 at Children’s National Hospital with the aim to bring STEM learning to hospitalized patients. The program creates engaging STEM learning experiences for patients through the exploration of concepts and their health diagnoses. Lessons include exploring the nervous system through reflexes and the fight or flight response in the inpatient psychiatry unit, and a series of lessons titled “What’s in my Room?,” exploring common hospital equipment.


New Member Orientation

Facilitated by: Kelly Ihejiawu, MA and Mindy Elliott, MS

New to HEAL?  Join this informative session to learn about our mission, vision, and what membership has to offer you.


The Importance of School Re-entry for Pediatric Chronic Pain Populations: Holistic Benefits, Challenges, and Collaborative Approaches

Presented by: Bethany Battershell, MEd, CTRS, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital

This session will focus on the importance of school re-entry in a pediatric chronic pain population. It will emphasize the holistic benefits of hospital school; the challenges children face and how school re-entry plays a role on the collaborative approach required for success.


The Journey to Establishing a Brighter Future: Preschool Service Delivery

Presented by: Sarah Donaire, BSED, Anne Quinn, MSEd, and Kaci Richardson, BSED, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 

The journey to developing this program’s preschool service delivery began due to the effects of treatment and isolation from peers. This presentation will outline the preschool service delivery model to include bedside and classroom tiered services. Intentional instructional strategies will be explained for increasing engagement within groups of peers. Preschool programming in the hospital has required planning that includes ESL best practices, accommodations for the patients, and programming across inpatient and outpatient settings.


The Power of Moment Making in the Hospital

Presented by: Rachel Meyen, MEd, Hannah Bohlen, Brianne Starin, Durham Public Schools Hospital School at Duke

While in the hospital, children need positive social interactions, something to look forward to, and the chance to connect and be silly. Every month, hospital school teachers work to create moment-making events, such as celebrating a random holidays we dubbed “holidates”, or planning a fun celebration (like bringing the State Fair or Macy’s Day Parade to the hospital). These events help bring a little joy to pediatric patients, better their social-emotional health and allow them to do something that many children outside the hospital are able to do…play and feel like a “normal” kid.


Translating Not Transplanting: Methods for Situating Hospital Liaison Services Across Diverse Contexts

Presented by: Lisa Carey, EdD, Lisa Jacobson, PhD, NCSP, ABPP, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Margaret Flood, EdD, Maynooth University, Ireland

The Hospital Education Liaison Program (HELP) was established using findings from projects that engaged families of childhood cancer patients, medical providers, and educators. In partnership with Childhood Cancer Ireland, the research team that built HELP will support the use of similar methods to situate the HELP model in an Irish context. We hope to create a “playbook” for situating programs similar to HELP within new areas and recruit HEAL Association member feedback.


Understanding the KID in Kidney Disease: Lessons Learned from an Interdisciplinary Care Model

Presented by:  Kellee Clevenger, BEd, Alix McLaughlin, PhD, HSPP, and Emily Kalscheur, PhD, HSPP, Riley Hospital for Children

The pediatric dialysis unit not only delivers imperative medical treatment for kidney health but serves as the exemplar of interdisciplinary care through embedded academic, cognitive, and mental health supports. This model shifts the narrative of the pediatric hospital setting from being centered around physical health but instead to whole-child care. Understanding the patterns of needs through the perspectives of an educational liaison, pediatric psychologists, and neuropsychologist, attendees will garner strategies for identifying and addressing concerns.


Leasa Ashton As the only specialist chronic pain liaison teacher in a pain program in Australia, Leasa will share her experiences from the last 10 years in the Complex Pain Service at Perth Children’s Hospital. Employed by the Department of Education while working in a health setting is a unique position, and she is particularly keen to address gaps in pain science education, support strategies and school re-engagement of young people with chronic pain. Leasa is also excited to have joined the newly formed International Pain in Schools Alliance (IPSA) and looks forward to helping solve the missing pieces in the chronic pain treatment puzzle when it comes to school.

Melanie Bales, a former middle school Special Education teacher for 9 years, joined the Children’s of Alabama Sunshine School as an Education Liaison and Teacher in 2017. Melanie provides school services for the inpatient cardiac unit and outpatient heart transplant and heart failure teams. Melanie is also the Coordinator of the Sunshine School.

Bethany Battershell is an Intervention Specialist at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Rehab Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio for 5 years. She has worked at the hospital for 15 years prior to teaching as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with the Pediatric Pain and traditional Rehab teams. In addition to teaching, Bethany heads up the Reach out and Read-Greater Cleveland nonprofit to incorporate reading into pediatric care as well as establishing two little free libraries on the hospital campus.

Lisa Bochey is the Program Lead for the METEOR and Science Journeys programs at Children’s National Hospital. She holds a B.A. in Communicative Disorders from the University of Alabama and an M.A. in International Development from American University. Lisa is a former Teach For America corps member where she taught high school Spanish in Sumter County, Alabama, then later served as a PS-8th grade Spanish teacher in Washington, D.C. Lisa now develops curriculum for Science Journeys and implements educational programming at Children’s National Hospital.

Hannah Bohlen, Rachel Meyen, and Brianne Starin. We are a team of hospital school teachers at Duke University Medical Center. After working together at a nearby elementary school in Durham for many years, we slowly transitioned to the Hospital School at Duke and have tried to bring a fresh perspective to educational programming at the hospital, using our combined experience in gifted education, special education, clubs and other extracurriculars to create out-of-the-box learning opportunities at the hospital and bring joy to children and families alike.

Kaylee Davis-Bordovsky, M.D. (Dr. Davis) is an Assistant Professor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UT Southwestern. She serves both as a Consult/Liaison Psychiatrist at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas as well as the lead psychiatrist for Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) at UT Southwestern. She has a particular interest in the intersection of psychiatry and school systems. She hopes to use her passion for mental health and public communication to address psychiatric primary prevention in schools, change public perception of mental health, and provide psychiatric care to children and adolescents across various settings.

Dr. Alicia Cannon is board certified in clinical neuropsychology and pediatric neuropsychology. She provides evaluations through Kennedy Krieger’s Congenital/Genetics Clinic and Epilepsy/Acquired Brain Injury Clinics. Additionally, she co-founded and serves as Psychology Director of Kennedy Krieger’s Sickle Cell Disease Neurodevelopmental Clinic. She provides evaluations and consultations for pediatric and adult patients with Sickle Cell Disease as part of an interdisciplinary team which also includes Neurology, Behavioral Psychology, and Education. Dr. Cannon has expertise in assessment of children with cerebral palsy and stroke in the context of prematurity, vascular malformations, or hematological disorders, such as sickle cell disease.

Dr. Lisa Carey started her career as a special educator in Maryland Public Schools. In 2013, Lisa Joined the Kennedy Krieger and Johns Hopkins LEND Program (Leaderships Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities). She stayed at Kennedy Krieger to work on projects bridging the divide between pediatric medical and behavioral health research and educational practices. In 2020, Dr. Carey co-created the Hospital Education Liaison Program (HELP) at Kennedy Krieger to serve patients with chronic health conditions and neurocognitive impact. Lisa provides hospital-school liaison services and collaborates with medical providers to research issues related to the intersection of pediatric medicine and K-12 schooling.

Kellee Clevenger is an Educational Liaison at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, IN. Kellee specializes in working with patients in the Outpatient Dialysis Clinic and all Nephrology patients. Kellee works closely with her patients and their schools to ensure they have the support needed while receiving dialysis three days per week. Kellee has been a hospital educator at Riley Hospital for Children for eight years.

Sara Crowe has over ten years of experience in education as both an elementary school teacher and an intervention specialist. Most recently, she has transitioned to a hospital-based educator and school liaison.

Lauren Delgaty is a PhD student in the school psychology program at UNC Chapel Hill. Her research interests include suicide prevention, hospital school practices, and elevating patient voice in treatment.

Sarah Donaire is an ESL preschool teacher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with three years of experience there. She has a strong background in teaching ESL and 3rd grade in public schools. Sarah was named Teacher of the Year at Lakeland Elementary School during the 2022-2023 school year for her work with K-4 ESL students. Passionate about language development and early childhood education, she works to create supportive and engaging learning environments for young learners. Her dedication to helping students thrive academically and personally makes her a compassionate and effective educator.

Mindy Elliott is the Director of Education for Veritas Collaborative, a specialty hospital system for the treatment of eating disorders. She developed the academic programming since Veritas opened in 2012, and is dedicated to providing individualized academic and transition services to meet the unique needs of each patient-student. Mindy serves on the executive board of the HEAL Association, is an Associate Editor of the international journal, Continuity in Education (CiE), and has presented dozens of workshops on hospital school practices, transition planning, eating disorder effects on the student, twice exceptionality, and the path to submitting articles for publication in the CiE journal.

Rebecca Fielden is a lecturer in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion at Bishop Grosseteste University, teaching across a variety of modules. Prior to this, she has had 20 years’ experience working as a teacher, SENDCo and Assistant Headteacher in Mainstream, Special and Alternative Provisions/Schools in the UK. She is currently undertaking a PhD, exploring conceptualisations of inclusion and pedagogy in relation what is perceived as Emotionally-based School Non-Attendance/Avoidance. She has a specific interest in societal and structural explanations of/for ‘difference’, specifically for children and young people who do not attend school. Rebecca is also married and has two young daughters.

Margaret Flood is an Assistant Professor in Inclusive Education for the Education Department, Maynooth University, Ireland. Her experience in inclusive and special education includes teaching, teacher professional learning design and delivery, policy development and curriculum design. Margaret’s current research areas are teacher engagement with professional learning for inclusion, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and addressing barriers to education for students with chronic health conditions. As a Fulbright Scholar, Margaret worked with Lynch School of Education and Humanities at Boston College and CAST to explore equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice through the lens of UDL. Margaret is the creator and host of the Podcast ‘Talking about all things Inclusion’.

Rebeca Grysko, PhD, CBIS is a Teacher and School Liaison at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, FL. As a Special Education Teacher and Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS), Dr. Grysko is committed to improving educational outcomes for students with chronic health conditions and/or disabilities. Her areas of specialty include reading assessment and intervention and school re-entry support for children with acquired brain injury. Dr. Grysko is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences and has published her work in top-tier academic journals. She also serves as an Executive Board Member of the Hospital Educator and Academic Liaison (HEAL) Association.

Dean Heus has worked as a School Psychologist and district-level Student Services administrator prior to becoming administrator of Vel R. Phillips School in 2015. He also currently oversees school programs at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa Virtual Academy , and Wauwatosa School District’s GED Option #2 program.

Dr. Calliope Holingue is an assistant professor at the Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation at Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her training is in public health and psychiatric epidemiology and is also has expertise in qualitative and mixed methods. Her research is focused on physical health among individuals with neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders.

Kelly Ihejiawu is the Director of Family Resource Library and School Services Program at Children’s Health, Children’s Medical Center Dallas. Kelly has worked in various roles at Children’s Health for over 20 years. Prior to working at Children’s Medical Center, she worked as a special educator in Richardson ISD. Mrs. Ihejiawu is from Tucson, AZ where she started her career in special education in a childcare facility for children with disabilities. She has served in a variety of roles during her career all geared toward supporting adults and children with special needs. Kelly has worked in education for over 25 years. She has an undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona, where she also received her MA in Special Education with an emphasis on inclusion. Kelly is currently apart of Leadership ISD Legislative Voices class of 2020 in Dallas, TX. Her work in Leadership ISD is focused on racial equity in the public schools. Kelly’s main interest is working with educators to train them on working with all students.

Dr. Lisa Jacobson is the director of research, as well as a licensed psychologist and pediatric neuropsychologist, in the Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute. She is also the co-director of the Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education (CILSE). Additionally, she holds an appointment as an associate professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Jacobson’s broad research interests include examining cognitive and behavioral aspects of neurodevelopmental and medical disorders, specifically related to brain-behavior relationships involving attention and executive functions.

Jamie Johnson has been a special education teacher at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since 2008, where she gets to work with amazing kids aged 5 to 21 who are inpatient. Her job? It’s all about creating hands-on and meaningful experiences that make a difference in their lives. She collaborates closely with a fantastic multidisciplinary team, and together, they strive to bring a little joy and learning into their hospital stay. Every day is a new adventure, and she is grateful to be part of these kids’ journeys, helping them thrive in challenging times. Whether it’s through art, games, or simply being a supportive presence, she is to make their time a bit brighter!

Emily Kalscheur, PhD, HSPP is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology and pediatric neuropsychologist at Indiana School of Medicine/IU Health. In her clinical practice, she sees pediatric patients with complex medical and neurological histories that can impact cognitive development, including those with kidney disease.

Kyle Landry, former Milwaukee Public Schools elementary educator, is the founder/manager of the Educational Achievement Program at Children’s Wisconsin. Over 9+ years of program growth, Landry has built a team of experienced educators specially trained in neurodevelopmental sequelae of complex illness, including mental and behavioral health, and the related complexities of social determinants of health. Landry’s work standardizing/validating assessment, intervention, and outcomes processes, as well as associated tools, has led to several research grants, authorship in a nursing textbook, and two recent medical journal publications. Landry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Cultural Foundations of Community and Education from UW – Milwaukee. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Healthcare Leadership to round out her expertise braiding together the complex systems of education and healthcare.

Mallory Finn Legg is the director of Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law), a community-based program of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute. Mallory earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Delaware and a Juris Doctor at the University of Maryland Francis King Ctonarey School of Law. She interned at Project HEAL during her second and third years of law school, and started as a staff attorney in August 2014. In April 2015, Mallory received an award for dedication to her law school’s public interest organization, the Maryland Public Interest Law Project. Mallory is on the board of the First Maryland Disability Trust. Mallory is on the development committee and is a co-chair of the membership committee for the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. Mallory received The Daily Record’s Leading Women Award in December 2017 and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) Young Professional Award in November 2017.

Dr. Laura Malone is the director of the Pediatric Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Clinic at Kennedy Krieger Institute. She is also a physician scientist in Kennedy Krieger’s Center for Movement Studies, and an assistant professor of Neurology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Malone has contributed to national and international programs and guidance regarding pediatric Long COVID, including serving as lead author on the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) Infection Collaborative guidance statement on the assessment and treatment of PASC in children and adolescents. Dr. Malone is also the principal investigator of a U18 grant through the AHRQ Long COVID Care Network to expand and strengthen care for children and adolescents with long COVID. As part of this effort, her team has launched a Pediatric Long COVID ECHO telementoring program to support the primary care community in long COVID education and management. As the only pediatric partner in the AHRQ Long COVID Care Network, she works closely with other sites to provide education and resources to pediatric providers across the United States.

Marisa Marraccini specializes in promoting the mental health and well-being of students and preventing health risk behaviors. Trained as a school psychologist, she conducts research focused on supporting high-risk adolescents to prevent suicide and other health risk behaviors in clinical and school settings.

Kimberly Matthews, EdD is a Teacher for the Capital Area Intermediate Unit and educates children at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital in Hershey, PA. Kimberly educates inpatient students, as well as patients in the Outpatient Dialysis Center and the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic. Kimberly provides assistance and support to patients and families by including school personnel and the medical staff to provide a team approach to promote academic success. Kimberly has been in education for over 20 years, certified in general education, special education, and mid-level English. She also holds a degree in Sign Language Interpretation. Outside of her professional duties and in addition to her Executive Board position as a Member-at-Large for HEAL, Kimberly is a proud member of Zeta Phi Bea Sorority, Inc, and serves on the Board for the Ahadi Zetu Foundation, which provides education scholarships to high school students in Central Kenya.

Alix McLaughlin, PhD is a pediatric psychologist who specializes in working with children, adolescents, and young adults with End Stage Kidney Disease in the division of Pediatric Nephrology at Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children. In this role, she works as a member of the interdisciplinary team to address pediatric health behaviors and support behavioral/emotional health through evidence-based practice. Dr. McLaughlin received her Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Psychology from Eastern Michigan University, completed residency in pediatric psychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH and fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Telieha Middleton is a first-year graduate student in the School Psychology program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is passionate about child development, educational equity, and understanding the unique needs of youth from marginalized backgrounds.

Elizabeth Olsen has been a Certified Child Life Specialist for twenty years. Her previous experiences in healthcare include the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NY Presbyterian and Good Shepherd Hospice in Long Island. She has been working at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for the past eight and a half years. Elizabeth has been working with SSD Dilly, CHOP’s first Facility Dog, as a primary handler. Elizabeth and Dilly help to support patient’s during procedures, co-treat sessions with various therapies, provide therapeutic and expressive activities, and collaborate with the Hospital School Program.

Mike Parulski is in his 20th year as an educator in the Wauwatosa School District where he has been a Civics Teacher, Dean of Students, Associate Principal, Director of Student Services and GEDO #2 Teacher. Mike strives to truly live the words of the late Rita Pearson, “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like” and prioritizes relationships with young people as his top commitment. Mike embraces innovation and change (most of the time) in the classroom to build strong partnerships with students and families focused on learning.

Anne Quinn is the Preschool Lead Specialist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she collaborates with diverse stakeholders to create an evidence-based environment that supports young oncology patients’ development during treatment. With over 30 years of experience in special education and preschool, she has co-authored a book and educational card focused on building social skills for children with autism. Anne has presented at local, state, and international conferences and is currently engaged in a research study aimed at enhancing school readiness for patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Kaci Richardson is a dedicated preschool teacher with 20 years of experience at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, specializing in early childhood education. Kaci has taught students from kindergarten to 6th grade, focusing on fostering a nurturing and engaging learning environment. She excels in lesson planning and has a comprehensive understanding of the unique treatment and care provided at St. Jude. Her passion for education and commitment to supporting young learners within the healthcare setting drives her dedication to helping each child reach their fullest potential.

Christie Ruehl is the Senior Program Manager for the Educational Achievement Partnership Program (EAPP) at Children’s Wisconsin. In this role, Christie co-led 14 research and quality improvement projects where she connects experience in healthcare, research, law, and advocacy to guide school success for families affected by chronic illness. Christie’s path to the EAPP began as an education and healthcare advocate for her brother, who was born with a complex medical condition that caused learning difficulties. This personal history drives Christie’s commitment to ensuring children with chronic illnesses have the best opportunities to lead healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives. Christie earned a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law (2006), cum laude, a Master of Business Administration from Stetson University (2009), and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison (2002).

Rachel Smilow is the Program Manager for the METEOR and Science Journeys programs. She has a Bachelors from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in History and a Masters from The Johns Hopkins University in Museum Studies. Previously Rachel has served as the Education and Program Manager at The Stephen Decatur House. She has has worked at The Phillips Collection, White House Historical Association, and the Sewell Belmont House. In her free time, she has volunteered at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and currently volunteers at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Debbie South is a School Liaison Specialist with the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and a member of the multidisciplinary team in the Complex Brain Health and Wellness Clinic. For the past eleven years, she has provided support and recommendations to families and school teams when planning patients’ return to school after hospitalization with inpatient rehabilitation. Prior to her liaison position with CCHMC, she taught science for 22 years in both the private and public school settings. She received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in education from Xavier University with a graduate certification from George Washington University in Brain Injury and Transition Services and recently obtained her certificate as a Brain Injury Specialist through Brain Injury Association of America.

Amy Wilson was a high school English teacher for 6 years before becoming an Education Liaison and Teacher at Children’s of Alabama Sunshine School where she provides services for the dialysis and kidney transplant units. Amy has been with the Sunshine School for 2.5 years and also coordinates the Sunshine School volunteers and Book and STEAM Cart.