Timothy K. Behrens, PhD, CHES, RFSA, FACSM

Timothy K. Behrens, PhD, CHES, RFSA, FACSM

Timothy "Tim" K. Behrens is a Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a stroke survivor that occurred during COVID in 2020-21. At the time of his injuries, he was Dean of the College of Health Sciences at UWM.

In the years since his strokes, Dr. Behrens has dealt with many common difficulties facing survivors of brain injury. In his presentation, Dr. Behrens will share the catalyst for his recovery (Therapeutic Recreation) and how he continues towards continual recovery through his teaching, research, and community engagement.

Andrew & Linda Bub

Andrew & Linda Bub

BIO

Mark Cicero, MD, FAAP

Mark Cicero, MD, FAAP

Mark X. Cicero MD, FAAP is an associate professor in the section of pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) at the Yale School of Medicine. Prior to this appointment, he completed medical school at State University of New York at Buffalo, pediatrics residency and chief residency at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, and PEM fellowship at Yale. He has designed experiential and didactic curricula in pediatric disaster medicine, and has published original research about disaster medicine educational strategies. His research is sponsored by Emergency Medical Services for Children and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. He has served nationally as a consultant for prehospital and hospital pediatric disaster preparedness. Firsthand disaster experience includes hurricane Isabel in Norfolk VA, as well as an epidemic. He serves as the chair of the pediatrics committee of the National Association of EMS Physicians, and on the National Biodefense Science Board.

Robert Frank, MSN, APNP, A-GNP, PMHNP

Robert Frank, MSN, APNP, A-GNP, PMHNP

Robert is a psychiatric mental health and adult-gerontology nurse practitioner. He received his Bachelor's degree in nursing in 2008 at Marian University in Fond du Lac and worked as a registered nurse in intensive care and correctional care before going on to pursue his Master's degree at Marian. After receiving certification as an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner he worked in primary care for several years before returning to study mental health at the University of Wisconsin Madison where he received his psychiatric certification in 2018. He is now a clinician in mental health care with experience in treating mood and trauma related disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia, brain injury, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and dementia care.

Valerie Frazer, OD, FCOVD

Valerie Frazer, OD, FCOVD

Before entering optometry school, Dr. Valerie Frazer received her BA in human physiology from Southern Illinois University with additional studies in the areas of psychology and literature. After graduating from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Frazer moved to Wisconsin to complete a yearlong residency with a concentration in vision therapy and functional vision. Two years later, she achieved her board certification in these same areas from the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) now known as the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA).  Dr. Frazer sees patients in both the Madison (Waunakee) and Waukesha locations.

David Grant

David Grant

David is the founder of BIHN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a comprehensive array of resources designed to support brain injury survivors and caregivers. David is a freelance writer and the author of several books about life after brain injury. He is also a regular columnist for HEADWAY, the print publication of the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire. David has dedicated his time to advocacy on behalf of the brain injury community. He founded the BIHN Facebook Community, a vibrant online community for people living with brain injury, family members, and caregivers.

A New Englander by birth, David and his wife, Sarah, live in southern New Hampshire. Never one to slow down, David still averages an hour a day on his bike.

Photo coming soon

Deirdre Henriquez

Deirdre Henriquez

Deirdre Henriquez has been with Central Iowa Shelter & Services for many years. She was born in Chicago and has lived in big cities like New York and LA. When she first started working at CISS she knew this would be the place for her. “The mission here at CISS embodies everything that I stand for, it aligns perfectly with who I am.” Deirdre enjoys putting a smile on peoples face every single day, even if she has to get people to do a little karaoke. “I have the most amazing co-workers here at CISS, we are a great team, a great family. Just being around people who want to help others is absolutely amazing to me.” Deirdre expressed how much each memory means to her, and being able to make an impact on other individual lives is a blessing. “My favorite memory is housing people and just seeing a big genuine smile on their face as we all sing them our farewell song.” One message Deirdre would like to share with our community here at CISS is “Everyone has to believe in themselves, even when no-one else does, keep faith alive, for yourself and others.”

Emma Janes

Emma Janes

Bio coming soon

Francis Jareczek, MD, PhD

Francis Jareczek, MD, PhD

Dr. Frank Jareczek is an assistant professor of neurosurgery with subspecialty training in neurocritical care and endovascular neurosurgery. Dr. Jareczek grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago and obtained degrees in biomedical engineering and biology from Boston University. He returned to the Midwest for combined MD/PhD training at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, where his thesis work on the neurobiology of pain led to a PhD in Neuroscience. Dr. Jareczek then completed neurosurgical residency at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He pursued additional fellowship training in neurocritical care with the goal of being able to comprehensively manage all body systems in his critically ill neurosurgical patients to optimize their overall outcome. His advanced training in endovascular neurosurgical techniques has equipped him with the skillset to offer more minimally invasive approaches to treating brain aneurysms and vascular malformations, as well as the ability to effectively treat patients with vessel blockages causing strokes. Dr. Jareczek has a strong interest in training the next generation of neurosurgeons and neurocritical care providers and is actively involved in many local and regional teaching activities.

Robert Karol, Ph.D., LP, ABPP-RP, CBIST

Robert Karol, Ph.D., LP, ABPP-RP, CBIST

Dr. Karol is President of a group private practice, Karol Neuropsychological Services & Consulting, in Minneapolis, that specializes in counseling for persons with brain injury and other disabilities, neuropsychological and rehabilitation evaluations, program development consultation for organizations, workshops & staff training, and case consultation for providers, insurers, and attorneys.

Dr. Karol has also recently served as Vice President of Brain Injury Services responsible for Brain Injury Services’ programmatic leadership, marketing, and admissions for a provider of long-term care, assisted living facilities, and other services through specialty programs across multiple states. Prior work was as Director of a hospital based behavioral program for people with challenging levels of behavioral dyscontrol who had failed other programs, but were able to return to the community through his program.

Dr. Karol is Board Certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) as a Rehabilitation Psychologist and is Certified by the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS) as a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST). He received the American Psychological Association Rehabilitation Division Lifetime Practice Excellence Award in 2015 for “excellence in clinical practice and contributions to the field of rehabilitation psychology.” He is a member of the Minnesota Academy of Medicine.

Audrey Nelson, MS

Audrey Nelson, MS

In 1981 Audrey experienced a brain Injury in a car accident during her Freshman year of college; she was 18. In 1983, she was a co-founder and facilitator of a brain injury support group in Eau Claire that met for over 30 years. 

Audrey earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in 1987 and subsequently, a Graduate degree in Vocational Rehabilitation in 1994.  Since 1985, she has had several different roles on the board of directors of the Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin. She also currently serves on the Mayo Clinic Brain Injury Advisory Board. Audrey began Reality Unlimited, LLC in 1995, providing residential care for individuals with brain injury.  She recently sold this company and is looking forward to the next chapter in her work in brain injury advocacy. One of her most exciting projects was started in 2020, a brain injury & poetry support group that recently published a book of poetry. 

She is the mother of 3 adult children and recently, a proud grandmother who loves to spend time with her family.

Melissa O'Neil

Melissa O'Neil

Melissa O’Neil has been the Chief Executive Officer of Central Iowa Shelter & Services since February, 2016. Prior to her position with CISS, Melissa worked at IJAG as Vice President. She has consistently served in leadership roles including Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for three years and Graduate Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach for two years. She leads with passion and purpose. Melissa has volunteered her time and talent with Christ the King Girls Basketball team, Indianola Tribe Soccer and United Way of Central Iowa. She received her Bachelors in Communication from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 2001 and her Masters in Advertising from Syracuse University in 2003. Melissa resides in Indianola with her husband - Jeremy, daughter – Katie, son – Patrick, and puppy Aspen.

Suzanne Spencer

Suzanne Spencer

Suzanne Spencer took countless calls and story ideas over a decade working as a tv news reporter and anchor. When her phone rang in 2021, the news was delivered to her – that she had a brain tumor – and it changed the trajectory of her life. Suzanne is now a two-time brain surgery survivor, inspirational speaker, and storyteller who pivoted to create her own business, Suzanne Speaks, with a core mission to guide audiences through challenges. Suzanne lives in Milwaukee with her husband Paul, daughter Jane, and dog Wally.

Katie Strong, Ph.D. CCC-SLP

Katie Strong, Ph.D. CCC-SLP

Katie Strong, Ph.D. CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor at Central Michigan University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders where she leads the Strong Story Lab and is the Midwest Regional Coordinator for Project BRIDGE. Dr. Strong’s research uses qualitative methods to explore how clinicians can support people with aphasia rebuild their identity and improve their quality of life by co-constructing stories about who they are and will be. Dr. Strong is an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Fellow and Tavistock Distinguished Aphasia Scholar and a regular host of the Aphasia Access Conversations Podcast.

Michael Ward, MD

Michael Ward, MD

Dr. Ward completed both his undergraduate degree and medical school training at UW–Madison. He was one of the first students to be awarded the Darren Bean Emergency Medicine Scholarship. He then moved on to Chicago to complete his residency at the University of Chicago. Upon graduation, he stayed on as faculty at the University of Chicago and returned to Madison in 2017. Dr. Ward is currently a clinical assistant professor and flight physician with UW Med Flight.

Dr. Ward’s research interests focus on the management of septic patients within the emergency department. He published a recent article in Critical Care Medicine showing that early fluid resuscitation improves survival for patients with severe sepsis or septic shock indiscriminate of potentially fluid volume sensitive conditions like heart failure or kidney failure. Another article in Critical Care Medicine shows that antibiotics typically given as a slow infusion may be safely given as a rapid IV push which may help to reach urgent time to treatment goals. Additionally, he published a recent article that is frequently cited in the medical field showing that NEWS and SIRS outperformed qSOFA as screening tools helping to detect sepsis in patients arriving in the emergency department.

Dr. Ward values providing mentorship in his work as a researcher and has been honored to collaborate with over 25 residents, fellows, and medical students on his projects.

Tammy Weir

Tammy Weir

Tammy Weir is the payroll & HR Specialist at Central Iowa Shelter & Services. She is in charge of not only making sure the administrative and shelter staff get what they need in terms of financial support and resources, but the job trainees as well! Tammy holds to Bachelor’s degrees, one in Accounting and the other in Health Services. She also has an A.A in Medicine. She has years of experience in staff accounting and being a controller. Tammy and her family (husband and 3 kids) moved from LA to Iowa 8 years ago for her husband's job. 4 years ago, while Tammy was going to school at Mercy, a part of her health program was to do service hours at a nonprofit. She picked CISS to serve at and worked in different areas around the shelter. When she saw the job opening this year, she was excited to apply with how familiar she already was with the shelter. Tammy also works as a paramedic in Marshalltown when she is not at CISS.

In her free time, Tammy likes to go scuba diving, running, camping and watch hockey. Her spirit animal would be an elephant, "they have so much power but never yield it, only for protection or to help other animals".

Alec Wendelboe, BS

Alec Wendelboe, BS

Alec Wendelboe currently serves as the Education and Community Outreach Manager at the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance since May 2021, where responsibilities include presenting workshops on brain injury and stroke basics and coordinating educational Lunch & Learn sessions for social service professionals. Previous experience includes working as a Case Manager at the same organization, providing Waiver Case Management services. Earlier roles include Research Assistant at the Wesley and Lorene Artz Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Sales Associate at Dunham's Sports, and Construction Worker at Front Street Construction. Alec holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Hamline University, obtained in 2021, and graduated from Albert Lea Senior High School in 2018.

Emily Wheeler

Emily Wheeler

Bio coming soon

Audrey Nelson, MS*
Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin

Joshua Potter-Efron, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Chelsea Brehmer, Ph.D, CRC
UW–Madison Wisconsin Center for Education Research

Benjamin Siebert, MD, FAAPMR
Neuroscience Group

Caroline Feller
Cedarburg Health Services

Thomas Tatlock, MD
BEST Connections

Jerry Hoepner, PhD, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Michelle Wesline, RN
 

Michael Lace, Psy.D., HSPP
freedom Psychological Services, LLC.

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Financial Relationship Disclosures 

Discussion of Unlabeled/ Unapproved uses of drugs/devices in presentation?