APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
CATCH UP WITH APTA NEW YORK
Over the past few months, APTA New York has been working for you! We gathered together for our first in-person board meeting and Delegate Assembly since the start of the COVID pandemic to elect new officials, and make decisions about the future of our chapter. It was so refreshing to see everyone in person and to see the excitement about our upcoming changes!
ADVOCACY FOR APTA
President's Letter ... pages 2 - 5 Upcoming Events ... page 6 Research Committee ... page 7 Elected Officials ... page 8 2022 Award Winners ... pages 9 - 11 Member Spotlight ... page 12 Chapter Happenings ... page 13 Advocacy & Life Beyond Injury ... pages 14 - 15 An Excerpt from Movers & Mentors ... pages 16 - 17
On May 12, leaders of our legislators to enact change in organization rallied the troops the field. to #MakeTheChange this The Senate and Assembly have Lobby day! passed the PTA Licensure bill Our members worked hard to our members worked so hard share our needs with the to pass! Great job on all your available hard work!
APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT To my fellow APTA New York members, As President, one of my responsibilities is to provide the APTA New York Delegate Assembly (DA) with an annual State of the Chapter address. On May 7, I delivered this address to the 2022 DA for the first time in person since 2019. This was also the first time I was speaking to the DA as President of APTA NEW YORK as well as my last address as President. I want to share a written summary of my remarks here which includes some highlights of chapter activities over the past year: One of the most significant highlights is the chapter name change and BRAND ALIGNMENT that was adopted by the Delegate Assembly a year ago. A number of steps had to be taken before we could formally make this transition, but New York State approval of the amended Articles of Incorporation was received this past September, making our name officially APTA New York. A detailed plan to roll out this name change to the membership and the public has been implemented by the chapter staff, which included updating the logo, website, and messaging, to align with APTA’s leading brand. I believe we have been successful in this name and brand change thus far, with most members now recognizing the Chapter as APTA New York vs the old NYPTA.
"This was also the first time I was speaking to the DA as President of APTA New York, as well as my last address as President. "
Another highlight that occurred this past September was the APTA CENTENNIAL GALA in Washington D.C., during which, I was honored to host my fellow NY Chapter members at the table sponsored by the Chapter. Attending the Gala with me were the chair of our Centennial Scholars task force, Audrey Paslow, New York’s PTA Caucus Representative, Tracy Hardes, and two minority student award recipients who were funded by the Chapter to attend the Gala. Other Chapter members at the table were chosen by a lottery of members with more than 20 years of membership.
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT CONTINUED... Many other “firsts” are among the highlights of this past year, which include the FIRST VIRTUAL LOBBY DAY in May 2021, and the first virtual Chapter Conference which was held over multiple weeks in the month of October. We also held our first hybrid Board of Directors meeting this past October. We had to work out a few technology glitches but the Board was able to complete its business with some members of the board in person and others participating virtually via Zoom. Another first at the Fall Board of Directors meeting was that our PTA CAUCUS REPRESENTATIVE Tracy Hardes, attended the Board meeting as an official member of the Board of Directors. Chapter Bylaws were amended last year to make the PTA Caucus Rep a nonvoting member of the Board. Having the PTA Caucus Rep as a formal member of the board has provided a broader, national perspective to Board discussions of interest to our physical therapist assistant members since she regularly interacts with PTAs from across the country as part of her role in the PTA Caucus. At this first hybrid Board of Directors meeting, the Board took a number of notable actions. APTA New York’s newly revised DEI committee presented a motion to UPDATE ALL CHAPTER MANUALS to use gender neutral terms. This motion was unanimously adopted and the work of updating these manuals is underway. The Board of Directors also approved funding for a WEBSITE REDESIGN PROJECT being led by chapter members Katie Parrotte and John Schroeder. This website redesign is being done in concert with changes needed to fully align with APTA New York’s rebranding and in collaboration with our new Communications Manager, Juliet Barney. An additional first at the Fall Board meeting was that the Federal Affairs Liaison was approved as an official consultant to the Board of Directors. Having the Federal Affairs liaison function as a formal consultant to the board ensures that the Board will remain fully informed on federal advocacy issues and allows for more timely Board discussions on federal issues that are impacting Chapter members. Another first of the past year is the CREATION OF AN ETHICS LIAISON position for the chapter, which was approved at the January Board meeting. The revised APTA Bylaws require that each chapter either maintain an Ethics Committee or designate a liaison to interact with the APTA Ethics and Judicial committee.
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT CONTINUED... Since our previous Ethics Committee had very minimal work over many years, the Executive Committee recommended to the Board that a single person be appointed as an Ethics liaison. This new position has been combined with the position of Judicial/Reference Committee Chair. In addition to serving as our chapter's liaison to the APTA Ethics & Judicial Committee, the Ethics liaison will collaborate with our Chapter Program Committee and chapter staff for ethics related programming for our members as needed. At the SPRING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING held on May 6, some actions that were taken include approval of a revised Chapter Policy manual and approval of additional funding for the website redesign project. The Executive Director, in consultation with the Executive Committee, has been working to update the Policy manual, to make it more organized and user-friendly, and to revise outdated policies. This was a project that was started pre-COVID and has finally been completed. The additional funding for the website redesign project will allow the Chapter to fully customize the entire website, thus optimizing accessibility and user experience. Besides some of the “firsts” that I have just highlighted, the chapter has engaged in many ongoing activities over the past year. We are still addressing the IMPACT OF COVID pandemic on the practice of physical therapy in New York State, doing our best to keep the membership informed about the changing Federal, State, and local mandates that our members in different practice settings need to follow. Public Policy Committee members, in collaboration with Chapter leadership, and our Chapter lobbyist, have continued to work on multiple legislative and regulatory issues, including outreach to the New York State Workers Compensation Board, to advocate for amending their proposed regulations to include coverage of telehealth services provided by Physical Therapists. One regulatory “win” was the increase in continuing education credit allocation for clinical supervision of students, which was announced by the State Education Department’s Office of the Professions this past December. This change had been requested by the chapter and reflects a doubling of the credits earned for each two week period of student supervision in the clinic. Some chapter activities that began during the first year of the COVID pandemic have continued to be of benefit to our members over this past year. The Chapter Program Committee continues to offer monthly, virtual Continuing Education programming at affordable rates.
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT CONTINUED... Virtual meetings, although not my personal favorite method of interacting, have allowed for increased collaboration among various Chapter groups. District Chair meetings, as well as Committee Chair meetings, have been held on a more regular basis over the past year. In addition, the Student Special Interest Group has been holding virtual events and just held a successful Virtual Advocacy Dinner in April. Overall, APTA New York is continuing to adapt to the changes brought on by the COVID pandemic, while at the same time remaining committed to finding new ways to demonstrate value to the membership and advance the profession of physical therapy in New York State. We are, of course, still facing ongoing challenges, but I am confident that the incoming "I am excited about the future Chapter leadership team will be ready to address growth of APTA New York and look them in the best interests of the members and the forward to where our new profession. I am excited about the future growth of leadership team will take us. " APTA New York and look forward to where our new leadership team will take us. In closing, I want to thank all the Chapter and District leaders, Committee members and district delegates for giving their time to continue the work of the Chapter. I also want to thank our Chapter staff for their dedication to providing us all with the support needed to keep the Chapter functioning and serving the membership to the best of our abilities. As always, member questions and input are welcomed. Best Regards, Peggy
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
UPCOMING EVENTS BSI Journal Club
May 26
This month we will be discussing about how accurately AM-PAC “6-Clicks” functional assessment scores predict acute care hospital discharge destination in a study by Jette et al. The layout of the journal club will be presentation of the article and critique, followed by a Q&A discussion. This month’s journal club will be led by Aniketh Chavan, PT, MHS, DPT, Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist, CEEAA. He currently practices in Acute Care. He’s a PhD candidate at Nova Southeastern University and an active member of the BK/SI Programming and Communications committee.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
Osteoporosis - What is a Safe Stimulus for Bone Building?
June 23
This course will focus on the incidence of osteoporosis, related hip and vertebral fractures, comorbidities and recovery from a rehabilitation standpoint. Physical therapy and correct nutrition play a key role in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
Developing your Role as a Clinical Instructor with Specific Strategies to Improve Clinical Education Experiences
Presented by: Payal Sahni, PT, DPT, MPT
August 25
This webinar will be focused on developing and applying skills to address ways to approach each of those challenges leaving you with increased confidence and improved ability to support both yourself and your student.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
Presented by: J.J. Mowder-Tinney, PT, PhD
Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy, Certified in Neuro-Development Treatment, Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist, Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
RESEARCH COMMITTEE VACANCY The Research Committee is currently seeking a new committee member to join the Research Committee starting July 1, 2022. The primary responsibilities of the Research Committee are to review abstracts for the Chapter Conference, organize and implement a research-related program at the Chapter conference, review applications and recommend funding for the Arthur J. Nelson Research Designated Fund, and serve as consultants to chapter members for research activities. Responsibilities also may include other special projects related to objectives established by the committee. Although members of the committee are often physical therapists who have earned advanced research degrees, membership is open to clinical experts who can provide input and clinical perspective when reviewing abstracts, grant applications, and when assessing the needs of the membership with regard to research mentorship. Terms of appointment are 4 years. If you are interested in being considered, please forward your resume or curriculum vitae electronically to research@aptany.org. Further, feel free to contact a current member of the committee if you have any questions about service on the Research Committee. Current committee members are: ANDREW RAY, PT, PHD: Andrew.Ray@RoswellPark.org LISA MURATORI, PT, EDD, MSCS: lisa.muratori@stonybrook.edu JAYA (JENNIFER) RACHWANI, PT, MSPT, MSC, PHD: jaya.rachwani@hunter.cuny.edu VIJAYA PRAKASH MUTHAIAH, PT: vijayapr@buffalo.edu
CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR RESUME APTA New York | May/June | 7
APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
2022 ELECTED OFFICIALS At the 2022 Delegate Assembly (DA) and Board of Directors meeting, we elected our new officials and inducted them into their new roles. Please join us in congratulating our new (and re-elected) leaders!
MICHAEL TISBE: President Elect MICHAEL MASARACCHIO: Vice President GENEVIEVE SMITH: Speaker KERI GILL-SMITH: Nominating Committee Member CATHERINE ZACHER: Member-at-Large Also, the following districts have elected new BOD members:
ANNA LEN: Brooklyn Staten Island ERIC GREENBERG: Long Island JAKE MCPHERSON: Western
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Join the APTA Advocacy Network!
The APTA Advocacy Network is a vital link to APTA’s success on Capitol Hill. All network members receive a quarterly newsletter about legislative activity on Capitol Hill and Legislative Action Alerts on federal legislative and regulatory issues. Through the alerts we ask you to contact your members of Congress and federal agencies on particular issues of concern to your patients and the physical therapy profession.
CLICK TO JOIN!
VIEW OUR 2022 AWARD WINNERS ON THE NEXT PAGE! APTA New York | May/June | 8
APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
PT OF THE YEAR Congratulations to GERALDINE WHITE for being awarded the PT of the Year Award. Geraldine has demonstrated an exceptional level of support and dedication to physical therapy through her support and roles in the field, and the community. We are so grateful for your dedication to the field and the commitment to your patients.
LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD Congratulations to PEGGY LYNAM for being awarded the APTA New York Lifetime Service Award! Peggy has demonstrated a commitment to the profession by serving APTA New York throughout her career. Peggy has been our dedicated President for 4 years. We are so grateful for her work for our organization, member support, and leadership in the field.
DR. MARILYN MOFFAT DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Congratulations to NANNETTE HYLAND for being awarded the Dr. Marilyn Moffat Distinguished Service Award! This award recognizes an APTA New York member who has made an outstanding contribution to physical therapy. Nannette has demonstrated consistent service to the development of the physical therapy profession, beyond that which is inherent in being a member of the profession. Thank you for your dedication!
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
PTA EXCELLENCE AWARD Congratulations to CARLOS LOPEZ for being awarded the PTA Excellence Award. This award recognizes a PTA who serves as a role model and inspiration to patients/clients, peers and students and strives to achieve optimal potential as a PTA. Your positive attitude and contribution to the field is unmatched! We are lucky to have you on the APTA New York squad.
DOREEN FRANK LEGISTLATIVE AWARD Congratulations to HEATHER SMITH for being awarded the Doreen Frank Legislative Award! Heather has demonstrated consistent, outstanding participation in the legislative arena by promoting initiatives that preserve, protect and advance the practice of physical therapy in NYS. Ask Heather about how to get involved and make changes in our state!
PUBLIC RELATIONS AWARD Congratulations to THERESA MARKO for being awarded the Tracy Sawyer Public Relations Award! Theresa has fostered public awareness of the profession of physical therapy through utilization of the media, community activities, special events, and more! We are so thankful for Theresa's efforts to move the profession forward and her dedication to improving the field of PT.
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AWARD Congratulations to NANNETTE HYLAND for being awarded the Leadership Development Award! Nannette exemplifies the spirit of leadership development within the profession of physical therapy! We are so grateful for her work in building future leaders, and being a leader to fellow PTs. We look forward to see you achieve many more accomplishments in the future!
OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE CHAPTER AWARD Congratulations to JAKE MCPHERSON AND LYNN RIVERS for being awarded the Leslie J. Wood Outstanding Service to the Chapter Award! Jake and Lynn have made outstanding contributions to the New York Chapter in promoting the organization and its goals. We are so grateful for their hard work and look forward to continue to see you thrive!
OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO DISTRICTS AWARD Congratulations to Johanna Studer (featured), Staci Marshall, and Bronté Cardenas for being awarded the award for Outstanding Service to their district! These members have made outstanding contributions to their district and we are so happy with their hard work.
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT SARAH FISHEL Sarah Fishel is a valued faculty member at Ithaca College and a board-certified clinical specialist. Sarah works diligently to expand research and treatment in neurologic physical therapy. Master of professional and personal multi-tasking, Sarah also serves as the Chapter Director for the Southern Tier District of APTA New York. Sarah has been a member for 20 years and believes that new physical therapy professionals who want to make a difference should get involved in their local APTA New York district. Learn more about Sarah’s path to neurologic physical therapy and her work in equity and inclusion at Ithaca College in this month's Member Spotlight by clicking the link below!
"Start by getting involved in your district. It is a great way to meet people and become more connected with the work of the APTA."
VIEW THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE! APTA New York | May/June | 12
APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
CHAPTER HAPPENINGS The Southern Tier District had a great time helping the Finger Lakes Land Trust clear out invasive species. They hope to make this a regular service opportunity. Let us know if you are interested in joining us for future service projects!
Members met with state leaders for another successful Virtual Lobby Day!
Theresa Marko honored for Women's History Month as a woman in healthcare who persevered in the midst of COVID. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
ADVOCACY & LIFE BEYOND INJURY Ms. Ellie Crum
'Will I ever walk…ride my bike...go to a concert?' A patient has probably asked you this question. Regardless of the setting, regaining physical functioning and participating in meaningful activities are top priorities for patients and thus for us as the clinicians working with them. Many will regain the ability to participate in the activities of their choosing. But what if they don’t? Or what if the way they can participate looks different than before their injury? What options exist for patients with limited physical functioning? In 2019 I was introduced to the organization Wilderness Inquiry (WI) by a fellow Physical Therapist. Headquartered in St. Paul, MN their mission is to “connect people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to each other and the natural world through shared outdoor adventure.” While the majority of trips facilitated by WI occur in the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest regions, trips are available all over the world, from Iceland to New Zealand. When I learned this, the first thing I thought was wow! My patients are thinking about getting outside to the park and now I can actually show them tangible opportunities that literally open up the entire world. Along with providing the opportunity to travel, WI will provide as much physical, emotional and cognitive support as needed for anyone to participate in the trip, regardless of the destination. This support comes from volunteers. After learning more about the organization, I applied and was selected to be the Personal Care Assistant for a participant, Mark, with quadriparesis and blindness for a four day Sea Kayaking trip to the Apostle Islands, a 22-island archipelago on the south side of Lake Superior. While WI had already adapted what could be adapted, from boat launches to ramped elevated tent platforms, many of my duties in assisting Mark involved making transfers, mobility, and participation as safe, independent and efficient as possible.
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
ADVOCACY & LIFE BEYOND INJURY Ms. Ellie Crum
Putting my Physical Therapy knowledge and creativity into action in the most functional and real world setting possible has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career thus far. From modifying pivot transfers into a 16-passenger van and accessing one of Lake Superior’s beaches with tarps, ground pads and wheelchair cushions, Mark didn’t miss a single activity on the trip. Further, I was able to educate many of the staff and other volunteers at WI on body mechanics, equipment management, and positioning that not only applied immediately during our trip, but was knowledge they could carry forward with other participants. Having worked my entire career in the Inpatient Rehabilitation setting and an outdoor enthusiast myself, I have near daily conversations about how patients with paralysis, hemiplegia, and impaired cognition can access the outdoors. Finding WI widened my perspective and has shaped my career. I have been able to guide conversations about physical activity that may be possible. To not only help Mark experience the freedom, independence and self-affirmation that an outdoor adventure brings, but to be able to educate and advocate for my past, current and future patients to return to whatever activity their heart desires has turned my job as a Physical Therapist into a life’s work. It drives me to provide the highest level of care for my patients and helps me encourage them to live a full life regardless of their mobility. I encourage you to learn more about Wilderness Inquiry, so you can share the information with your patients and their families. If you want to get personally involved with the organization, there are several upcoming opportunities in the New York City Metro Area. Canoemobile, WI’s outdoor “floating classroom”, will provide NY students of all abilities the opportunity to access the water May 31st to June 7th, free of charge. The vision of the American Physical Therapy Association is: “Transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience.” To do this, I start at the impairment level and think beyond to the human level. This mindset has enabled me to help my mobility impaired patients. I believe any level of physical activity promotes wellness, and, to the extent I can provide that for my patients through programs like WI, makes me a better physical therapist and makes a lasting contribution to society.
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
An Excerpt from Movers & Mentors Movers & Mentors, a book recently published in the fall of 2021, features interviews with over 75 leaders in the field of physical therapy including researchers, clinicians, academics, innovators, and influencers. Michael Costello, PT, DSc, OCS, MTC of Ithaca College and David Schilling, PT, DPT, OCS of Utica College, who are both included in the book, responded to a number of questions including: “What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student or young professional entering the ‘real world’?”
Michael Costello, PT, DSc, OCS, MTC A lot of students will come and ask me questions about doing a PT residency. While I firmly believe that the formalized specialist training of a residency is likely to help every clinician, such training may not be the best thing for that person at that time, for a variety of reasons. In these conversations, I try to get at what they value about residency training, what it is that they're really going after. Once they can figure that out, let that be the guide. For instance, I may have a student thinking about either a sports or orthopedic residency. What I try to help them do is find what their value is, and what's truly important to them. This might push them one way or the other, or even down some other path. This year, I've seen a shift to, “Should I do a residency?” rather than, “I need to do a residency.” I feel like this is a good shift because it shouldn't be a given to do a residency, especially if it’s coming from an external pressure. “All the cool kids are doing it, so I feel like I should do it.” I want to make sure that they're really ready for it, and know that it's okay if they don't do one when they first get out of school. The opportunity doesn’t just evaporate once you enter clinical practice.
David Schilling, PT, DPT, OCS If I reflect back on my 20+ years of clinical practice, I would say focus on quality over quantity when you enter the workforce. I definitely understand the importance of making enough
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
An Excerpt from Movers & Mentors (cont.)
money to pay back student loans and live comfortably, but I would recommend living frugally, at least initially. Focus on what is going to launch your career, and not so much on what your pay is going to be. Mentorship, help with continuing education, and having manageable productivity standards are key as a new PT. Oftentimes, a higher salary may be associated with really unethical care practices based on the number of patients you are going to see. Be in a place with others who have good experience and can provide good experiences for you to learn from. I know this all sounds rather utopian, but pause and think about the mobility that you have as a young professional and the opportunity you have to choose where you go, or what city you want to land in. Ask these types of questions early on, and the monetary portion will take care of itself as you become a better professional.
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APTA NEW YORK
NEWSLETTER May / June 2022
WE APPRECIATE YOUR MEMBERSHIP Did you know?
The majority of APTA national, section, and chapter dues are tax deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense. Click here to review the tax information.
Did you know? Graduating student members who participate in the EarlyCareer Discount Program receive a 50% discount in their first year postgraduation, with additional savings the next three years.
Publisher
Editor/Designer
APTA New York 971 Albany Shaker Road Latham, NY 12110 518.459.4499 www.aptany.org
Juliet Barney
Editorial Board
Catherine Zacher PT, DPT Alanna Pokorski PT, DPT
Chapter Officers President President Elect Vice President Treasurer Secretary Chief Delegate
Peggy Lynam PT, DPT Michael Tisbe PT, DPT Michael Masaracchio PT, DPT, PhD Michael Huson PT, DPT Debra Engel PT, DPT, MS Lynn Rivers PT, PhD
Chapter Directors Brooklyn/Staten Island Catskill Central Eastern Finger Lakes Greater New York Hudson Valley Long Island Southern Tier Western
Chapter Office Staff
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The APTA New York Newsletter is published 6 times per year.
Anna Len PT, DPT Yvonne Egitto PT,DPT Adam Rufa PT, DPT Audrey Paslow PT, DPT Catherine Zacher PT, DPT Kaitlyn Paarrotte PT, DPT Nannette Hyland PT, PhD Eric Greenberg PT Sarah Fishel PT, DPT Jacob McPherson PT, DPT, OCS
Executive Director Communications Manager Continuing Education & Events Coordinator Membership Coordinator
Kelly Garceau Juliet Barney Erin Stack Adilah Abdul-Matin
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