Confident Care for MS: Practical Rehab Strategies to Manage Fatigue, Spasticity, and Function at Every Stage

Benjamin White, PT, DPT, MBA, C/NDT, LSVT BIG, is an expert in neurological rehabilitation and clinical leadership. He has experience in leadership within multiple clinical settings including home health, skilled nursing, outpatient, acute, and inpatient rehab. He is known for generating both employee and patient satisfaction as they move toward their desired goals. His expertise lies specifically in the following diagnoses: stroke, Parkinson’s, concussion, and vestibular rehabilitation.

Dr. White has a history of physical therapy in the state of Texas for over a decade. He has owned his own practice and worked within multiple healthcare settings. He now serves as the market director representing inpatient rehab in the state of Tennessee for HCA Healthcare.

Dr. White is an award-winning clinical instructor, a renowned national speaker, and has published numerous articles on the topics of neuroplasticity and stroke. He has a history of serving the Parkinsonian population in their homes and in the community assisting them to return to their own desired optimal function from an emotional and functional realm.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Benjamin White receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Benjamin White has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Michelle Mioduszewski, MS, OTR/L, has been practicing occupational therapy in acute, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient settings throughout her career. Visual rehabilitation following neurological events has been an area of focus. Michelle owns and operates Niagara Therapy, LLC, a team-oriented practice based in Erie, PA that offers OT, PT, and SLP to adults and children with neurological concerns. She also consults for legal, education, and professional situations.

Michelle is the AOTA Administration and Management Chairperson for the Rehabilitation and Disability Special Interest Section, National MS Society Board of Trustees, and is a National MS Society Partner in Care Designation. She was trained in NDT and Neuro-IFRAH (NDTC), Bioness Certified, REO Certified, SAEBO Certified, and specialized in vision and cognitive rehabilitation. A published writer by AOTA Press, she also teaches on topics such as IASTM, Neuro-Rehab/Neuro-Handling, vision, cognition, spasticity, ergonomics and complex wheelchair evaluations.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Michelle Mioduszewski is the owner of Niagara Therapy, LLC and Niagara Therapy Professional Services, LLC. She is a book reviewer for Slack. Michelle also receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. Michelle Mioduszewski has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Michelle Mioduszewski is a member of AOTA/POTA and the Consortium of MS Centers. She is a POTA representative to Trialliance Group and also serves on the National Multiple Sclerosis Association Board of Trustees. She is part of the National MS Society, serving as an MS Ambassador and a member of their Clinical Healthcare Advisory Committee.

Rhoda Olkin, PhD, is a distinguished professor at California School of Professional Psychology, the developer of disability-affirming therapy, and the author of four books on disability and psychotherapy including What Psychotherapists Should Know about Disability and Disability-Affirming Therapy: A Case Formulation Template for Your Clients with Disabilities. She has researched and taught about disability for over 35 years and serves as and expert witness related to disability. As a polio survivor, Dr. Olkin has used her lived experiences to illustrate various aspects of living well with a disability or chronic medical condition.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Rhoda Olkin has employment relationships with Alliant University and the Institute on Disability and Health Psychology. She receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Rhoda Olkin is a member of the American and California Associations for Marital and Family Therapy, the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers, the American Association of University Professors, the American Counseling Association, and others. For a complete list, please contact info@pesi.com. She is a board member for Polio Health International.

Mike Studer, PT, DPT, MHS, NCS, CEEAA, CWT, CSST, CBFP, CSRP, FAPTA has been a PT since 1991, board certified in neurologic PT in 1995, and a private practice owner since 2005. Dr. Studer has been an invited speaker covering all 50 states, 13 countries, and 5 continents speaking on topics ranging from cognition and psychology in rehabilitation, aging, stroke, motor learning, motivation in rehabilitation, balance, dizziness, neuropathy and Parkinson Disease. Dr. Studer was the founder and operator of Northwest Rehabilitation Associates in Oregon for 18 years and is now a co-founder and co-owner of Spark Rehabilitation and Wellness in Bend, OR. He is an adjunct professor at Touro University and additional appointment at UNLV. Dr. Studer assists the USC-led national network of neurologic PT residencies (Neuroconsortium) as well.  

In 2011, Mike was recognized as Clinician of the Year in the Neurologic and (in 2014) the Geriatric Academies of the APTA. He received the highest honor available in PT in 2020, being distinguished as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA in 2020, joining a group of under 300 persons at the time for the history of the profession. Mike’s honors additionally reflect his service for Vice Presidency of the Academy of Neurologic PT, the Mercedes Weiss award for service to the Oregon chapter of APTA. He holds a trademark in dual task rehabilitation and has a patent pending on the same. Over his career, Mike has authored over 40 articles, 7 book chapters, and routinely has clinical research projects in affiliation with one of many universities. He is a consultant to professional athletes including Major League Baseball players, competitive divers, and some of the most prolific climbers in world history. As a very fun and lighthearted note, Mike is the four time and current WR holder for the fastest underwater treadmill marathon, a mark that was set most recently in January 2022. Most recently, Mike authored The Brain That Chooses Itself, a practical and applications-based guide to increasing both healthspan and lifespan for laypersons and medical professionals alike.  

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Mike Studer is the co-founding member and co-owner of Spark Rehabilitation and Wellness and has employment relationships with Touro University, the University of Nevada, and Post Acute Medical. He previously received a speaking honorarium from SMARTFit. Mike Studer receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and a consulting fee from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Mike Studer is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Vestibular Disorders Association, and the Oregon Physical Therapy Association. He serves on the advisory board of Rehab Management and ADVANCE.

Ebonye Green, MNSc, ACNPC-AG, CNRN, SCRN, APRN, FNCS, is an inpatient advanced practice registered nurse for the College of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2013. She previously worked as a staff nurse and as a travel nurse, working in some of the country’s top neurosurgical intensive units and Gamma Knife, including Washington Hospital Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Ebonye is passionate about contributing to her specialty and professional associations and organizations. She is a member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and serves as a Director at Large on their Board of Directors, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Director at Large for Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Association, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, American Association of Neurosurgical Surgeons, Neurocritical Care Society, and is Co-Chair of the Women in Neurocritical Care Advanced Practice Leadership Committee and is also a Fellow of the Neurocritical Care Society. Ebonye is passionate about educating staff to grow their knowledge to better care for our patients and families.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Ebonye Green has an employment relationship with the University of Arkansas. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Ebonye Green is a member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Dr. Mandy Jacques is a Physical Therapist and Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist. Mandy graduated from the University of St. Augustine with her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. Mandy is a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist and is currently the director of patient support at NeuFit and leads the NeuFit MS Bootcamps – where she advocates for MS patients learning the latest advances in neuromuscular rehabilitation. She has seen profound results clinically when incorporating the Neubie and the NeuFit Method into her patient’s rehabilitation regimes.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Amanda Jacques has employment relationships with NeuFit Headquarters and Baylor Scott and White Hospital Lakeway. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Amanda Jacques has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Dr. Terry Wahls is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner and conducts clinical research using functional medicine principles in the setting of multiple sclerosis (MS) at the University of Iowa. In 2018 she was awarded the Institute for Functional Medicine’s Linus Pauling Award for her contributions in research, clinical care, and patient advocacy. Dr. Wahls has secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, which confined her to a tilt-recline wheelchair for four years. Dr. Wahls restored her health using a diet and lifestyle program she designed specifically for her brain and now pedals her bike to work each day. She is the author of The Wahls Protocol: How I beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine, The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine, The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles (paperback), and the cookbook The Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life: The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions. Learn more about the current study Efficacy of Diet on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis at terrywahls.com/msstudy. Pick up a one-page handout for the Wahls™ Diet. Follow her on Instagram @drterrywahls, and on Facebook/Twitter at @TerryWahls. Sign up to receive her weekly research updates.

Social Media Links:

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twitter.com/terrywahls @TerryWahls

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Terry Wahls maintains a private practice and is a stockholder with Levels Health, Inc. and FBB Biomed, Inc. She has employment relationships with Tor Dahl and Associates, the University of Iowa College of Medicine, the College of Public Health, and the Carver College of Medicine Iowa City and receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Wahls has previous employment relationships with Standard Processes Inc. and Vibrant America LLC. She receives grants from the Carter Chapman Shreve Foundation, Ophir Gottlieb Alicia Newman, Levels Health, Inc., Susan Clelland Fund, and the Thorne Health Tech Fund. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Dr. Terry Wahls is a member of the Institute for Functional Medicine Energy Advanced Practice Module, Faculty and Planning Committee and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, she is a reviewer for several peer review journals, for a complete list contact PESI, Inc.

Herb Karpatkin, PT, DSc, NCS, GCS, MSCS , received his master’s degree in physical therapy from Boston University, and a Doctorate in neurology from Rocky Mountain University. He is board certified in neurology and geriatrics clinical through the American Physical Therapy Association and is a certified Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Specialist through the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers. He has held clinical posts at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice, and academic posts in the physical therapy departments of Touro College and Hunter College. He has presented extensively both nationally and internationally on physical therapy and multiple sclerosis and has published articles on MS in the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, International Journal of Multiple Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis International. He is the recipient of the 2015 American Physical Therapy Association Award for Excellence in Neurologic Education and the 2019 National Multiple Sclerosis Society Research Partners award. In addition to continuing to be actively involved in patient care, he is a tenured associate professor of physical therapy at Hunter College, City University of New York, teaching courses in neurologic evaluation and intervention, psychosocial aspects of health care, and research design as well as mentoring students through the research process. His primary areas of research are aimed at understanding and developing interventions that result in improved mobility for persons with MS.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Herbert Karpatkin maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Hunter College. He serves as a manuscript reviewer with the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, the International Journal of Multiple Sclerosis Care, the Disability and Rehabilitation, and the Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Herbert Karpatkin receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Herbert Karpatkin is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Pearl Werfel, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco with expertise in wellness; stress, anxiety and pain mitigation and multiple sclerosis. She has led groups and developed webinars for people living with MS for over 25 years and provides training for mental health professionals on chronic illness/disability. Dr. Werfel is the lead author of Multiple Sclerosis Advances in Psychotherapy - Evidenced-Based Practices and published articles on working with clients with MS; Chronic Illness/Disability and wellness for professionals from diverse perspectives. She is a member of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Medical Advisory Board, Chair of the California Psychological Association CARE Committee and a consultant with CanDo Multiple Sclerosis. She is committed to anti-racist beliefs and activities.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Pearl Werfel maintains a private practice and is a consultant with Can Do Multiple Sclerosis. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Pearl Werfel is a member of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and is the chair for California Psychological Association.