Rider Colloquium

Schedule of Events

Session Descriptions

Keynote Session	Fulfilling President Lincoln’s Promise: Overcoming the Stigma of Veteran Healthcare Robert Ferguson, MHS, OTRL This keynote will briefly address the embattled history of the Veteran Health Administration and the associated stigma of Veteran healthcare through the lenses of differing types of Veterans, their caregivers, the public, and VHA employees. It will also address the existence of stigma for Veteran healthcare in the private sector. I will share my own experiences as a disabled combat Veteran both receiving and providing healthcare to Veterans in the private sector and in the VHA. Additionally, I will share about the ways occupational therapy practitioners can combat Veteran healthcare stigma, today’s innovative Veteran healthcare, and how occupational therapy fits into its hope for tomorrow.
Plenary Session	Fusing Research and Practice: Innovative Post-Amputation Pain Management with Augmented Reality Tonya Rich, PhD, OTR/L This session will discuss the role of OT clinician scientist highlighting innovation work in post-amputation pain in Veterans with limb loss. This translational research focuses on novel assessment and treatment of phantom limb pain that includes use of augmented reality. Discussion will include the critical role of engaging clinicians in research.
Breakout Sessions	Characteristics of Central Sensitization and the Relationship to Demographics and Pain Indicators for Veterans with Chronic Pain Aditi Tuell, MS, OTRL, CHT, CLT Central sensitization (CS), a key driver of chronic pain, is commonly observed in various pain conditions. Veterans, unfortunately, face a higher risk of chronic pain, yet the prevalence of CS in this group remains largely unexplored. Furthermore, CS is linked to a range of challenges, including pain intensity, psychological distress, fear of movement, disability, and functional limitations. This presentation will delve into the findings of a retrospective study that sheds light on the prevalence of CS in veterans with chronic pain and explores its relationship with age, pain severity, pain interference, and pain catastrophizing.
Some of Us Volunteered for This Master Sergeant Juan Gonzalez, BSW, MHFA & Michele Pascoe, BSW Discuss the differences between being a military member / veteran and a civilian. From Day 1, service members from any branch of service experience a culture change from an individual to being something bigger. Individuality is reduced to being told where to be, when to be there and what to do while there along with every person being in the same uniform. There is no freedom to do whatever one wants to do when one wants to do whatever they please. This is all part of the plan that has been instilled in military members since its inception. This mindset carries with a service member for the entirety of their career. Once out of the military, that core military culture stays and may be difficult to let go and be a ‘civilian.’ What can be done to assist in making this culture transition easier for family, friends, and others? We will discuss the difference between both cultures and how to best assist those you serve.
The Comforts of Home: Serving Veterans through Home Based Primary Care Jaclyn Raab, OTR/L, NBC-HWC & Courtney Laughlin, DPT The VHA’s Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program is a unique program that provides comprehensive primary care in the homes of Veterans with complex medical conditions for whom routine clinic-based care may not be effective, with the goal of supporting Veterans’ desire to age in place while reducing and preventing hospitalizations. This breakout session will 1) Provide an overview of the HBPC program; 2) Discuss the unique role of the HBPC rehab therapist (OT/PT); and 3) Summarize various performance improvement initiatives within VHA that enhance the care of Veterans enrolled in HBPC
Vocational Rehabilitation with Veterans Claudette Stork Reid OTL, FAOTA & Sharlene Organ MA, LLPC, CBSP, ADAC
Lived experiences of Women in the Military Michele Pascoe, BSW This presentation will discuss the history of women serving in the military, what they can experience while serving, such as military sexual trauma, and the challenges while and after serving.
Veterans First: Pioneering Efforts to Support Aging and Disabled Homeless Heroes Melissa Flowers, MS, OTRL, CLT Veteran Affairs’ collaboration between Housing and Urban Development-VA Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) with Geriatric and Extended Care (GEC) focuses on housing aging and disabled Veterans. HUD-VASH aims to provide high-quality care to homeless Veterans who are aging and/or living with complex medical needs to exit homelessness and live independently for as long as possible. The program strives to find collaborative ways to utilize existing internal resources and enhance relationships with community partners. This collaborative initiative is comprised of four key strategies: Increasing access to GEC services for Veterans experiencing homelessness; developing housing options to assist with using HUD-VASH vouchers in specialized housing settings; expanding the use of HUD-VASH project-based vouchers (PBV) with intensive on-site services; and proactively developing partnerships with community agencies.
Closing Session	Nancy Hock, Ph.D., OTRL, CHT

Keynote Session

Fulfilling President Lincoln’s Promise: Overcoming the Stigma of Veteran Healthcare

Robert Ferguson, MHS, OTRL

This keynote will briefly address the embattled history of the Veteran Health Administration and the associated stigma of Veteran healthcare through the lenses of differing types of Veterans, their caregivers, the public, and VHA employees. It will also address the existence of stigma for Veteran healthcare in the private sector.

I will share my own experiences as a disabled combat Veteran both receiving and providing healthcare to Veterans in the private sector and in the VHA. Additionally, I will share about the ways occupational therapy practitioners can combat Veteran healthcare stigma, today’s innovative Veteran healthcare, and how occupational therapy fits into its hope for tomorrow.

Plenary Session

Fusing Research and Practice: Innovative Post-Amputation Pain Management with Augmented Reality

Tonya Rich, PhD, OTR/L

This session will discuss the role of OT clinician scientist highlighting innovation work in post-amputation pain in Veterans with limb loss. This translational research focuses on novel assessment and treatment of phantom limb pain that includes use of augmented reality. Discussion will include the critical role of engaging clinicians in research.

Breakout Sessions

Characteristics of Central Sensitization and the Relationship to Demographics and Pain Indicators for Veterans with Chronic Pain

Aditi Tuell, MS, OTRL, CHT, CLT

Central sensitization (CS), a key driver of chronic pain, is commonly observed in various pain conditions. Veterans, unfortunately, face a higher risk of chronic pain, yet the prevalence of CS in this group remains largely unexplored. Furthermore, CS is linked to a range of challenges, including pain intensity, psychological distress, fear of movement, disability, and functional limitations. This presentation will delve into the findings of a retrospective study that sheds light on the prevalence of CS in veterans with chronic pain and explores its relationship with age, pain severity, pain interference, and pain catastrophizing.

Some of Us Volunteered for This

Master Sergeant Juan Gonzalez, BSW, MHFA & Michele Pascoe, BSW

Discuss the differences between being a military member / veteran and a civilian. From Day 1, service members from any branch of service experience a culture change from an individual to being something bigger. Individuality is reduced to being told where to be, when to be there and what to do while there along with every person being in the same uniform. There is no freedom to do whatever one wants to do when one wants to do whatever they please. This is all part of the plan that has been instilled in military members since its inception. This mindset carries with a service member for the entirety of their career.
Once out of the military, that core military culture stays and may be difficult to let go and be a ‘civilian.’ What can be done to assist in making this culture transition easier for family, friends, and others? We will discuss the difference between both cultures and how to best assist those you serve.

The Comforts of Home: Serving Veterans through Home Based Primary Care

Jaclyn Raab, OTR/L, NBC-HWC & Courtney Laughlin, DPT

The VHA’s Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program is a unique program that provides comprehensive primary care in the homes of Veterans with complex medical conditions for whom routine clinic-based care may not be effective, with the goal of supporting Veterans’ desire to age in place while reducing and preventing hospitalizations. This breakout session will 1) Provide an overview of the HBPC program; 2) Discuss the unique role of the HBPC rehab therapist (OT/PT); and 3) Summarize various performance improvement initiatives within VHA that enhance the care of Veterans enrolled in HBPC

Vocational Rehabilitation with Veterans

Claudette Stork Reid OTL, FAOTA & Sharlene Organ MA, LLPC, CBSP, ADAC

Lived experiences of Women in the Military

Michele Pascoe, BSW

This presentation will discuss the history of women serving in the military, what they can experience while serving, such as military sexual trauma, and the challenges while and after serving.

Veterans First: Pioneering Efforts to Support Aging and Disabled Homeless Heroes

Melissa Flowers, MS, OTRL, CLT

Veteran Affairs’ collaboration between Housing and Urban Development-VA Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) with Geriatric and Extended Care (GEC) focuses on housing aging and disabled Veterans. HUD-VASH aims to provide high-quality care to homeless Veterans who are aging and/or living with complex medical needs to exit homelessness and live independently for as long as possible. The program strives to find collaborative ways to utilize existing internal resources and enhance relationships with community partners. This collaborative initiative is comprised of four key strategies:

Increasing access to GEC services for Veterans experiencing homelessness; developing housing options to assist with using HUD-VASH vouchers in specialized housing settings; expanding the use of HUD-VASH project-based vouchers (PBV) with intensive on-site services; and proactively developing partnerships with community agencies.

Closing Session

Nancy Hock, Ph.D., OTRL, CHT

Keynote Speaker

Rob Ferguson is a disabled U.S. Army Veteran and the Occupational Therapy Supervisor at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, MI. Before joining the VHA, he was the Stroke Rehabilitation Coordinator and the Neurorehabilitation and Therapeutic Technology Clinical Specialist at the University of Michigan Health.

Rob served the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association as Licensure Committee Chair, Advocacy Director, and Leader of the Executive Committee. He also served on the State of Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists. For his leadership and advocacy in obtaining licensure for Occupational Therapy in the State of Michigan, Rob received the Eastern Michigan University Distinguished Alumnus Award.

In addition to serving as a course instructor and guest lecturer at several OT programs in Michigan and Indiana, Rob has co-authored a book chapter on the use of conceptual practice models and clinical reasoning with therapeutic technologies and an article on the virtual context of occupation.

Rob's professional presentations include plenary presentations, local workshops, state conferences, national conventions, international and national extended reality summits, and online educational courses. His presentations focus on the therapeutic uses of technology and extended reality, clinical reasoning, the development of competence and mastery in stroke rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation concepts, neurodynamics, professional advocacy, and licensure.

Plenary Speaker

Tonya Rich, PhD, OTR/L is an occupational therapist at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and a researcher in the Rehabilitation & Engineering Center for Optimizing Veteran Engagement and Reintegration (RECOVER). Dr. Rich has nearly 25 years of clinical experience in hospital and outpatient-based occupational therapy. Her research focuses on the measurement and intervention of post-amputation pain to support rehabilitation. She is also the co-director of the Veteran & Caregiver Engagement Panel through RECOVER. Dr. Rich’s work seeks to incorporate stakeholder feedback into all aspects of clinical and research work.

Breakout Presenters

Characteristics of Central Sensitization and the Relationship to Demographics and Pain Indicators for Veterans with Chronic Pain

Aditi Tuell, MS, OTRL, CHT, CLT

Aditi is a board-certified Occupational Therapist, Certified Hand, and Certified Lymphedema Therapist. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal, India, in 2001 and a Master of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, USA, in 2003. Aditi started a Ph.D. program in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at Western Michigan University in July 2022. She currently works as a Clinical Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for Indiana University South Bend and serves as the assistant copy editor for The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy. She also works part-time for NovaCare Rehabilitation in Kalamazoo Michigan providing hand and lymphedema therapy in an outpatient orthopedic setting. In her free time, she enjoys biking, hiking, and cooking.

Some of Us Volunteered for This

Master Sergeant Juan Gonzalez, BSW, MHFA & Michele Pascoe, BSW

Juan M. Gonzalez is the Veteran Navigator for Integrated Services of Kalamazoo (ISK). In his role, he is the community outreach for military service members, veterans, and their families (SMVF) in Kalamazoo County for ISK. He can assist with housing, health, employment, education, mental health, jail diversion, and other areas that affect the well-being of SMVF with resources in the county, region, and state. He is active in veteran programs such as the Battle Creek VA Family Advocacy Council (co-chairperson), Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means, Gryphon Place Community Engagement, and other organizations. He is also certified as a Mental Health First Aid Trainer (MHFA) with emphasis on Military Service Members & Veteran MHFA and Higher Education MHFA. He also teaches a Military Cultural Competency Course that is accredited through Western Michigan University School of Medicine for CEU’s.

Master Sergeant Gonzalez retired from the Michigan Air National Guard / United States Air Force on 31 July 2018 after 27 years of honorable military service. His entire military career was with the Security Forces Career Field with additional duties as Safety NCO, Unit Budget NCO, Suicide Prevention / Mental Health NCO, along with various other duties. He has been deployed to Shiekh Isa Air Base, Bahrain (twice); Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq; and Al Dharfa Air Base, United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Gonzalez resides in Athens, Michigan with his wife, Cheryl. He is the proud father of two sons, Erik and Jacob Gonzalez and proud stepfather to Cody (Allison) Swarthout, (former) Staff Sergeant Dillon Swarthout, and Cassidy Swarthout. The title of Abuelo (“BoBo”) was added on January 15, 2021 with the birth of Connor Swarthout. (RET) MSgt Gonzalez is also a proud graduate of Western Michigan University’s School of Social Work (BSW, 2017) and is a graduate of the Community College of the Air Force with an Associate Degree in Security Administration (2002).

Lived experiences of Women in the Military

Michele Pascoe, BSW

Michele Pascoe is a U.S. Navy veteran serving from 1991-1994. She served as an Aviation Electrician. She is a proud Western Michigan University School of Social Work graduate. She has been a licensed Social Worker for 26 years and a Certified Drug Counselor for 3 years. She has been employed by Summit Pointe-Calhoun counties Community Mental Health for 22 years and is currently the Veteran Navigator for the last 3 ½ years. Michele is also the Chapter Lead for Battle Creek’s Women’s Veterans Strong. Her passion is helping others and making sure they have the services and resources to be successful.

The Comforts of Home: Serving Veterans through Home Based Primary Care

Jaclyn Raab, OTR/L, NBC-HWC & Courtney Laughlin, DPT

Jaclyn Raab received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University, followed by a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from UW-Madison. The entirety of her career has been spent within the VHA, having started as an OT student at the Milwaukee VA in 2015. Her previous work experience includes inpatient/outpatient SCI rehabilitation and Whole Health (wellness and integrative health), and currently practices in Home Based Primary Care at the Battle Creek VA. Jaclyn is passionate about serving Veterans, not only clinically, but also via performance improvement initiatives, OT advocacy, and staff development. Jaclyn is a graduate of both local and regional leadership development programs, serves on a number of VHA committees, and is currently a member of the VHA OT Field Advisory Council, which advises national VA leadership on the future of occupational therapy services. She enjoys keeping up with her two young kids, attempting home DIY projects, and spending time outdoors

Courtney Laughlin received her Bachelor of Science in Clinical Exercise Science from Grand Valley State University followed by a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Grand Valley State University. She started her career in the outpatient setting as a general physical therapist for a not-for-profit health system. She was able to build skills with the unit based practice council and received her LSVT certification during this time. She then transitioned to the VA to work in the Home Based Primary Care setting at the Battle Creek location. She has enjoyed the transition and serving Veterans in her community. She also enjoys spending lots of time with family including her son and husband

Vocational Rehabilitation with Veterans

Sharlene Organ, MA, LLPC, CBSP, ADAC & Claudette Stork-Reid, OTL, FAOTA

Sharlene Organ is a Business Relations Consultant with the Business Network Division. Her professional interests focus on serving Military Veterans, underserved populations, and people with disabilities. Her current projects include building community partner relationships with MRS, businesses and customers to create equal opportunity in workforce development for all. Sharlene has her master’s degree in Counseling Education/Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University and is a Certified Business Solutions Professional (CBSP) and Certified ADA Coordinator (ADAC).

Claudette Stork Reid is the Assistive Technology (AT) Consultant for MRS through the Business Network Division (BND). As an Occupational Therapist with BND for 24 years, her professional interests focused on the use of assistive technology for vocational accommodations as well as ergonomics and organization skills development. In her new AT Consultant position she will be supporting the use of assistive technology by client and business customers through case consultation, training, and collaboration with the Michigan Assistive Technology Program (MATP) through the Disability Rights Coalition. She was awarded the Michigan OT Association Fellow in 1998 was recognized as a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association in 2022. She has served her community as an elected councilmember in the city of Portage for 16 years, sitting on many local and county-wide boards and committees. Claudette earned a Bachelor of Science in occupational therapy from Wayne State University.

Veterans First: Pioneering Efforts to Support Aging and Disabled Homeless Heroes

Melissa Flowers, MS, OTR/L, CLT

Melissa Flowers holds a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University and has been practicing in the field of geriatrics for 20+ years; working in both the private and government sectors. During her years with the VA, she has provided leadership in outpatient/inpatient therapy clinics, home health, telehealth, inpatient mental health and long-term care. Currently Melissa serves as the VISN 10 HUD-VASH Geriatric Specialist supporting the homeless programs in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.