healthcare mentorship program

Esmé Krummel is a researcher with lived experience with cerebral palsy! She just started as a Senior Research Assistant at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore with Dr. Heather Riordan, focusing on CP and psychology research. She has also been involved recently with a number of projects through her connection with the Cerebral Palsy Research Network, including researching the use of Botulinum Toxin Injections with Dr. Rachel Thompson, researching how to create NCHPAD Connect resources for children with Dr. Mary Gannotti, and doing outreach work with NCHPAD to help more people with cerebral palsy learn about the MENTOR wellness course. Prior to this, Esmé completed an undergraduate research project at Wellesley College focused on social acceptance of cerebral palsy using Allport’s 1954 Intergroup Contact Hypothesis. Because of her dedication to research in college, she was nominated for the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society. Outside of research, you can also find Esmé making puns and watching musicals. She is very happy and excited to be part of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation’s 2026 Early Career Mentorship Program!

Natalie Musial is a second-year osteopathic medical student at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. With a strong interest in psychiatry, Natalie serves as the President of the Neurology, Psychiatry, and Behavioral Medicine Club and Vice President of the Student National Medical Association/First Generation club. As a medical student living with cerebral palsy, she is deeply committed to advocacy and improving healthcare outcomes for the disability community. Natalie is honored to join the 2026 Healthcare Mentorship Program to further her growth as a future physician, advocate, and peer mentor

Monica Mesecar is a post-baccalaureate research fellow at the National Institutes of Health committed to advancing disability inclusion in STEM and healthcare. As an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame, she founded a student organization for people with disabilities, and later participated in the American Association of People with Disabilities Summer Internship Program. In Fall 2026, Monica will begin a PhD program in neuroscience, where she hopes to investigate the genetic and biochemical mechanisms underlying neurological conditions. She is passionate about ensuring that people with disabilities are included not only as patients, but also as researchers, clinicians, and leaders

Perrigrine (Perri) Garner is a newly licensed Pharmacist (as of July 2025) in the State of Ohio. She had a pediatric stroke around the time of her birth and was officially diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy in her mid-20s. Perrigrine decided in her mid-30s to pursue her education in healthcare based on her own experiences as a person with physical disabilities, and to contribute to making healthcare more accessible for all. She is also married with three amazing daughters who keep her busy, and they enjoy hiking, outdoor activities, and traveling.

Kimberly Ortiz is a Public Health Professional and Disability Health Equity Advocate with Cerebral Palsy and lived experience navigating healthcare systems. She is a double alumna of Trinity Washington University, holding a B.A. in Medical Sociology and a Master of Public Health in Community Health. Kimberly works across public health, community engagement, and disability health equity initiatives. She is pursuing a Doctorate degree in Community Health at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, focusing on Health Systems Leadership. Kimberly is passionate about advancing disability-inclusive health systems through research, mentorship, and policy-informed practice, ensuring people with disabilities are represented in healthcare and policy.

Vanessa Hunt is an occupational therapy student whose passion for patient-centered care is deeply influenced by her own lived experience with cerebral palsy. After receiving treatment that significantly improved her quality of life, she became committed to helping others access the same opportunities for independence and participation. Vanessa is dedicated to empowering individuals to engage in meaningful occupations that enhance their daily lives and overall well-being. She actively contributes to the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Task Force, a multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together individuals with lived experience, clinicians, and researchers to strengthen the integration of patient perspectives in research and care.

Dr. Stuyvenberg received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1995. She received a Master of Arts in Developmental Disabilities from St. Mary’s University of Winona in 2001. Dr. Stuyvenberg completed a Certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health from the University of Minnesota in 2016. She received her Transitional Doctorate of Pediatric Physical Therapy in 2017 at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. Dr. Stuyvenberg is currently a PhD Candidate with a Major in Rehabilitation Science and a Minor in Child Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Her clinical appointments have primarily been in pediatric physical therapy settings with her most recent position as an Early Intervention physical therapist for Minneapolis Public Schools.

Kari Pederson is a researcher and clinical social worker who is passionate about research that improves health outcomes and solves everyday issues for children and adults living with cerebral palsy. As an early leader in the field of Family Engagement in Research (FER), a clinical transformational science that encourages stakeholders to become active, equitable partners in the research process, Kari is a strong advocate for lived experience and has supported the development of multiple FER programs. Her work has been presented at international conferences and the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, including a Top 10 award in 2024, as well as coauthoring publications in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology journals. After training as a developmental psychologist and receiving her Masters degree in Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Kari has been privileged to work with children, adults, and families in healthcare, education, and crisis intervention settings. As an adult living with cerebral palsy, Kari has been proud to be on research or program development teams at Gillette Children’s, Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF), Cerebral Palsy Research Network, and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF). She is thrilled to be part of the CPF Healthcare Mentorship Program.

Kristin Wietecha is a speech-language pathologist working for Community Health Network in Indiana. Kristin started working for Community Health Network in 2025. She currently specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, seeing children from infancy thru adolescence in a pediatric outpatient clinic. Kristin graduated with her Bachelor’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Ball State University in 2018, graduating from the Honors College and Summa Cum Laude. As a college student, she was an active member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, being the state of Indiana’s Speech-Language Pathology Student State Officer 2 years in a row. Wietecha also participated in the Initiative for Economic Empowerment and Employment with Eskenazi Health, an internship program designed for college students with physical disabilities. She graduated with her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology in 2020. Clinical placements during graduate school included, but were not limited to, a developmental preschool, assisted living facility and outpatient pediatric clinic After receiving her Master’s in 2020, Wietecha worked as a speech-language pathologist in an Indiana school corporation for 5 school years, working with children from age 2 thru 13 years old with a variety of disabilities. In 2023, Kristin completed a year-long advanced post-graduate program in pediatric dysphagia through New York Medical College Wietecha’s professional memberships include the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; International Association of Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing; and American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. Kristin’s hobbies include spending time with her mobility service dog, playing the piano, singing, and hanging out with her identical twin sister.

Justin Ramsey, M.D. is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is sub-specialty boarded in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine.

He graduated from the Kansas University School of Medicine.

He then completed his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation training at the Kansas University Medical Center and a fellowship program in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine at Children’s Mercy Hospital (Kansas City, MO).

Dr. Ramsey spent several years as faculty with the Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine fellowship program at Children’s Mercy Hospital and the Kansas University Medical Center Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency program.

He has served on multiple committees of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.

He serves as one of the cerebral palsy track editors for the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine. Currently, he works at a private pediatric rehabilitation hospital (Bethany Children’s Health Center) near Oklahoma City, which specializes in the care of children with disabilities.

He is married and has 2 children. Medical and disability education are some of his major subjects of interest.

Joline E. Brandenburg, M.D., is Chair of the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Director of the Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Brandenburg joined the staff of Mayo Clinic in 2008 and holds the academic rank of Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Associate Professor of Pediatrics. Dr. Brandenburg earned her B.S. in biology at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, and her M.D. at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. She completed her Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul. Dr. Brandenburg’s research interests center on understanding muscle and spinal motor neuron properties in disorders such as cerebral palsy. Her KL2 clinical research investigated muscle properties in children with cerebral palsy using of a novel ultrasound technology, ultrasound elastography. Her more recent work involves understanding the mechanisms and role of spinal motor neurons in cerebral palsy. She also serves as the Mayo Clinic Principal Investigator and Steering Committee Member for the Cerebral Palsy Research Network. In addition to her clinical and research activities, Dr. Brandenburg serves on multiple committees within Mayo Clinic including the Pediatric Hospital Practice Committee, Rehabilitation Unit Steering Committee, and Institutional Review Board. Dr. Brandenburg is a member of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Development Medicine (AACPDM) since 2008, treasurer 2021-2025, and is currently the 2nd Vice President. She previously served on the Research Committee (2012-2017), chair of the Research Committee (2015- 2016) and has been a Director at Large (2017-2020). She was the AACPDM Scientific Committee co-chair for the 2020 Annual Meeting (yes, during COVID). In addition, she led the Neuromotor Workgroup for the NINDS CP Common Data Elements (CDE) project, later serving on the NINDS CP CDE Oversight Committee, including as chair from 2020-2024. She is a member of the American Academy for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Association of Academic Physiatrists. She has been active in both organizations and currently serves on the AAPMR BOLD Steering Committee.

Timmy Lê, Ph.D. is a Biomedical Sciences graduate from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in Worcester, MA. His Ph.D. work investigated the underlying neural circuitry that is involved in binge alcohol drinking during adolescence and young adulthood. Prior to his appointment at UMass Chan, Timmy earned a B.S. in Biochemistry (cum laude) with a minor in Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America. During his time at CUA, Timmy discovered his passion for teaching and communicating science to non-scientists along with advocating for individuals facing healthcare disparities, as someone with CP he had a lot of personal experience with this. This passion led Timmy to spend a few years participating in various medical trips abroad (Haiti, Cambodia, and Vietnam) with various non-governmental organizations. One of these trips involved advocating for children with cerebral palsy through education and by sharing his life story with families and children living with cerebral palsy in Vietnam. During his time at the University of Hartford, Timmy earned numerous departmental, university, and state awards for his scientific work and community service. One of these awards was for developing various neuroscience outreach programs during “Brain Awareness Week.” This work is geared towards underrepresented middle school students. These past experiences have taught Timmy how to be an effective advocate and scientific communicator.

Dr. Heather Riordan is the medical director of the Phelps Center for Cerebral Palsy and Neurodevelopmental Medicine at Kennedy Krieger Institute and is an assistant professor of pediatric neurology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Her clinical interests include the diagnosis of neurogenetic disorders and treatment of spasticity and complex movement disorders, including dystonia and chorea. Dr. Riordan has expertise in botulinum toxin injection, baclofen pump management and deep brain stimulator management. Her hope is to help her patients more fully participate in the things that make them happy. After completing her undergraduate degree in Humanities, Dr. Riordan attended the University of Rochester School of Medicine where she graduated on the education track. She completed a residency in child neurology at Washington University in St. Louis. Her first faculty position was at Children’s Mercy at Kansas City after which she spent six years at Vanderbilt, where she gained additional experience in the management of pediatric movement disorders. During her time at Vanderbilt, Dr. Riordan directed the baclofen pump program, expanded access to neurolysis, co-founded a Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence, built a pediatric arm for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America Center of Excellence and gained additional training in deep brain stimulation. Dr. Riordan joined Kennedy Krieger in November 2022 as the medical director for the Phelps Center for Cerebral Palsy. Dr. Riordan’s research interests encompass understanding the pathology behind cerebral palsy and complex genetic movement disorders. She is particularly interested in improving constructs of care as well as mental health concerns in these populations.

As a licensed therapist who completed a research mentorship with the CP Foundation, Karina Carnall brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and academic insight to the healthcare advisory board. With a passion for supporting mentees and mentors, Karina is dedicated to providing guidance and assistance in navigating mental health projects and mentoring relationships. Drawing from her background in therapy, she aims to utilize evidence-based practices, empathy, and active listening to help mentees and mentors alike navigate challenges within their projects as well as to promote the professional development of mentees.

Dr. Gavin Colquitt is Executive Director of the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness (AppWell) and Professor in the Beaver College of Health Sciences at Appalachian State University. A national leader in disability health, Dr. Colquitt’s work centers on interdisciplinary, community-engaged models of care and wellness for children and adults with disabilities. He is a founding co-lead of the Growing Well Developmental Clinic, an integrated care model serving families in western North Carolina through early childhood screenings and coordinated support. Prior to joining App State, Dr. Colquitt served as Executive Director of the Center for Rehabilitation and Independent Living and Professor of Kinesiology at Georgia Southern University, where he launched numerous adaptive sport and recreation programs and directed NIH- and state-funded projects focused on inclusive health. He began his career as an adapted physical educator in public schools, grounding his work in the lived experiences of children with disabilities and their families. Dr. Colquitt is a Certified Adapted Physical Educator (CAPE), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and Fellow of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), where he has served on and chaired national committees. His translational research and leadership have led to over 80 conference presentations, 30 peer-reviewed publications, and multiple federally funded initiatives advancing equity in disability health across education, research, and clinical practice.

Vicki Singer, CPACC, is the Accessibility Coordinator in the Division of Public Health Sciences. In this role she uses her skills as a certified professional in accessibility for the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine. She has multiple years of experience in access, both in serving individuals who utilized direct care as well as consulting on accessibility, disability justice and more. She brings her lived experience of being disabled as well to help researchers and their teams understand their impact on participants and caregivers to better incorporate disabled people into research which has so often excluded them. Ms. Singer consults on accessible grant design, does document remediation, accessibility support for events and coordinates the Division’s broader efforts to impact both the University community and beyond with their commitment to access for all. Ms. Singer holds memberships in the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies from IAAP, and membership in APHA, serves on 4 sub-committees at WashU and also serves on an external advisory board for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation

Education: BSOT, Saint Louis University; MS Healthcare Administration, University of Texas at Arlington; PhD Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman’s University

Specialty Areas and Research Interests: Pediatrics; cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities; constraint induced movement therapy; promoting evidence based practice.

Jacqueline Searson is an occupational therapist with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Science from Ithaca College. She started her career as a clinical pediatric occupational therapist working with children of all ages, with a particular specialization in children from birth to seven years of age. Having cerebral palsy herself, she has a strong passion for empowering, educating, and uplifting disabled children so they can feel confident being themselves. Jacqueline worked as the Director of Fundraising for several years at Amazing Kids Clinic in California, where proceeds went toward covering copayments for underinsured children. Jacqueline was also the supervisor of two pediatric OT clinics, where she designed and implemented a small camp for children with disabilities, created quarterly educational webinars, and managed a volunteer and fieldwork program to introduce young students to occupational therapy. Jacqueline was a mentor for the EmpowHER Network, a year-long mentorship program for disabled girls led by disabled women. In the program, participants learned practical life and advocacy skills and developed projects to implement in their communities. At the end of the program, participants traveled to Washington, DC to learn how to advocate for disability rights. Through her work and lived experience, Jacqueline noticed a large gap when children with disabilities grow into adulthood. She now uses her understanding as a pediatric occupational therapist to help the adult population thrive.