2020 Annual Conference Speakers
Tina Dang Aldana, MA, OD, FAAO
Dr. Tina Dang Aldana received her Doctor of Optometry degree from Southern California College of Optometry and completed an Ocular Disease Residency training at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Aldana currently serves as the Neuro-Optometrist for the US Army, Regional Health Command Europe, at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. As a member of the interdisciplinary team at the Traumatic Brain Injury and Rehabilitation Clinic, Dr. Aldana has the privilege of providing optometric care and vision rehabilitation to Service Members and their family members of all ages who have suffered a TBI. She also acts as a consultant, internationally, providing educational lectures to healthcare providers on the topic of TBI, vision rehabilitation and neuroplasticity.
Tracy Ammann, OD
Dr. Ammann is a 1993 graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry. During her first year of optometry school, she received a Health Professions Scholarship from the Army, part of a program that offers prospective military physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, optometrists, psychologists, pharmacists, and veterinarians a paid medical education in exchange for service as a commissioned medical department officer.
Upon graduation, Dr. Ammann began her service in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, with the 1st Armored Division. Her service took her to Bosnia, with Operation Joint Endeavor and then to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. She was in private practice in Riverton, Wyoming for 15 years before taking the Neuro-Optometry position at the Intrepid Spirit at Fort Campbell in 2014.
Dr. Ammann has been practicing neuro-optometric rehabilitation for 14 years. She has served as an Advisory Board member for NORA and has spoken about occupational therapy and physical therapy practices, an numerous meetings throughout the years.
Marsha Benshir, OD, FNORA
Dr. Marsha Benshir’s interest in vision and learning came from her early experience in special education. She is a neuro-optometrist with a private practice in New Market, Maryland. She is on staff at Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital in Rockville, Maryland, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC, and Western Maryland Hospital Center in Hagerstown, Maryland, providing diagnostic evaluations and prescribing treatment programs for vision disorders related to stroke, brain injury and neuro-degenerative disorders.
Dr. Benshir has consulted with the audiology department at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Institute for Disabilities Research and Training, Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, and Ivymount School. She is a Fellow of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. In addition to her office and hospital practices, she provides pro-bono services for wounded warriors, teaches doctors and therapists about vision rehabilitation, and develops new therapy procedures.
Janet Berthiaume, OTR/L, CDRS, FNORA
Janet Berthiaume received her degree in Occupational Therapy from Eastern Michigan University in 1990. Specialties include Vision and Driver Rehabilitation. She received the “Advancement of Sciences” Award from the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, International (NORA) as team member of the Beaumont Eye Institute in 1997; obtained certification as a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) from ADED in 1999; received the “President’s Award” from NORA in 2005; named one of “Therapy Times’ 25 Most Influential” of 2006; and was awarded Fellowship in NORA in 2007. She has lectured on Vision Rehabilitation and Driving, Low Vision / Telescopic Driving, Elderly Driving and Fall Prevention. She served on the NORA Advisory Council from 2002-2004 and on the NORA Executive Board as Secretary / Treasurer until 2012.
Brandon Brock DNP, DC, NP-C, APRN, DACNB
Dr. Brandon Brock is a practitioner in Dallas, Texas who holds a Doctorate in Family Nursing Practice from Duke University, and a Doctorate in Chiropractic. He has a Diplomate in Functional Neurology, Nutrition, Conventional Medicine, and Integrated Medicine as well. He holds Fellowship status in Childhood Disorders, Neurology, Electro-diagnostic Medicine, and Neurochemistry, and is a Global Clinical Research Scholar from Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Brock has been named Neurology Instructor of the Year five times by various organizations, received the Living Legacy Award from Samford University, and was Duke University's Spotlight Student of the Month. He works as a clinician at Foundation Physicians Group and is owner and operator of Brock Integrative Medicine in Dallas. He is a clinical educator for Functional Neurology Seminars as well as BTB Health Systems and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for Xymogen Nutrition.
Dr. Brock recently earned his Stem Cell Fellowship from The American Academy of Anti-Aging and Medicine (A4M) and is currently a part of Duke’s Orthopedic Residency.
Kathryn Coleman, OTR/L
Katy Coleman is a Neuro-IFRAH certified Occupational Therapist at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Memphis Tennessee. She received a BFA in Dance from The University of Memphis and a Master of Occupational Therapy from Texas Women’s University in Dallas Texas. At Encompass Health, Katy works as a preceptor to OT staff and host to OT and SCO students. Katy is fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with Southern College of Optometry in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for the individuals she serves on a daily basis.
Michael S. Cooper, OD
Michael S. Cooper, OD is an Optometrist and Director of Innovation and Research at Solinsky EyeCare in West Hartford, CT. He specializes in anterior segment disease treating a variety of conditions including dry eye and lid diseases, allergy, and uveitis. He has produced research, participated on expert ocular surface disease round tables, and lectured domestically on topics such as corneal disease states, uveitis management, Lyme disease, emerging pathogens, sports-related eye injuries in children, and AMD pedigree relationships. Dr. Cooper is published in journals such as Review of Optometry, Modern Optometry, Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today, Clinical Ophthalmology, Optometry Times, Primary Care Optometry News, and Optometric Management. Additionally, he has collaborated with CollaborativeEYE and EyetubeOD on a variety of digital media segments including “Managing the Surgical Patient” and “Hot Topics”. He is actively involved in global clinical studies for novel anti-infective therapeutics, evaluating the efficacy of meibomian gland treatment modalities, ocular surface diagnostic validation, and AMD genetic research. Recently, he has been awarded a federal grant to evaluate Diabetes care efficiency across a multispecialty environment in a community health center setting.
Brandon Crawford, DC
Dr. Brandon Crawford is currently licensed to practice Chiropractic in the USA in the state of Texas and in Dubai Healthcare City in the UAE. He maintains an active practice in Austin, TX where he sees various types of patients seeking to restore their health. A large part of Dr. Crawford’s practice is focused on helping families who seek help for neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, OCD and similar issues. His practice also sees a large amount of chronic pain and other neurological issues.
Dr. Crawford is considered an expert in the field of photobiomodulation and lectures around the world discussing research and practical application of light and laser therapy on the brain and body to improve health. He has Co-founded ShedLight LLC; a company that distributes therapy lasers to clinicians and teaches them on proper use and implementation of the laser. He also serves on the medical advisory board for SNA Technologies, maker of the Neurosage software. He also launched his own seminar series for the general public called Balanced. This series focuses on the use of functional neurology, laser therapy, and holistic healing strategies to maintain health and wellness.
Deborah Ellsworth, MS, OTR/L
Deborah Ellsworth MS, OTR/L is an Advisory Member to the Board of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. Deborah has been working as an occupational therapist since graduating from Colorado State University in 1992 and has spent her career working in acute and outpatient rehabilitation with clients with neurological conditions including stroke, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and parkinson's. She currently works at Sagewest Healthcare in Lander, Wyoming. Deborah is advanced trained in stroke rehabilitation with focus on reacquisition of movement throughout the body. Her training in Neuro-Integrative Functional Rehabilitation and Habilitation (Neuro-IFRAH®), NORA, Neural and Visceral Manipulation ( Barral Institute) has aided her in her passion to assist patients in recovery from diplopia hemianopsia.
DeAnn Fitzgerald, O.D.
DeAnn Fitzgerald, O.D. is Vice President of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. Dr. Fitzgerald has been providing eye care to eastern Iowa since graduating from Pacific University School of Optometry in 1984. She runs a busy primary care clinic where she diagnoses and treats ocular disease and evaluates patients with brain injury. In 2007, she opened a multi-disciplinary clinic, Cedar Rapids Vision in Motion, which provides low vision services and vision skills rehabilitation, with an emphasis on vestibular and visual skills. She recently launched her sports vision and concussion clinic, Active Evolution Studio.
She has helped facilitate over 17,000 baseline testings for concussion in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities and has lectured nationally about neuro-rehabilitation and concussion. She is CIC certified in ImPACT, which is a web-based product used in concussion management.
Robert S. Fox, OD, FCOVD, FCSO
Robert S. Fox, O.D., F.C.O.V.D., holds a B.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Doctor of Optometry degree from the SUNY-State College of Optometry. He completed a residency in Rehabilitative Optometry at the Northport V.A. Medical Center in 1986. A Fellow of the College of Optometry in Vision Development, Dr. Fox’s practice in Latham, NY, is limited to developmental and rehabilitative optometry. Dr. Fox is the current President of the College of Syntonic Optometry. Other positions he has held include chair of the COVD International Examination and Certifications Board, and COVD New York State Coordinator. He is a Clinical Associate of the Optometric Extension Program (OEP) and is program director for the Eastern States Optometric Congress. Dr. Fox has served on the professional advisory committee of the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS).
Lisa Brady Grant, DC
Dr. Lisa Brady Grant earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College in 1982. She maintains a thriving private practice in Jackson Hole WY. She is a senior faculty member for the Barral Institute, an International organization which offer seminars based on the pioneering work of French Osteopath Jean-Pierre Barral DO, RPT.
Dr. Grant has earned certified teaching status for Visceral Manipulation, Neural Manipulation, Viscero-vascular Manipulation and Manual Articular Manipulation. She has taught seminars all over the world for the last 18 years. She is a Diplomate Examiner for both Neural and Visceral manipulation and has received special recognition for her development of the visceral curriculum.
With her varied skills and talents Dr Grant is sought after as a clinician and a teacher for a broad range of conditions. She has a keen interest in brain trauma and its many hidden effects. Her passion in sharing this work is to offer practitioners an alternate paradigm when approaching patients. Dr. Barral has called Dr. Grant the bridge connecting his teachings between Europe and the United States.
H. Esther Han, OD, FCOVD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, Associate Clinical Professor
Dr. M.H. Esther Han specializes in neuro-optometric rehabilitation. She is a full-time Associate Clinical Professor at the SUNY College of Optometry and the Residency Program Supervisor for the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Residency.
Dr. Han received her Bachelor of Arts in Neurobiology and Behavior from Cornell University in 1995. She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the SUNY College of Optometry in 2001 and subsequently completed a Residency in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation at the SUNY College of Optometry in 2002. Dr. Han has been a member of the COVD International Exam and Certification Board (IECB) since 2014 and a board member for the Eastern States Optometric Congress (ESOC) since 2013.
Dr. Han is well-published in the areas of vision therapy and neuro-optometric rehabilitation. She has lectured domestically and internationally in China and Italy in the area of Acquired Brain Injury and also in the area of Vision Therapy.
Denise Helle, CPOC
Denise Helle, CPOC (AOA credentialed) has over 20 years of billing and coding experience. She worked as a respiratory therapist for 15 years at the University of Iowa as a pediatric specialist. She then worked for 5 years at a rehabilitation billing company, worked for a major insurance company, and now works for Dr. DeAnn Fitzgerald managing vision and medical billing claims. Denise has taught billing and coding seminars at the past four NORA meetings.
Hans F. Lessmann, OD, FCOVD, FCSO
Hans F. Lessmann, OD, FCOVD, FCSO practices in Pittsburgh as director of the Vision Development Institute, P.C. Since 1992 he has specialized in vision therapy following the footsteps of the late Dr. Harry Wachs who was a pioneer in vision development. Dr. Lessmann has recently served as President of the College of Syntonic Optometry, completing his three year term in 2019. He integrated syntonics into his practice in 2006 and became a fellow in 2009.
Michael Longyear, DC, DACNB, CCSP
Dr. Michael Longyear is the director of Chiropractic Neurology at the NeuroLIFE Institute with Life University as well as the Brain Optimization in Jacksonville Florida. A graduate of Parker University in Dallas, Texas he has dedicated his professional life to researching and learning all he can about the brain and nervous system and to develop non-invasive ways to treat conditions associated with it. His passion lies in treating neurodevelopmental disorders as well as neuropsychological and sport related injuries. In their spare time, he and his wife, Meaghan, donate their time and efforts with multiple pet organizations as well seniors and homeless shelters. Having fought back from a month of paralysis, Dr. Longyear never accepted his new normal of being confined to a wheel chair and doesn’t believe that other patients should ever except their new normal either. There is always improvement that can be made if you put in the work.
Nancy Mackowsky, OD, FCOVD, FNORA
Dr. Nancy Mackowsky is the founder/owner of The Mackowsky Visual Learning and Rehabilitation Clinic in Raleigh, NC. She is a fellow of both the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and NORA. Dr. Mackowsky’s most recent publication, “The Role of Gait Analysis, Egocenter and Yoked Prism in Parkinson's Disease” can be found in the April 2018 edition of the Optometry & Visual Performance journal. Dr. Mackowsky has served on the COVD International Certification and Examination Board and is currently a member of the NORA Fellowship Committee. She enjoys lecturing to many area groups/hospitals about the specialty of neuro-optometric vision rehabilitation.
Shannon McGuire, BHSc (PT)
Shannon McGuire, BHSc (PT) is an Advisory Member to the Board of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. Shannon has been working as a physiotherapist since graduating from McMaster University in 1996 and has spent much of her career working in rehabilitation with clients with neurological injuries including acquired brain injury and spinal cord injury. She currently works at St. Joseph’s Health Care London –Parkwood Institute (London, Ontario) on the Outpatient Acquired Brain Injury Team. Shannon is also a Clinical Lecturer at University of Western Ontario’s School of Physical Therapy. She has lectured internationally, teaching health professionals about managing individuals with persistent symptoms after concussion.
Kacie Monroe, OD, FCOVD
Dr. Kacie Monroe is a graduate of Indiana University School of Optometry and is in private practice in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She has served as a part of the NORA Education committee for the past two years and has previously lectured at NORA and other regional conferences. In 2018, Dr. Monroe earned her fellowship from College of Optometrists in Vision Development. In private practice she provides vision care for the entire family with a special interest in pediatric optometry and vision rehabilitation.
Becky Moran, MSc (OT)
Becky Moran has been working as an Occupational Therapist since 2006, and is currently working in the Acquired Brain Injury Outpatient Department of Parkwood Institute in London, Ontario. Becky has OT experience in a variety of settings during her working career including: adult mental health, hand therapy, stroke rehabilitation, and brain injury; and is a recurrent guest lecturer at the Western University School of Occupational Therapy. She has developed clinical expertise in mild brain injury (mTBI)/concussion management. She has a passion for educating patients about pacing and planning activities in their day, and providing strategies for alternative ways to complete tasks to improve success.
Raquel Munitz-Goldfeder, MS
Raquel Munitz Goldfeder, graduated from the School of Psychology of the Faculty of Philosophy and Literature in 1969. She has dedicated herself to the study of visual perceptual processes and to the normal and abnormal development and its manifestation in functions. She holds certifications in: Instructor in the Adult Reading/Writing Method Laubach Method Sensory integration, Neurodevelopment treatment /Bobath Treatment of Infants, Infants and Adults and in early detection of Neurological Disorder through the observation of the activity Motorboat Espontanea del Bebe, Dr. Heinz Prechtl. She is currently working part-time to give informative conferences and to give training courses in the specialty of Neuro-Visual Postural Rehabilitation as an interdisciplinary approach.
William V. Padula, OD, SFNAP, FAAO, FNORA
Dr. Padula, who practices in Guilford, Conn., was the founding chairman of the Low Vision Section for the American Optometric Association and the founding president of NORA. Dr. Padula founded the first low vision clinic at the Zhongshan Eye Research Hospital in Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, which was named in his honor. He lectures and consults internationally in China, India, Italy, Mexico, etc., with programs regarding children’s vision related to learning and development, and adult vision problems related to stroke, TBI and other physical challenges. Dr. Padula also has authored numerous publications including three books.
Michael Steiner, PT
Michael Steiner is a Physical Therapist. He currently works clinically for Twin Cities Orthopedics in the Minnesota metro area and is the author of The Concussion Recovery Plan.
Michael graduated from the College of St. Scholastica with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2011. After graduating from St. Scholastica he started working for Northfield Hospital & Clinics in Northfield, MN. During this time, he helped to develop the Northfield Hospital & Clinics concussion program. In 2015, Dr. Steiner then began working for Twin Cities Orthopedics. Just as he did in Northfield, he has been working to help build a concussion program for Twin Cities Orthopedics and currently sits as a lead Physical Therapist for this program.
In 2015 Dr. Steiner received a certification in vestibular rehabilitation from the American Institute of Balance and became a credentialed clinical instructor through the APTA. In 2016 he then received a certification in concussion rehabilitation also from the American Institute of Balance. In 2017 he completed the ImPACT trained Physical Therapist program and, in doing so, obtained the ImPACT trained Physical Therapist Credential.
In 2018, he started a Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Fellowship program through the Neuro- Optometric Rehabilitation Association where he hopes to continue to expand his knowledge base in the treatment of concussion related disorders.
Cathy Stern OD, FCSO, FCOVD, FNORA
Dr. Stern is a developmental and behavioral optometrist with specialized training in learning-related vision problems, vision rehabilitation, computer vision syndrome and sports vision training. She maintains a private practice in Canton, MA, limited to the diagnosis of developmental and behavioral vision problems and treatment of children and adults with vision therapy and vision rehabilitation.
Amy Thomas, OD, FCOVD
Amy Thomas has been working with brain injury patients for the past 15 years, since she was in the Army in Germany. She was fascinated by how differently the soldiers and airmen that were coming back from down range perceived vision. Since then she has been building her practice in Tucson Arizona. This practice is about half Vision Therapy and half Vision Rehabilitation. She has studied under the great minds at OEPF, PAVE-Sanet, COVD, NORA, the Mind-Eye Institute, College of Syntonics, Sensory Learning Institute; She is also studying with functional neurologists such as IAFNR, the Carrick Institute, Robert Melillo, and a local community called the Brain Bunch. She is here to discuss the patterns she has found throughout her studies and pearls that you can use when you get home to your practices.
Vincent R. Vicci, Jr. OD, DPNAP, FNORA
Dr. Vicci is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and is in private practice in Westfield, N.J. He is a cofounder of the vision clinic at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and on staff at a number of hospitals and rehabilitation centers for patients with stroke, concussion and other traumatic brain injuries. He is a cofounder of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. Dr. Vicci is an annual guest lecturer for Seton Hall University Graduate Medical Education (1999-present) and Kean University Graduate Program in Occupational Therapy (2010 – present). Dr. Vicci has been accepted as an expert in the field of Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation in all northern New Jersey county courts as well as out of state appointments.
Bridgett Wallace, PT, DPT
Bridgett Wallace, PT, DPT, has a doctorate of physical therapy and holds competency-based certifications in vestibular rehabilitation, ImPACT’s PT training program and 360 Neuro Health’s V2FIT training. She has been treating patients with dizziness and balance disorders for more than 20 years and is the founder of 360 Balance & Hearing (an outpatient clinic), co-founder of 360 Neuro Health (an educational company), and serves as Director of Vestibular Education for Bertec.
Dr. Wallace is also course director for the Certificate of Competency in Vestibular Rehabilitation (CCVR) course. She lectures internationally and has co-authored journal articles and book chapters related to vestibular assessment and treatment.
Susan Wenberg, MA, DC
Dr. Wenberg, a chiropractic physician, has been a NORA member for over 20 years. She has served on the NORA board as a member, speaker chair, and education committee co-chair.
Dr. Wenberg maintained a chiropractic practice in Tucson Arizona for over 20 years. In 2012 she closed her private practice to join the Veterans Administration. She now provides chiropractic and acupuncture to veterans in the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System.
Dr. Wenberg holds a masters degree in biology and a doctorate in chiropractic. She is certified in acupuncture and sports injury management, and is board eligible for both the Chiropractic Rehabilitation Diplomate and the Chiropractic Neurology Diplomate. Dr. Wenberg is certified as a Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) Practitioner. This training has provided her with the skill set to work with chronic pain patients and patients with neurological compromise. She has published on traumatic brain injury and interdisciplinary collaboration.