2025 Annual Conference Speakers
Xenia Larin Andrzejewski, P.T.
Mrs. Xenia Larin Andrzejewski holds a master’s in physical therapy from Florida International University and has a diverse clinical background, with over 15 years of experience as a Physical Therapist and Rehab Professional. Highlights of her career include working with U.S Armed Forces and Military Families providing concussion and vestibular care and being part of the team that established the 1st traumatic brain injury clinic in an overseas medical treatment facility for U.S forces in Germany. Additionally, she has worked with weekend warriors, elite athletes, pediatric and geriatric populations in outpatient clinics and Sports Rehab. Mrs. Larin Andrzejewski has also worked in different settings to include Skilled Nursing, Home Health, and School-based physical therapy providing rehab services and expertise to multidisciplinary teams. She has recently been providing telehealth Physical therapy being at the forefront of recent world, business, and rehab trends in offering digital and telehealth services to vulnerable populations. Mrs. Larin Andrzejewski has been a virtual speaker with NORA for the last 2 years and is looking forward to her in-person debut with her brilliant teammates.
Mychal Beebe, DC, DCCJP
Mychal Beebe BS, DC, DCCJP is in private practice in Portsmouth NH, she has served in various roles on the ICA's Council on Upper Cervical Care since 2015. in 2019 Dr. Beebe's clinic received the ICA-CUCC's "Innate Clinic Award"; and in 2020 the Clinic was awarded "Best of the Seacoast" locally. Dr. Beebe is instructor certified in the Blair Upper Cervical technique, she received Blair Chiropractor of the Year in 2019 and is currently the Director of Research for the board of the Blair Society.
Shirley Blanc, OD, FNORA
Shirley Blanc, OD, FNORA is an Advisory Member to the Board of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities because of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
Dr. Blanc graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 2001 and became a fellow of the NORA in 2019. She dedicates most of her practice to assessing and treating patients with visual problems due to acquired and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Blanc has conducted many speaking engagements on the topic of vision and concussion for organizations including Brain Injury Canada, Sports Physiotherapists of Canada, the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and the University of Toronto. She is an Advisory Board Member and course lecturer for Complete Concussion Management Inc. She served as Conference Chair for NORA in 2019, and has contributed to NORA website educational content for patients and professionals. Her literature review article about visual dysfunction from whiplash injury was published in a peer reviewed Optometry journal, Optometry & Visual Performance. She is currently an external vision consultant and a co-investigator with the University of Toronto David L. Macintosh Sports Medicine Clinic, looking at various visual manifestations of sport related concussion. She has provided vision rehabilitation as well as vision performance services for athletes at all levels, including varsity, Olympic, and professional.
Kathryn Coleman, OTR/L
Kathryn Coleman, OTR/Lis 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 to achieve the best possible outcomes for the individuals she serves on a daily basis.
Kathryn Collins, OD
Kathryn Collins, OD is an Advisory Board Member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities because of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
Dr. Collins is in private practice in Lititz, PA. The practice offers comprehensive examinations for adults and children, contact lenses, treatment of ocular disease, and dry eyes. She opened the practice in 2001.
In 2013 Dr. Collins trained at the Visual Institute of Medicine with Dr. Debby Feinburg in Michigan to become a neurovision rehabilitation specialist. At that time, she opened Neurovision Rehabilitation Center of PA adjacent to her primary care office. She has a special interest in treating patients with concussions, dizziness, vestibular issues, and migraines. She works with several multidisciplinary concussion centers in Lancaster County and the greater Philadelphia area.
Dr. Collins obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware in 1988 and her Doctor of Optometry degree at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 1993. She is a member of NORA, and a certified brain injury specialist.
DeAnn Fitzgerald, OD
DeAnn Fitzgerald, O.D. is Immediate Past President of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities because of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
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.
Dr. Fitzgerald has a special interest in sports vision performance and concussion. She attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa where she played softball and basketball. At Pacific University, she went to the NCAA softball nationals two years in a row. She taught pitching and batting clinics and was umpire in chief of softball tournaments for high school students. Dr. Fitzgerald also played semi-professional softball in the 1980’s.
She has helped facilitate over 17,000 baseline testings for concussion in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding communities. Active Evolution Studio utilizes their Sports Vision Performance protocol to train the area amateur and professional teams in hockey, basketball, arena football, and soccer. Working with Metro Youth Football, which has 1,400 young people playing football annually, Dr. Fitzgerald has helped implement a baseline screening protocol with nearly 100% athlete participation. Her pre-season baseline and post-concussion care protocol has attracted attention from the National Football League.
Dr. Fitzgerald has lectured nationally about neurorehabilitation and concussion. She is CIC certified in ImPACT, which is a web-based product used in concussion management.
Dr. Fitzgerald is a member of American Optometric Association (AOA), Iowa Optometric Association (IOA), College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF), and International Association of Functional Neurology and Rehabilitation (IAFNR).
Gary LaTour, PT
Gary LaTour, PT is a Clinical Specialist treating patients with neurological disorders. He is vestibular certified and, for 27 years, has worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a hospital-based outpatient clinic. Gary earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from New York University in 1998.
Denise Helle, CPOC
Denise Helle, CPOC has over 20 years of billing and coding experience. She worked as a respiratory therapist for 15 years and was trained as a biller/coder. She 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.
David Katz, MSOT, OTR/L, CBIS
David Katz, MSOT, OTR/L, CBIS is an Advisory Member to the Board of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients living with physical and/or cognitive disabilities because of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation, visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life. He is the leader of program development for vision rehabilitation throughout a hospital-based outpatient system, inspiring evidenced-based practice. He is the elected point person and considered an expert in vision rehabilitation in the division of outpatient services. He focuses on establishing strong, interdisciplinary teams of professionals across several disciplines to provide customized, patient-centered care. His passions include educating his colleagues regarding executing vision screens as well as implementing Occupational Therapy interventions for patients with visual deficits from a neurological injury.
Dave earned his bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral sciences as well as his Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at Seton Hall University. He is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.
Gina Kim, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, CSRS
Gina Kim, MOT, OTR/L, CBIS, CSRS is an Advisory Member to the Board of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities because of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life. She has lectured at universities and conferences to highlight occupational therapy services, motor recovery, neurological rehabilitation, and neuro vision rehab both on national and international levels. She has spearheaded a nationwide Hospital-Based Interest Group for Neuro Vision Rehabilitation (HBIG-NVR), with support from Johns Hopkins Hospital, NORA, numerous clinicians and researchers. The HBIG-NVR aims to elevate interdisciplinary collaboration between optometrists and allied health professionals to harmonize clinical frameworks that are patient-centered, efficacious, and research-driven.
Gina is the Neuro Occupational Therapist, Clinical Specialist for outpatient services at Johns Hopkins Hospital's Sheikh Khalifa Stroke Institute, an outpatient rehabilitation program located in Baltimore, Maryland. She previously served as the Lead Therapist/Occupational therapist at the Centre for Neuro Skills, a post-acute brain injury clinic in Encino, CA. Gina received her BS in Microbiology from San Diego State University and earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist.
Russha Montag Knauer, MS
Russha Knauer is the Director of the MINDSOURCE Brain Injury Network, the State of Colorado’s lead state agency on brain injury. Housed within the Colorado Department of Human Services, MINDSOURCE serves several functions with the overall aim of improving the care for people living with brain injuries. Russha came into this work after serving for over 20 years in various roles across the juvenile justice and criminal legal systems. This work gradually highlighted how unidentified brain injuries can interfere in successful behavior change and community transition for people involved in the criminal legal system. Eventually, the paths of Russha’s past and current careers began to converge. As an analyst within the Division of Probation Services in the Colorado State Court Administrator’s Office, Russha joined a cross-agency team of professionals to study the prevalence of brain injuries across the spectrum of juvenile justice and criminal legal system settings. This team identified and created tools effective for identifying lifetime history of brain injury and current symptoms, simple compensatory strategies, and ongoing group support. This set of tools is now known as the Online Brain Injury Screening & Support System (OBISSS) and Colorado Brain Injury Model. The latter model is used in more than 14 states and internationally.
In addition to Russha’s experience with brain injury and the criminal legal system, she has an extensive background working with and using implementation science to reinforce change in practice and is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT).
Cheryl Letheren, B.Sc. OD FAAO
Dr. Cheryl Letheren is an Advisory Board Member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), a group dedicated to improving the lives of patients with brain injuries through comprehensive ocular evaluations and visual rehabilitation.
Dr. Letheren earned a degree in physiology from the University of Western Ontario (1987) and her Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo (1991), with clinical training at Salus University. She has practiced in London, Ontario since 1991 and became a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry in 1996. She has also completed the Clinical Investigator Certificate (2021) and the Flom Leadership Program (2022).
A pioneer in hospital-based brain injury care, Dr. Letheren helped form Canada’s first multidisciplinary rehab team and has spent 18 years on staff at Parkwood Hospital. She consults on concussion and chronic visual conditions in both hospital and private practice, serving patients with developmental delays, learning disabilities, and head injuries. Her practice includes binocular vision therapy, specialty contact lenses, myopia control, and ocular disease management. She has lectured internationally and is completing two Fellowships, a Psychology degree at Western, and has completed the Vision Therapy Canada and Optometric Extension Program curricula. Dr. Letheren previously served on the Ontario Association of Optometrists board and continues committee and mentorship work with optometry students and professional organizations.
Chula Lerdvoratavee, OD Chula Lerdvoratavee, OD
Chula received her Doctor of Optometry Degree in 1985 from the Illinois College of Optometry. She and Dr. Weingart opened Scott Eye Care in 1991. Dr. Chula is a member of the American Optometric Association (AOA), the Illinois Optometric Association (IOA), and the Illinois chapter of Volunteer Optometric Service for Humanity (IL-VOSH). She volunteers her time through VOSH, providing free eye care and eyewear to patients in the most needy areas of the world. Domestically, Dr. Chula volunteers at local homeless shelters and in the Aurora School District, donating eye exams to the underprivileged. In addition to her passion for charity work, Chula is passionate about Developmental Vision Therapy.
Doug Major, OD, CCHP
Dr. Doug Major is a neuro-optometrist who practices at the San Luis Obispo County Jail. He has provided vision care in federal, state, and county correctional facilities for adults and at-risk youth and has been involved in research at multiple sites. Dr. Major has presented at numerous international meetings. He was the national co-chairman for the College of Optometry's Visual Development Juvenile Delinquency Committee and is a group leader volunteer at the Atascadero State Mental Hospital. He also founded the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association's Justice Treatment Committee and is involved with the local NAMI chapter.
Anadi Martel, MSc
Anadi Martel is a physicist working in novel ways with sound, light, and brainwaves. His Spatial Sound Processors have been used worldwide by professionals in psychoacoustics, multimedia and cinema. His work has led to patents in the field of Light Modulation, and recently in LED-based design. He is the developer of the multisensorial Sensora system, combining audio, visual and kinesthetic stimulation to produce a profound integrative experience, effective as a therapeutic support in numerous clinical applications. During seven years up to 2018, Anadi Martel was president of the International Light Association (ILA), a non-profit group of researchers exploring the therapeutic applications of light. He is the author of “Light Therapies – A complete guide to the healing power of light” (Healing Arts Press).
Cedrick Noel, DC, DACNB
Dr. Cedrick Noel is co-owner and founder of NeurdSolutions, a company that provides clinical tools and education to clinicians involved with neuro rehabilitation. He has been in active practice since 2002 and specializes in Chiropractic Neurology. In 2022 he co-founded a multidisciplinary clinic in Roswell GA called Brain & Body Rehabilitation Specialists. Dr Noel is certified with the American Chiropractic Neurology Board and obtained a Fellowship of the American Board of Childhood Development.
William V. Padula, OD, SFNAP, FAAO, FNORA
Dr. Padula, who practices in Guilford, Conn., is the founding president of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) and the founding chairman of the Low Vision Section for the American Optometric Association. 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 has lectured and consults internationally. He has received the Distinguished Medal of Science Award from the National Academy of Practices(NAP). Dr. Padula is the recipient of the President's Award and the Distinguished Science and Research award from the NORA. He has been awarded 12 US Patents. Dr. Padula also has authored numerous publications including three books.
Amy Pruszenski, OD, FCOVD
Amy Pruszenski, OD, FCOVD graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Brain and Cognitive Science. She graduated from the New England College of Optometry in 1993. She has been providing help for brain injury patients for the past 19 years, collaborating with other health care providers to ensure a coordinated approach to rehabilitation. She practices in private clinical settings at Harbor Eyecare Center and Visual Victory Training in Portsmouth, NH.
For the past few years, Dr. Pruszenski has been a featured speaker for the Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics, Maine Osteopathic Association, Maine Brain Injury Association, Vermont Brain Injury Association, the New Hampshire Brain Injury Association and the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Concussion Symposium. Topics include “Post Traumatic Vision Syndrome: Managing Double Vision, Field Deficits and Dizziness;” and, “Visual Rehabilitation: A Missing Link to Recovery.”
Cyrus Raji, MD, PhD
Raji graduated with a medical degree and doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, followed by a transitional internship at UPMC Mercy Hospital. Subsequently, he pursued a diagnostic radiology residency at UCLA, where he was awarded the RSNA Roentgen Resident Research award. Raji later completed a two-year neuroradiology fellowship at UCSF including a NIH T32 Program funded year on connectome imaging of traumatic brain imaging research. For this work, Raji was recognized by the Society of Pediatric Radiology for the Best Basic Science Paper in the journal Pediatric Radiology and received the faculty level ASNR Boerger Research Grant for Alzheimer's Disease. Upon joining the faculty at MIR, he obtained the RSNA Research Scholar Grant and was a KL2 Career Development Award Scholar. Raji is currently advancing his brain health research with a $2.3 million dollar NIH R01 grant to study neuroinflammation in midlife obesity.
Charlie Saccarelli, President
Charlie Saccarelli is president of Chadwick Optical and is obsessed with helping ophthalmic professionals exceed the standard of care for their patients.
He is a master optician has lectured and led workshops internationally on homonymous hemianopsia, low vision and opticianry. He has been a material contributor to optometry and ophthalmology textbooks as well as vision research journals. In 2019, he was nominated for International Optician of the Year.
Charles Shidlofsky, O.D., FCOVD
Charles Shidlofsky, O.D., FCOVD is Vice President of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), an inter-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing patients who have physical or cognitive disabilities as a result of an acquired brain injury with a complete ocular health evaluation and optimum visual rehabilitation education and services to improve their quality of life.
Dr. Shidlofsky is Clinical Director of Neuro-Vision Associates of North Texas, a specialty clinic serving children and adults with neurological vision issues. He is a member of the medical staff at Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation-Frisco, Dallas and Ft. Worth.
Dr. Shidlofsky also serves as a consultant for several Texas-based rehabilitation centers, including the Centre for Neuro Skills and Pate Rehabilitation. He is residency director for a private practice residency in vision rehabilitation through Southern College of Optometry. He is also the team vision consultant for the Dallas Stars (NHL), Allen Americans (ECHL) and FC Dallas (MSL). In addition, he is Immediate President of the International Sports Vision Association (ISVA).
Cathy Stern, OD, FCOVD, FCSO, FNORA
Dr. Cathy Stern, OD, FOVDR, FCSO, FNORA is a behavioral and neuro optometrist in the Boston area. She is retired from her private practice and as the optometrist for Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. Her practice was devoted solely to vision therapy and vision rehabilitation. Dr. Stern is currently chair of the International Committee for the Neuro Optometric Rehabilitation Association and a member of their Fellowship Committee, Research director and Trustee of the College of Syntonic Optometry (CSO), and Facilitator of the monthly Chat VT study group of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEP). She is a recipient of the CSO Charles Butts award and the OEP Skeffington-Alexander Award for her significant contributions to behavioral optometry and vision therapy. Dr. Stern.teaches optometrists worldwide and is passionate about vision therapy, vision rehabilitation, optometric phototherapy, sports vision and the use of assistive technology. Dr. Stern believes the eyes and vision are key players in prevention, enhancement, and rehabilitation for lifelong success.
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.
Dr. Lernik Torossian, OD
Dr. Lernik Torossian(formerly Lernik Mesropian) earned her Doctor of Optometry degree and graduated with honors in research from the University of California, Berkeley. She has trained at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute&'s pediatric clinic in Florida, served US Air Force members at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, and cared for veterans at the Portland Veterans Affair Hospital. She completed a residency in Pediatric Optometry and Vision Therapy, where she focused on examinations and long-term care of patients in the areas of Sports Vision, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Binocular Vision. Dr. Torossian has actively conducted research from her early undergraduate years at UC San Diego (cancer biology research), to her years at Berkeley (diabetic eye disease), to well into her residency training (pediatric eye disease research. She joins the USC Gayle and Edward Roski Eye Institute's list of prestigious Faculty as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology to further pursue advancements in patient care, teaching, and research. Prior to her arrival to USC, she provided a high level of patient care to individuals from all walks of life in a large private practice, while caring for a pediatric population within her own practice. Dr. Torossian has been recognized nationally with several leadership, service, and clinical honors, and is an active Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. She has been elected and currently serves in leadership roles within various local and national organizations to help ensure the best for those in her community and beyond.
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 co-founder of the vision clinics at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and the JFK / Johnson Rehabilitation Institute – Edison, N.J. – and consultant at a number of hospitals and rehabilitation centers for patients with stroke, concussion and other traumatic brain injuries. He is a co-founder of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association. Dr. Vicci is a biannual guest lecturer for Seton Hall University Graduate Medical Education (1999-present) Dr. Vicci has been accepted as an expert in the field of Neuro- Optometric Rehabilitation in all New Jersey county courts as well as out of state appointments.
J.Kent Werner, Jr., MD PhD
J. Kent Werner, Jr., MD PhD, is a physician-scientist in the Navy Medical Corps serving as Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology and in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD. He is a neuroscientist who is board certified in sleep medicine and neurology. Clinically, he treats patients with sleep and related neurological disorders at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) while also serving as the Director of Research at the WRNMMC Sleep Disorders Center.
His research focuses on the impact of traumatic brain injury on sleep physiology and cognitive performance. He focuses on development of novel molecular, electrophysiological, magnetic resonance, and optical spectroscopy biomarkers of sleep and circadian function and aims to use these for the execution of targeted clinical trials for TBI related sleep disorders.
Upon entering the US Navy Medical Corps, he completed his medical degree, cellular and molecular neuroscience doctorate, and neurology residency at Johns Hopkins University under the mentorship of Dr. Solomon Snyder in the Department of Neuroscience, where he serves currently as Adjunct Faculty. Dr. Werner is also the co-founder of Cogentis Therapeutics, a small biotech developing a novel therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative disease.
Melissa Zarn, OD, FAAO
Melissa Zarn Urankar is an Assistant Professor of Optometry at Southern College of Optometry (SCO). She attained a BS in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Tech and an OD from Illinois College of Optometry. After completing residency training in Vision Therapy, Rehabilitation, and Pediatrics at Pacific University College of Optometry, she worked at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center where she helped to establish Optometry and Vision Therapy services in the multidisciplinary traumatic brain injury clinic.
Dr Zarn evaluates and manages patients with traumatic and acquired brain injuries (TBI/ABI) at the SCO clinics as well as at local rehabilitation hospitals. She has been a member of NORA since 2008 and is working toward her FNORA. She is the faculty advisor for SCO’s Student NORA Chapter and has coordinated the NORA poster session during the annual meeting since 2012. She has presented workshops on evaluating and managing TBI/ABI at the American Academy of Optometry meetings since 2015. At SCO, she is the Director of Interprofessional Education (IPE). She is the lead instructor for the Interprofessional Education series and is engaged in curriculum development to enhance IPE and collaborative practice opportunities for students at SCO.
Through this work she has helped create a network of health professions educators in the Memphis, TN area who are developing unique opportunities in health professions education. She is a member and founding Chair of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) IPE and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) Special Interest Group, Co-Chair of Tennessee Interprofessional Practice and Education Consortium’s (TIPEC’s) Membership and Communications Working Group, and previous Co-Chair of the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative Program Committee’s Mentoring Program Workgroup.
Dr. Vittorio Mena
Dr. Vittorio Mena is the sports vision director at Optical Academy in Clifton, NJ. He graduated from Seton Hall University with both a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Microbiology. He received his professional degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in 2014. Dr. Mena is on the board of directors for his state association NJSOP. In 2019, he was awarded as the NJ Young Optometrist of the year.
Edie E. Zusman, MD, MBA, FAANS
Dr. Zusman is a nationally respected trauma neurosurgeon and Medical Director of Neuroscience Partners. She is known for her clinical research on brain injury resulting from unrecognized concussions and multiple concussions including child abuse, sexual assault, trauma/accidents, military service and law enforcement. Previously, Dr. Zusman served as Chief of Neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic Network Affiliate, NorthBay in Solano County where she led the Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Clinic. Dr. Zusman has been invited to present her research at national and international meetings. She founded Safe Living Space, an educational philanthropy to address the incredible gaps in brain injury evaluation and care.