"Allyship & Advocacy: An Interprofessional Dialogue on Disability"

Moderator: Laurel Daniels Abbruzzese, PT, EdD, FNAP

Dr. Abbruzzese is Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Director of the Performing Arts Fellowship Program, and an Associate Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine in the Programs in Physical Therapy at Columbia University. She is a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow in the National Academies of Practice, which advocates for interprofessional collaborative care and healthcare access. Dr. Abbruzzese has over thirty years of clinical experience and over 20 years as an educator. She is currently serving on the VP&S Disability Curriculum Taskforce. Dr. Abbruzzese also cares for a 26 y.o. daughter with Cri du Chat Syndrome. 

Rochelle Mendonca, PhD, OTR/L

Dr. Rochelle Mendonca is Assistant Professor and Director of Post-Professional Doctoral Programs in the Programs in Occupational Therapy /Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at Columbia University. Her clinical and research passions are around disability and technology. Her primary work over the past several years and funded research has included development and using technology to assess and promote accessibility in environments and products for individuals with a range of disabilities. She also teaches coursework in the Occupational Therapy program to train students in building low-cost adaptive devices for children and adults with disabilities to improve their function and participation.

Marc W. Michalowicz, DDS, MSc (michael-love-itch)

Dr. Michałowicz is an Assistant Professor of Dental Medicine at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, Section of Hospital Dentistry, and is the inaugural Director of Management of Vulnerable Populations. From 1987 to 2022, Dr. Michalowicz was based at Helen Hayes Hospital where he was chief of dental medicine, an attending in anesthesiology, and director of the General Practice Residency. His hospital-based practice focused solely on people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Sharon McLennon Wier, Ph.D., MSEd., CRC, LMHC 

Dr. McLennon Wier serves as Executive Director for the Center for Independence of the Disabled (CIDNY) and has worked in the field of disability, vocational rehabilitation, and mental health services for the last 25 years. Dr. McLennon Wier identifies as a blind, Black woman and wanted and believed in achieving career advancement. She has graduate training in vocational rehabilitation and doctoral training in counseling psychology. She has a world-view lens comprising a scientific-practitioner model of social justice/evidence-based practices in psychology.

Moderator: Dr. Rita Charon 

Jocelyn Cohen (BA/JD) 

Jocelyn Cohen earned her BA in Creative Writing/English from Emory University and her JD from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She is a writer and conversationalist who serves as Vice President of Programs and Operations at Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation. Since 2018, she has presented lectures and hosted Q&A sessions with health professionals and physical therapy students about cerebral palsy to improve treatment and understanding of people with this diverse disability.

Kaile Eison

Kaile Eison, DO, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, where she is the Director of HIV Rehabilitation and Global Health and Associate Medical Director of the CUIMC Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.

Samantha Sawade, PT, DPT is a Board Certified Pediatric Clinical Specialist and Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine (Physical Therapy) at CUIMC. 

As pediatric physical therapy clinician and teacher, she is committed to equity and justice for persons who experience disabilities, accessibility issues, and legal access to services for persons living with disabilities. She works closely with the Office of Disability Services at Columbia to assure access to services for all students.

Melissa Patterson (MD, MBA)                                 

In-Person                                                                                                                               

This workshop will bring together faculty from an interdisciplinary team with expertise in geriatric medicine and palliative care to raise awareness of the importance of planning and supporting patients, families, and their loved ones during difficult decision making at the end of life, particularly in patients with advanced dementia.

Natalie Navarro (MN Candidate), Valentina Ospina (Nursing Student), & Kristen Slesar (MS, DSW, LCSW,) 

 In-Person

This workshop will explore health disparities and trauma within immigrant communities, the impact of anti-immigrant policies, and strategies for better supporting immigrant patients.    

Ross Frommer (JD) 

In-Person

Good ideas are wonderful; good ideas supported by evidenced based practice are even better. But how do health care or public health experts, professionals, students, and patients convert these good ideas into policy? In this session we will attempt to have students learn some basic advocacy skills and apply those skills in a mock lobbying visit with an elected official. 

Zoe Marshall (MD Student), Pawel Maslag (SON Student), Ashley Mendoza (DNS Student), & Shira Zhou (MPH)    

In-Person                                                                                                                                

This workshop is a dive into the relationship between the visual arts and aging, featuring a conversation with the 94-year-old artist, Helen Frank, whose work is featured in the collections of The Library of Congress, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the NY Public Library, and many more. Participants will additionally be asked to write about art pieces and make some art of their own. The arts and sciences go hand-in-hand in medicine, and this workshop attempts to dive into how healthcare providers can use art in their practice and their lives to improve health and wellbeing.

Soren Glassing (BFA)                                                                                                                                                               

Viritual                                                                                                                                      

A Palliative care team is by nature interdisciplinary, composed of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and other specialists. In this presentation, we will explore how a palliative care chaplain uses art for healing at the end of life. The workshop will have two parts - the first part, we will explore how art has healing benefits, including some examples in the chaplains clinical work. The second part will be a creative experiential hands on simple art making project. No artist experience is necessary, come with an open, curious and playful mind.

Laurel Abbruzzese (PT, EdD, FNAP)  & Kaile Eison (MD)                                            

In-Person                                                                                                                                

Healthcare professionals play a critical role in ensuring equitable and compassionate care for all patients, yet ableism and environmental barriers continue to impact the experiences of wheelchair users in healthcare settings. This interactive workshop engages students through reflection, narrative writing, discussion, and case examples. Participants will explore how systemic and unconscious ableism shapes care delivery and limits access. We will examine the ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities of providers from different lenses. Students will gain a deeper awareness of these barriers and develop strategies to foster person-centered, compassionate care that upholds dignity, autonomy, and accessibility.

Rabbi Ralph Kreger                                                                                                               

In-Person                                                           

NYC is by far the most diverse place in our country. One group who you will certainly encounter while treating patients is the Orthodox/ Hassidic Jewish Community. While caring for this patient population you will encounter many behaviors and decision making which you will not experience from other patients. The purpose of this presentation is to equip the clinician with knowledge so he or she will not be blindsided by unusual requests while treating this crowd. Topics include Jewish Medical Ethics (end of life) and more.

Benjamin Schwartz (MD)                                                                                                       

In-Person      

In this workshop, we’ll take an unusual, creative approach to examining the fundamentals of communication and alliance-building. We'll use cartoons to practice skills of attention, observation, imagination, and collaboration as participants work in pairs to recreate humorous drawings that have been described to them but not shown. No drawing experience necessary!   

Kyle Murray (MS,RD,CDN,CDCES)       

In-Person        

Nutrition-related issues including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity are the prevailing public health crises of our time. While nutrition education and counseling interventions should be at the forefront of mitigation efforts, it is essential that we as nutrition professionals understand the broader social determinants of health that lead to disparate diet quality and health outcomes between different communities. This course will review culinary medicine, food insecurity, and NYP's response to the needs of the community.   

Janis Cutler (MD)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

In-Person (10:00am-1:15pm)                                                                                                                                                                             

Creedmoor Psychiatric Center is a state psychiatric hospital in Queens with an art studio/display space called the Living Museum. This field trip will consist of interacting and observing with the art that was created by patients of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center. There will be a shuttle picking students up at 10:00am and they will return at 1:15pm.

Simon Chang-Huang (MD Student), Yashica Kagithapu (Dental Student), Dalilah Mora (MPH Student), & Sherah Ndjongo (SON Student)                                     

In-Person                                                                                                                                 

This workshop explores the intersection of cultural food traditions and nutrition for the aging population. Participants will begin by reflecting on cultural meals enjoyed by their grandparents, followed by a presentation on diverse cultural diets and their nutritional benefits. Emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural culinary practices, the session demonstrates how these traditions support emotional well-being and better health outcomes. Participants will collaborate to create and share culturally-appropriate and nutritious meals, discussing strategies and/or challenges that arise to meet the dietary needs of older adults.

Kristy Deyeso (DNP, RN, CCRN, CHSE, CHSOS, CPAN), Natalya Pasklinksy (NP, ACNP-BC, CHSE, FNYAM), & Aly Tadros (MFA, CUIMC SVR Assistant Director)                               

In-Person

Interpersonal violence (IPV) is a critical public health issue that affects patients across all healthcare settings. Healthcare providers and public health workers play a vital role in screening, responding to disclosures, and facilitating warm referrals for survivors. However, many providers lack training in trauma-informed, survivor-centered care. This workshop will equip interprofessional healthcare students with the tools to provide effective, compassionate care to patients experiencing IPV.

Daniel H. Yang (Mdiv)                                                  

In-Person

When the word disability pops up, I imagine that we associate it with a deficit, perhaps even a defect. Unfortunately, in the spiritual/religious paradigm, this notion has been circulated and perpetuated quite tragically. I wonder though if we could reimagine our current view of disability through the lens of mutuality, interdependence and love. When applying a spiritual ethic to the notion of disability I wonder if we could move away from seeing it as a deficit, a defect, and a "charity case" to a perception of disability as a feature of the human condition that does not define the person in their totality but simply registers it as a feature. Moreover, I wonder if the notion/definition of disability changes if the infrastructure surrounding the person evolves. 

Latisha Hanson (DNP, PMHNP-BC), Pat Precin (PhD, PsyaD, NCPsyA, LP, OTR/L, FAOTA) & Phyllis Simon (OTD, OTR/L)                                                                               

In-Person                                                                                                                                 

Are you prepared to work with individuals who have experienced psychological trauma? Would you like to be? Join us in this in-person workshop to learn and practice trauma informed care principles, strategies, and techniques as you work with an inter-professional team of participants to analysis a case study. You will leave with increased awareness and knowledge of: 1) trauma-informed care principles, 2) how each member of the inter-professional team can integrate trauma informed care into their clinical practice, and 3) resources available to clients who have experienced trauma.

Elizabeth Gershater (D.D.S. Candidate) & Suli Wang (IHN Student)

In-Person  

Lack of access to food and the effects of poor nutrition on health are issues well-known to healthcare professionals, but the ways which they uniquely affect people with disabilities are often overlooked. This interactive workshop engages students in a discussion of obstacles that stand in the way of a person with a disability from enjoying a consistently filling and nutritious lifestyle. Through a series of small group activities and case studies, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of how barriers related to accessing food have ramifications for oral-systemic health and what measures can be taken to address this issue.

Gonzalo Aguilar (MPH Student)

In-Person                        

This workshop will provide a first-hand account of how punishment, such as prison, inflicts more trauma than rehabilitation.

Beth Cavanaugh (MS) & Rachel Sturley (MS Narrative Medicine)                                                                                  

In-Person                                                                                                                                

A hospice nurse with 28 years of experience and a soon-to-be medical student — both students in the Narrative Medicine Master’s Program — will lead a Narrative Medicine Workshop. The workshop will examine how the field of narrative medicine can allow for resonance and connection between diverse backgrounds (like our own!). We aim to demonstrate how the workshop creates transformative and meaningful spaces that are deeply needed in interprofessional healthcare, but rarely, if ever, exist. Our session will engage with themes of witnessing, creative reflection, and collaboration.

Ssanyu Birigwa (M.S.Narrative Medicine)  

In-Person                                                                                                                                

Healing is not just about treating the body—it is about nurturing the spirit and advocating for dignity. This workshop explores how spiritual care and narrative medicine create space for connection, meaning, and joy in patient care. Through storytelling, reflection, and discussion, participants will develop skills to support patients with disabilities through compassionate listening, presence, and advocacy. This session will empower healthcare teams to center joy and inclusion as essential elements in the work of healing.

Colin Meng (PsyD, LCSW)                                                    

Virtual                                                                                                                                     

This 90-minute academic workshop, Positionality, Oppression, and Intersectionality: An Interprofessional Dialogue on Disability, explores the complex relationships between personal identity, systemic oppression, and disability. Participants from various professional backgrounds will engage in an interactive dialogue, examining how their positionality (e.g., race, gender, class, ability) shapes their understanding and approach to disability. The session emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in recognizing the diverse experiences of disabled individuals. Through case studies, group discussions, and reflective activities, attendees will deepen their awareness of how to foster inclusivity and advocate for equity in their respective fields.

Jeanne Gagliano (MSOT 2025), Jessica Hui (DDS 2026),  S. Ryan Jacobus (CUSON 2025), & Eisa Mohiuddin (DDS 2028)                                                                     

In-Person

“This interactive workshop engages participants in a collaborative escape room experience designed to explore equitable healthcare for individuals with disabilities. The session will begin with an overview of the history of disability care in the U.S. healthcare system, setting the stage for understanding current challenges. Participants will then work in interdisciplinary teams to solve various puzzles, each addressing real-world barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in healthcare settings. Through problem-solving and teamwork, participants will develop inclusive care strategies. The session will conclude with a reflective discussion to reinforce key takeaways and promote actionable change in practice.”

Mario de la Cruz, (MS Associate Director, Division of Narrative Medicine)

In-Person                                                                                                                   

Participants in this workshop will explore narratives present in graphic medicine texts to unpack social norms and assumptions about disability experiences. Through close reading and experimentation with observational techniques, participants will discuss bias awareness and inference making as witnesses to the lives and stories of others. We will consider the viewpoints of patients, clinicians, and caregivers as they appear both in the texts and in our lived experiences.  After practicing these skills, participants will reflect on allyship and advocacy opportunities through a creative activity. 

Kristy Deyeso (DNP, RN, CCRN, CHSE, CHSOS, CPAN), Merona Hollingsworth (CHSOS), Mary Moran (MS, FNP, MPH, CCRN-K, RN), & Natalya Pasklinsky (DNP, ACNP-BC, CHSE, FNYAM)                                                                       

In-Person

This workshop will utilize simulation-based learning to enhance interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. The content aligns with the goals of Interprofessional education (IPE) Day by promoting teamwork, communication, and mutual respect among healthcare professionals. The session will include two high-fidelity simulation scenarios, each designed to address critical aspects of interprofessional practice in diverse healthcare settings. IPE proves essential for fostering effective communication and collaboration among healthcare providers. By learning together, professionals from various disciplines develop a shared understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities, which ultimately leads to improved patient outcomes and a safer care environment. This workshop emphasizes the importance of IPE in high-stakes clinical situations, such as de-escalation and emergency code responses.

Ruben Mikaelyan (MS), Sa'eed Mustafa (CPO), Kylie Pecord (BA), & Jason Tao (BA)                                                       

In-Person

Loneliness is a major challenge for aging populations—but healthcare professionals can help! This interactive workshop explores innovative ways to foster social connections, from transforming waiting rooms into community spaces to organizing group activities that promote well-being. Learn how collaboration between physicians, social workers, physical therapists, and dentists can combat isolation through meal-sharing, transportation networks, and fall prevention programs, etc.

Michael Nalepa (MD) & Erica Peralta (Pallative Care Social Worker)

In-Person

Navigating end-of-life is challenging for patients, families, and care teams. The interdisciplinary approaches utilized by palliative care and hospice care can help treat physical, emotional, and spiritual distress, supporting patients and families in their grief work. 

Sescily Coney, Esq., (LLM, MBA) & Dr. Stephné Coney (Founder/CEO of International Stop the Violence Alliance, Inc.) 

In-Person 

This interprofessional workshop brings together healthcare students across various disciplines to examine the “silent curriculum” that perpetuates racial biases and inequities—beginning in admissions processes and continuing through clinical and academic settings. By exploring histories of underrecognized contributors, critically assessing how racism operates as a form of violence, and engaging with interactive simulations, participants will learn to recognize and dismantle systemic barriers that limit diversity and representation. The workshop emphasizes inclusive pathways toward leadership, the importance of minority-serving institutions (like HBCUs and tribal colleges), and the power of student voices in shaping more equitable environments. Through open dialogue and hands-on activities, attendees will gain practical strategies to foster supportive educational cultures and champion inclusive change for the future of healthcare.

Catherine Rogers (MFA, Narrative Medicine)

In-Person 

The Trojan Women is the tragedy written by Euripides in 415 BCE about the costs of war. It is based on the legends of the war between the Greeks and the Trojans, described in Greek mythology, drama, and poetry by Homer and by Roman poets Virgil and Ovid.The workshop will cast students as specific characters and Chorus members in the play. In small groups, students will enact the play, straight from the script by Euripides, as a means to collectively experience the suffering of individuals and societies. Participants in this IPE Workshop will receive a pdf of the short script of the play prior to IPE Day and will also have access to a hyperlink at the workshop to download to devices. The implications of the drama are unforgettably powerful for a world now engulfed by seemingly unending warfare. The collective experience in the workshop gives each participant a sense of connection to those who suffer today the costs of war, no matter where, when, and at whose hands. 

Lodovica Bo (MA Student)

In-Person

A transition and intersection between journalism and narrative medicine—how can one contribute to the other? In this workshop, we will explore how storytelling and journalistic inquiry help us understand and communicate experiences of illness and chronic pain through both narrative and visual representation. Through shared texts and works of art, we will examine how storytelling intertwines with narrative medicine and shapes personal narratives of illness.

Melissa Patterson (MD, MBA)                                 

In-Person                                                                                                                               

This workshop will bring together faculty from an interdisciplinary team with expertise in geriatric medicine and palliative care to raise awareness of the importance of planning and supporting patients, families, and their loved ones during difficult decision making at the end of life, particularly in patients with advanced dementia.

Ross Frommer (JD) 

In-Person

Good ideas are wonderful; good ideas supported by evidenced based practice are even better. But how do health care or public health experts, professionals, students, and patients convert these good ideas into policy? In this session we will attempt to have students learn some basic advocacy skills and apply those skills in a mock lobbying visit with an elected official. 

Zoe Marshall (MD Student), Pawel Maslag (SON Student), Ashley Mendoza (DNS Student), & Shira Zhou (MPH)    

In-Person                                                                                                                                

This workshop is a dive into the relationship between the visual arts and aging, featuring a conversation with the 94-year-old artist, Helen Frank, whose work is featured in the collections of The Library of Congress, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the NY Public Library, and many more. Participants will additionally be asked to write about art pieces and make some art of their own. The arts and sciences go hand-in-hand in medicine, and this workshop attempts to dive into how healthcare providers can use art in their practice and their lives to improve health and wellbeing.

Soren Glassing (BFA)                                                         

Viritual                                                                                                                                      

A Palliative care team is by nature interdisciplinary, composed of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and other specialists. In this presentation, we will explore how a palliative care chaplain uses art for healing at the end of life. The workshop will have two parts - the first part, we will explore how art has healing benefits, including some examples in the chaplains clinical work. The second part will be a creative experiential hands on simple art making project. No artist experience is necessary, come with an open, curious and playful mind.

Laurel Abbruzzese (PT, EdD, FNAP), Rochelle Mendonca (PhD, OTR/L), Letty Moss-Salentijn (DDS, PhD), & Mark Nathanson (MD)                                                                              

In-Person            

This workshop evolves from the case of a frail, homebound, geriatric patient with complex comorbidities, unable to access traditional community-based services, and subject to the consequences of social isolation and loneliness.  The interprofessional faculty facilitates exploration of the psychosocial, nursing, oral health, medical, rehabilitation, nutritional, spiritual, neuropsychiatric and public health issues raised in this case. Students participate in shared learning and problem-solving small group breakout sessions. The emphasis centers on the role of teamwork, understanding and use of community and clinical resources, treatment planning, improvement in quality of life, and the challenges in the delivery of care in the home.

Kyle Murray (MS, RD, CDN, CDCES)                                         

In-Person

Nutrition-related issues including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity are the prevailing public health crises of our time. While nutrition education and counseling interventions should be at the forefront of mitigation efforts, it is essential that we as nutrition professionals understand the broader social determinants of health that lead to disparate diet quality and health outcomes between different communities. This course will review culinary medicine, food insecurity, and NYP's response to the needs of the community.

Jeanne Churchhill (DNP, CPNP), Irene Sprung (LCSW), Helen Towers (MD), Mary Tresgallo (DNP, MPH, ACHPN), & Daniel H. Yang, (MDiv, BCC)                                         

In-Person

This workshop addresses some of the more common ethical issues in pediatric healthcare. Utilizing a case-based approach with examples, we will address topics such as maternal fetal conflict, consent, adolescent autonomy, truth telling and conflict resolution. An Ethics Committee is a diverse gathering of providers across multiple different subspecialties and disciplines. The registrants in the workshop will participate as ethics consultants and members of an Ethics Committee where they will analyze and discuss the issues of each case and provide recommendations. This approach will address the main themes and goals of the IPE by highlighting interprofessional collaboration in action and strengthening ethical responsive and accountable care.   

​​​​Elwin Wu (PhD)  

Switched to Virtual

White supremacy culture pervades all facets of society, including healthcare professionals’ lives, workplace, educational endeavors, and service delivery/professional practice(s). Come to this workshop to learn how white supremacy culture operates as a universal milieu as well as more discipline-specific/salient manifestations; elucidate aspects particularly salient to people who are disabled;  interactively and collectively brainstorm and problem-solve ways to redress white supremacy culture in healthcare organizations, interdisciplinary and multi-racial/ethnic teams, and service provision; and build commitment and skills to continue a lifelong journey of undoing white supremacy culture in your professional and personal lives.                                         

Elizabeth Gershater (D.D.S. Candidate) & Rabia Sumar (MPH Student)    

In-Person         

What is a disability? What counts as healthcare? In this interactive workshop, students across health professions will come together to learn about craniofacial differences, the special care needs that may be represented in this group, and how health policy, including specific legislation, can either fulfill these needs or block people from receiving important services. Using the medical and social models of disability, students will be challenged to reevaluate the meaning of disability and healthcare and how they can be powerful advocates and allies in the effort to establish meaningful, supportive policy change.  

Tyler Gaedecke (MPhil, BSN, RN)                

In-Person   

Following a brief presentation on qualitative findings from interviews with patients after gender-affirming surgery, students will have an opportunity to creatively discuss how interdisciplinary collaboration might have the potential to impact outcomes for transgender and gender-diverse patients. This conversation will also attend to the ways that sociopolitical environments may create new challenges and opportunities in the provision of gender-affirming healthcare.

Latisha Hanson (DNP, PMHNP-BC), Pat Precin (PhD, PsyaD, NCPsyA, LP, OTR/L, FAOTA) & Phyllis Simon (OTD, OTR/L)                                                                               

In-Person                                                                                                                                 

Are you prepared to work with individuals who have experienced psychological trauma? Would you like to be? Join us in this in-person workshop to learn and practice trauma informed care principles, strategies, and techniques as you work with an inter-professional team of participants to analysis a case study. You will leave with increased awareness and knowledge of: 1) trauma-informed care principles, 2) how each member of the inter-professional team can integrate trauma informed care into their clinical practice, and 3) resources available to clients who have experienced trauma.

Sara Hijer (MPH Candidate), & Kristen Slesar (DSW, LCSW, MS)

In-Person

"Medicine in the Crossfire" will explore the ethical dilemmas faced by medical providers during genocides, dictatorships, and police states (including police brutality), examining their roles as witnesses, enablers, resistors, or targets.

Silvia Amesty (MD, MPH) & Delivette Castor (PhD, MPH)

In-Person

Since January 20, 2025, a surge of disordered executive orders aimed at increasing government efficiency has led to catastrophic consequences for thousands: government workers, local and global communities, and immigrants. These actions, from defunding USAID to reducing Medicare and Medicaid funding, leave vulnerable populations even more exposed and without access to healthcare. Public health initiatives- pandemic response and vaccine preparedness -are also under threat, and scientific progress is being jeopardized. This IPE session aims to explore these issues, discuss their impact, and find focus and ways to resist amidst the chaos and confusion. 

Colin Meng (PsyD, LCSW)                                                    

Virtual

This 90-minute academic workshop, Positionality, Oppression, and Intersectionality: An Interprofessional Dialogue on Disability, explores the complex relationships between personal identity, systemic oppression, and disability. Participants from various professional backgrounds will engage in an interactive dialogue, examining how their positionality (e.g., race, gender, class, ability) shapes their understanding and approach to disability. The session emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in recognizing the diverse experiences of disabled individuals. Through case studies, group discussions, and reflective activities, attendees will deepen their awareness of how to foster inclusivity and advocate for equity in their respective fields.

Serida Catalano (Ph.D), Alyah Kanemoto (MPH Student), Lena Verdeli ( Ph.D) & Sandra Willis (Ph.D)  

Virtual

The proposed workshop will provide the multi-disciplinary participants an opportunity to (1) conceptualize global [mental] health and disability from a human rights lens and adopt a social/rights model to promote health equity; (2) collectively and collaboratively advocate for inclusive health systems through the application of international normative frameworks, rights-based legislation, policies and programs that impact on individual, organization, and system levels; (3) apply a Theory of Change Model to develop, implement, and evaluate rights-based multi/intra-disciplinary mental health and disability policy and programs; and (4) provide an overview of disability-inclusive humanitarian action that leaves no one behind.

Kristy Deyeso (DNP, RN, CCRN, CHSE, CHSOS, CPAN), Natalya Pasklinksy (NP, ACNP-BC, CHSE, FNYAM), & Aly Tadros (MFA, CUIMC SVR Assistant Director)                               

In-Person

Interpersonal violence (IPV) is a critical public health issue that affects patients across all healthcare settings. Healthcare providers and public health workers play a vital role in screening, responding to disclosures, and facilitating warm referrals for survivors. However, many providers lack training in trauma-informed, survivor-centered care. This workshop will equip interprofessional healthcare students with the tools to provide effective, compassionate care to patients experiencing IPV.

Mario de la Cruz (MS, Associate Director of Division of Narrative Medicine)

In-Person

Participants in this workshop will explore narratives present in graphic medicine texts to unpack social norms and assumptions about disability experiences. Through close reading and experimentation with observational techniques, participants will discuss bias awareness and inference making as witnesses to the lives and stories of others.  We will consider the viewpoints of patients, clinicians, and caregivers as they appear both in the texts and in our lived experiences.  After practicing these skills, participants will reflect on allyship and advocacy opportunities through a creative activity.  

Kristy Deyeso (DNP, RN, CCRN, CHSE, CHSOS, CPAN), Merona Hollingsworth (CHSOS), Mary Moran (MS, FNP, MPH, CCRN-K, RN), & Natalya Pasklinsky (DNP, ACNP-BC, CHSE, FNYAM)                                                                    

In-Person

This workshop will utilize simulation-based learning to enhance interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. The content aligns with the goals of Interprofessional education (IPE) Day by promoting teamwork, communication, and mutual respect among healthcare professionals. The session will include two high-fidelity simulation scenarios, each designed to address critical aspects of interprofessional practice in diverse healthcare settings. IPE proves essential for fostering effective communication and collaboration among healthcare providers. By learning together, professionals from various disciplines develop a shared understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities, which ultimately leads to improved patient outcomes and a safer care environment. This workshop emphasizes the importance of IPE in high-stakes clinical situations, such as de-escalation and emergency code responses.

Ruben Mikaelyan (MS), Sa'eed Mustafa (CPO), Kylie Pecord (BA), & Jason Tao (BA) 

In-Person

Loneliness is a major challenge for aging populations—but healthcare professionals can help! This interactive workshop explores innovative ways to foster social connections, from transforming waiting rooms into community spaces to organizing group activities that promote well-being. Learn how collaboration between physicians, social workers, physical therapists, and dentists can combat isolation through meal-sharing, transportation networks, and fall prevention programs, etc. 

Esther Kentish (PHD)                                                               

Virtual

Bodily dysfunction and the fragmented inner world often resist conventional articulation, existing in the liminal space between sensation and speech. Poetry, with its elasticity of form and capacity for metaphor, offers a means of externalizing these disjointed experiences, allowing individuals to give shape to pain, illness, and the estrangement from one’s own body. This study examines poetry’s role in voicing the dissonance of bodily dysfunction—where the body does not align with expectation—and the emotional rupture that accompanies such states. Drawing from The Emotional Healing Behind Words Workshop, this research explores how poetic devices such as fragmentation, repetition, and rhythm mirror the experience of a fractured self, while also facilitating reintegration. Through creative engagement, participants use poetry to navigate themes of vulnerability, resilience, and the search for coherence within disorder. This paper argues that poetry not only reveals the unspoken dimensions of physical and psychological distress but also acts as a method of reconstruction, allowing individuals to reclaim agency over their narratives.

Michael Nalepa (MD) & Erica Peralta (Pallative Care Social Worker)

In-Person

Navigating end-of-life is challenging for patients, families, and care teams. The interdisciplinary approaches utilized by palliative care and hospice care can help treat physical, emotional, and spiritual distress, supporting patients and families in their grief work. 

Sescily Coney, Esq., (LLM, MBA) & Dr. Stephné Coney (Founder/CEO of International Stop the Violence Alliance, Inc.) 

In-Person 

“The Silent Curriculum: How Racism Shapes Nursing Education” explores the unspoken lessons, systemic barriers, and everyday biases that impact students of color in nursing, and challenges participants to rethink how we educate and support the next generation of healthcare providers. 

Catherine Rogers (MFA  in Narrative Medicine)

In-Person 

The Trojan Women is the tragedy written by Euripides in 415 BCE about the costs of war. It is based on the legends of the war between the Greeks and the Trojans, described in Greek mythology, drama, and poetry by Homer and by Roman poets Virgil and Ovid.The workshop will cast students as specific characters and Chorus members in the play. In small groups, students will enact the play, straight from the script by Euripides, as a means to collectively experience the suffering of individuals and societies. Participants in this IPE Workshop will receive a pdf of the short script of the play prior to IPE Day and will also have access to a hyperlink at the workshop to download to devices. The implications of the drama are unforgettably powerful for a world now engulfed by seemingly unending warfare. The collective experience in the workshop gives each participant a sense of connection to those who suffer today the costs of war, no matter where, when, and at whose hands. 

Jane Kang (MD, MS)                                                         

In-Person

Using art, this interactive workshop will focus on the skills of observation and evaluate how our lenses, which are affected by our identities or backgrounds, can influence how we see ourselves and others. Through interdisciplinary conversations, we will exchange perspectives, discuss how lenses can affect healthcare delivery and access, and identify ways to optimize health care delivery.