Veterans,
Vocations, and Values:
Rehabilitation Rallies for Results
A conference for all who are professionally or
personally interested in improving the quality of life for veterans with
disabilities, with sessions focusing on employment, education, psycho-social
issues, health and wellness, and spirituality.
October 8-9, 2008
The Patrick & Margaret DeNaples Center
The University of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Presented by
The University of Scranton: The Panuska College of Professional Studies
Edward R. Leahy, Jr., Endowment
Honorary Chairpersons
Edward R. and Patricia Leahy
Special Thanks to our Diamond Sponsor CVS Pharmacy
…and to our Additional Sponsors
Office of Equity and Diversity, The University of Scranton
Andrew Brown's Drug Store, Inc.
Lockheed Martin
American Homecare Supply, Inc.
Advanced Imaging Specialists
Center for Professional Training and Development, The University of Scranton
Registration
Professional: $120 Full conference
Veteran/Family Member/Student with ID: $40 Full conference
Professional Wednesday sessions only: $95
Professional Thursday sessions only: $45
CEUs
One certificate of your choice is included with the
registration. Additional certificates are available at $15 per certificate.
PA/LSW License Number
Act 48 Teacher's Certification
NBCC Certification Number
CRCC Certification Number
PA/Professional Counselor License Number
CEUsPA/Marriage and Family Therapist License Number
Conference Registration Deadline: October 1,
2008
Cancellations must be received on or before October 1, 2008. There will be no
refunds after that date.
Conference Registration is handled by:
Center for Professional Training and Development
The University of Scranton, O'Hara Hall, Room 106
Scranton, PA 18510
Phone (570) 941-7582
E-mail cptd@scranton.edu
www.scranton.edu/cptd
For Additional Information about he Conference contact:
Lori A, Bruch, Ed.D. (570) 941-4308, lori.bruch@scranton.edu
Program
Wednesday,
October 8 |
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8:00-8:30 |
Registration and Continental
Breakfast |
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8:30-9:00 |
Presentation of the
Colors
Opening Remarks
Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., Ph.D, President, The University of Scranton
Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D., Dean, Panuska College of Professional Studies
Edward R. and Patricia Leahy, Honorary Conference Chairs
The Honorable David Wenzel, Vietnam Veteran, Former Mayor of Scranton |
| |
9:00-10:30 |
Opening Keynote Speaker
Richard Pimentel, Music Within
Richard Pimentel, a Vietnam Veteran, offers a powerful keynote presentation. By
highlighting his life story, captured in the movie The Music Within, he shows
how we all have the ability to make a difference. |
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10:30-10:45 |
Break |
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10:45-12:00 |
Concurrent Sessions
- The Real Job Market for Veterans, Richard Pimentel
- Prevalence, Prevention and Treatment of Psychiatric disAbility in OIF/OEF
Servicemembers, Thomas Collins, Ph.D.
- Dealing with Pre-deployment, Deployment and Reunion with School-aged Children,
LeeAnn Eschbach, Ph.D.
- Overview of Rehabilitation Services in the Veterans Administration, Douglas
Bidelspach, MPT, PT, Regional Veterans Administration System
|
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12:00-1:00 |
Lunch
Poem, Josie Cordaro
Leahy Awards for Excellence, Edward and Patricia Leahy |
| |
1:00-2:00 |
Keynote Speaker
Ryan Kules, Veteran Transitioning to the Workforce After Injury
This presentation will cover Captain Kules' background, injury in the Army, his
rehabilitation and his transition into the civilian workforce. He will discuss
the obstacles he overcame and best practices for success. He will also describe
the Wounded Warrior Program. |
| |
2:15-3:15 |
Concurrent Sessions
- Building a Collaborative Approach to Business
Customers Through the Net: National Employment Team, Kathleen West-Evans, MPA,
CRC
- Addressing the Needs of Families of Combat Veterans
with PTSD, David S. Riggs, Ph.D.
- Educational Accommodations for Veterans, James
Muniz, M.S., and Mary Ellen Pichiarello, M.S., CRC
|
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3:15-3:30 |
Break |
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3:30-4:30 |
Concurrent Sessions
- The NET Connects with the Veterans Administration
Employment Coordinators, Kathleen West-Evans, MPA, CRC
- Addressing the Needs of Combat Veterans with
PTSDDavid S. Riggs, Ph.D.
- Self-Directed Personal Care Assistance: The
Relationships Between Control, Choice, and o Quality of Life, Rita
Flemming-Castaldy, Ph.D.
|
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4:30-6:00 |
Networking Social |
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4:40-5:30 |
Liturgy for Veterans
Madonna della Strada Chapel, Rock Hall |
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6:00-7:30 |
Welcome Home Town
Meeting
Ralph N. Pacinelli, D.Ed., CRC, LPC, Moderator
- Brigadier General John L. Gronski, Assistant
Adjutant General, Pennsylvania National Guard
- Brigadier General Scott D. Wagner, Deputy Adjutant
General for Veterans Affairs in the Pennsylvania Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs
- Ruth Gonzalez, Regional Representative, Governor's
Veterans Outreach Center
- C. Gene Molino, Associate Director, Veterans
Administration Medical Center
- David Ulkoski, Team Leader, Readjustment Counseling
Services Veteran's Outreach Group
- Donald A. Rullman, Director Hiram G. Andrews
Center, PA/Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
|
Thursday,
October 9 |
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8:00-8:30 |
Registration and Continental
Breakfast |
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8:30-9:15 |
Opening Remarks: Dignitaries |
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9:15-10:45 |
Keynote Speaker
Restoring Lives and Building Futures, David S. Macpherson, M.D., MPH, Chief
Medical Officer, VISN4
This presentation will describe how our nation has organized through the
Department of Veterans Affairs to provide the critical interdisciplinary
services and supports for veterans with disabilities and their families. |
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10:45-11:00 |
Break |
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11:00-12:30 |
Keynote Speaker
Juan J. DeRojas, MD From the Front Lines: A Window into the War
Dr. DeRojas has an extensive military service record. As a board certified
general surgeon, he brings a unique view of the war and its impact on injured
veterans.
Conference Closing & Retirement of the Colors |
Keynote Speakers:
Richard Pimentel
Richard Pimentel is a Vietnam veteran and a nationally renowned expert on
Disability Management, Job Recruitment, Job Retention, Americans with
Disabilities Act, and Attitude Change. Richard is a senior partner in the firm
of Milt Wright & Associates, Inc. for which he conducts training and
consultation nationwide. He has authored and co-authored numerous books and
professional publications, including the Job Club Placement Model for the
Department of Veterans Affairs. Richard was also the Chairperson of VACOR, the
Department of Veterans Affairs Civilian Advisory Committee for Rehabilitation.
A full-length motion picture of his life story, Music Within, starring Ron
Livingston is available on DVD.
Ryan Kules
Ryan Kules, Retired US Army Captain and Wounded Warriors Project Program
Manager, works in Washington, D.C. He was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, and
lived in that area until he began his military career. He was deployed to Iraq
in February 2005 where he gained intimate experience with the Iraqi people and
their culture. He was injured in November of 2005, and during his recovery, he
became involved with the Warriors to Work program.
Kathleen West-Evans
Kathleen West-Evans, MPA, CRC is the Director of Business Relations for the
National Council of State Administrators in Vocational Rehabilitation. She has
over 30 years of vocational rehabilitation and employment experience and is
fluent in American Sign Language. Currently, she is the lead staff person for
development of the National Vocational Rehabilitation-Business Network. The
network serves business customers, VR consumers with disabilities, and the 80
state vocational rehabilitation agencies. Kathleen has successfully built
employment partnerships with the Veterans Administration and related
organizations.
David S. Riggs
David S. Riggs, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the Center for Deployment
Psychology with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in
Bethesda, MD, where he oversees the development and delivery of training
seminars to behavioral health professionals to prepare them to provide for the
needs of deployed Service members and their families. Dr. Riggs is a noted
expert on PTSD. He has published over 60 articles and book chapters and has
presented over 100 papers and workshops on PTSD and related topics. Recently,
he co-led a series of workshops to train military behavioral health
professionals to treat PTSD and other trauma-related disorders.
David S. Macpherson, M.D., MPH
Dr. David S. Macpherson is the Chief Medical Officer for the Veterans
Integrated Service Network 4 (VISN4), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He
is responsible for oversight of all medical care delivered to veterans in VISN4
including 10 VA medical centers and 47 community-based outpatient clinics. He
has oversight of all research activity in VISN4. VISN4 covers 104 counties in
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. In
addition to his administrative positions, Dr. Macpherson has served in key
roles as a clinician, educator and researcher and has published more than 30
articles, book chapters and abstracts.
Juan J. DeRojas, M.D.
Dr. Juan J. DeRojas is a veteran of the War against Terror and the Gulf War. He
is a board-certified general surgeon who has an extensive military record. He
is a member of the Society of Clinical Vascular Surgery, the Peripheral
Vascular Society, the Association of Military Surgeons in the United States,
the American Society of General Surgeons, among others. Dr. DeRojas is a senior
partner with Surgical Specialists of Wyoming Valley.
Speakers and Panelists:
Thomas Collins
Thomas Collins, Ph.D., is a Counseling Psychologist with the Veterans
Administration.
Douglas Bidelspach
Douglas Bidelspach, MPT is a Rehabilitation Planning Specialist/Data Manager
with the National PM&R Program of the Veterans Administration Central
Office.
LeeAnn Eschbach
LeeAnn Eschbach, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, is an Associate Professor at The University
of Scranton.
James Muniz
James Muniz, M.S. is a Reading Specialist and Director of the ADP program at
The University of Scranton's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.
Mary Ellen Pichiarello
Mary Ellen Pichiarello, MS, CRC is a Learning Enrichment Specialist at The
University of Scranton's Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.
Rita P. Flemming-Castaldy
Rita P. Flemming-Castaldy, Ph.D., OTL, FAOTA is an Assistant Professor at The
University of Scranton.
Hotel
Information
Radisson Lackawanna Station
700 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 (570) 342-8300
Conference rate of $89 (double room). Room reservations must be made by
September 7 for special conference rates.
Hilton Hotel & Conference Center
100 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 (570) 343-3000
Clarion Hotel
300 Meadow Avenue, Scranton, PA 18505 (570) 344-9811
Holiday Inn Scranton-East (Dunmore)
200 Tigue Street, Dunmore, PA 18512 (570) 343-4771
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