Awards and scholarships for MS professionals recognize achievement and encourage further advances and excellence in research and clinical expertise. These resources allow current MS professionals to pursue specialized education, explore new research areas and increase their understanding of MS clinical care. Annual meeting scholarships enable recipients to receive specialized accredited training not available to them within their home institutions or practice settings.
What does this mean? Multiple Sclerosis healthcare teams are better equipped than ever to offer excellent care for their patients.
Make a donation to support Scholarship, Fellowships, and Professional Resources
Susan E Bennett MS Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty Training Program
Now completing the tenth year FCMSC MS Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty Training are programs for rehabilitation professionals working in physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/language pathology with an interest in MS.
This initiative, through grants from AbbVie and the CMSC, supported by the Foundation of the CMSC, will provide each trainee with 35 hours of training covering all aspects of comprehensive care provided at an MS center. Emphasis will be in the trainee’s specific area of rehabilitation (physical, occupational or speech) to promote awareness and utilization of standard assessment tools, outcome measures and interventions to provide optimal safety and effective function for people living in MS.
Lacey Bromley, PT, DPT, MSCS (picture on the left), is the Program Director, MS Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty Training Program.
Susan E Bennett MS Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty Trainee Scholars
List of Sites that provided specialized training to MS Rehabilitation trainee scholars.
Brenna Koerner-Shanahan, MS, CCC-SLP(Chicago, IL) University of Washington Multiple Sclerosis Center, Seattle, WA
Lauren Ludtke, PT, DPT(Winter Park, FL) University of Washington Multiple Sclerosis Center, Seattle, WA
John Rider, MS, OTR/L (Logandale, NV) University of Washington Multiple Sclerosis Center, Seattle, WA
Benjamin Killen, PT, DPT(Jackson, MS) Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center, Cleveland, OH
Mary Ann Kotran, OTR, Med (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ) Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center, Cleveland, OH
Andrea Stewart, PT, DPT, PhD (Durham, NC) Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center, Cleveland, OH
Janae Marcello, PT(Pitsford, NY) Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center, Cleveland, OH
Joseph Jamell, DPT (Durham, NC) Mount Sinai Rehab Hospital, Hartford, CT
Theresa Kneale, DPT (New Lathrop, MI) Mount Sinai Rehab Hospital, Hartford, CT
Jordyn Mundy, PT (Geneva, NY) Mount Sinai Rehab Hospital, Hartford, CT
Kathryn Snyder, OTR, L (Steamboat, CO) Mount Sinai Rehab Hospital, Hartford, CT
FCMSC MS Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty Training scholars are supported by FCMSC grants from Biogen and Genentech
Erika Kramer, MS, CCC-SLP(Montclair, VA) University of Washington Multiple Sclerosis Center, Seattle, WA
Rachael Petrie, MS, OTR/L(Louisville, KY) University of Washington Multiple Sclerosis Center, Seattle, WA
Heather Squires, BMR-OT(Calgary, Alberta, Canada) University of Washington Multiple Sclerosis Center, Seattle, WA
Rachel Falls, MS, CCC-SLP(Philadelphia, PA) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland, OH
Rachael Kaufman, MS, OTR/L, CBIS(Alexandra, VA) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland, OH
Savanur Deepak Rajendra, MS, PT(Carmel, IN) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland, OH
Mary Savage, PT(Auburn, MD) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland, OH
Rebecca Beeby, PT, DPT, NCS(Wilmington, DE) Optimus Program-Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Canada
Kate Bellucci, PT, DPT(Somerville, NJ) Optimus Program-Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Canada
Anne Morris, PT, DPT(Westchester, PA) Optimus Program-Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Canada
Stephanie Voss, MA, CCC-SLP(Phoenix, AZ) Optimus Program-Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Canada
2019 MS Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty Training scholars are supported by FCMSC grants from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers
Katelin King, PT, DPT, NCS(Tampa, FL) Neurology Center of New England P.C, Foxboro, MA
Alexandra Warden Michl, PT, DPT(Des Moines, IA) Neurology Center of New England P.C, Foxboro, MA
Lorraine Yap, MA, CCC-SLP(Wayne, NJ) Neurology Center of New England P.C, Foxboro, MA
Mohan Ganeson, PT, PhD(Dubuque, IA) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland, OH
Hayley Nhan, MScPT(Calgary, Alberta, Canada) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland, OH
Elizabeth Nixon, PT, DPT(Durham, NC) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland, OH
Tina Raad, DPT student(Amherst, NY) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland OH
Brittany Burbell, OTS student(East Northport, NY) Optimus Program-Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Canada
Niki Chan, DPT student(Brooklyn, NY) Optimus Program-Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Canada
Jennifer Lau, MPT(South Orange, NJ) Optimus Program-Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Canada
Melissa Werz, OTD, OTR/L(Durham, NC) Optimus Program-Foothills Medical Center, Calgary, Canada
2018 MS Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty Training scholars are supported by FCMSC grants from AbbVie and CMSC
Lynne Clark, BMR, PT(Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) OPTIMUS Program-University of Calgary MS Program, Calgary, Canada
Laurie Edwards, MS, CCC-SLP (Knightdale, NC) OPTIMUS Program-University of Calgary MS Program, Calgary, Canada
Esmie Holderman, PT, DPT, NCS(Des Moines, IA) OPTIMUS Program- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada
Rachel Haines, MA, CCC-SLP(Orlando, FL) The Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA
Raphael Kupferman, PT, DPT(Englewood, NJ) The Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA
Megan Parker, MScOT(Calgary, Alberta, Canada) The Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA
Mallory Watson, MScOT, BSc, HSS(Langdon, Alberta, Canada) The Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA
Krystal Coke, PT, DPT(Dumont, NJ) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland OH
Kayla Dempster, MScPT(Calgary, Alberta, Canada) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland OH
Melissa Miller, PT(Maumee, OH) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland OH
Megan Turner, OTR/L(Davie, FL) Cleveland Clinic – Mellen Center for MS, Cleveland OH
2017 MS Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty Training scholars are supported by FCMSC grant from Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
Hannah Fugle, SPT 2017 (Flagstaff, AZ) OPTIMUS Program-University of Calgary MS Program, Calgary, Canada
Alejandra Villanueva, MS, OTR/L (Chicago, IL) OPTIMUS Program-University of Calgary MS Program, Calgary, Canada
Alexis Williams, SPT 2016 (Raleigh, NC) OPTIMUS Program-University of Calgary MS Program, Calgary, Canada
Alicia Bauer, OTR/L (White Bear Township, MN) Rocky Mountain MS Center-University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CA
Garrett Johnson, Student 2016 (Fountain Hills, AZ) Rocky Mountain MS Center-University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CA
Rebecka Schafer, SPT, CSC 2016 (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) Rocky Mountain MS Center-University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CA
Zamalid Varela Vargas, DPT (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) Rocky Mountain MS Center-University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CA
Candice Chan, BSCOT, OT(c) (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
Shyra Dehner, Student 2016 (Paulsboro, NJ) VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
Ashley DeVolld, DPT (Littleton, CO) VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
Robyn Wells, R, SLP (Chestermere, Alberta, Canada) VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
2016 FCMSC MS Rehabilitation Therapy Specialty Training Scholarships are supported by FCMSC grant from Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
Katherine Kelly, Student (Fountain Hills, AZ) Oregon Health & Science University, Multiple Sclerosis Center
Carolyn Knoechel, MSc (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) Oregon Health & Science University, Multiple Sclerosis Center
Lauren Zangari, MS, OT (Chapel Hill, NC) Oregon Health & Science University, Multiple Sclerosis Center
Brittney Arnold, PT, DPT (Durham, NC) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Lisa Marie Cundey, Student (Augusta, GA) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Kimberly Powell, MS, CCC-SLP (Durham, NC) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Laura Tymas, MS, PT, GCS (Durham, NC) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Catherine Boissoneault, Student (Gainesville, FL) Optimus Program-University of Calgary MS Program
Laura Michelle Boose, SPT, MS (Raleigh, NC) Optimus Program-University of Calgary MS Program
Kimberle Cratsenberg, Student (Durham, NC) Optimus Program-University of Calgary MS Program
Robyn Hinds, DPT (Orlando, FL) Optimus Program-University of Calgary MS Program
Danielle Lehman, Student (Warnerville, NY) Tanner Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Birmingham, AL
Scott Rytter, DPT (Winston Salem, NC) Tanner Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Birmingham, AL
Kimberly Willis, PT, DPT (Calgary, Alberta Canada) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Elizabeth Benfield, OT (Durham, NC) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Clarissa Luzuriage-Perez, PT (Boston, MA) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Lynn Marass, OTR/L (Washington Crossing, PA) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Anielia Thomas, OT (Quincy, MA) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Catherine Browne, BScPT, Student (Galway, Ireland) Optimus Program-University of Calgary MS Program
Scott Corbett, DPT (West Fargo, ND) Optimus Program-University of Calgary MS Program
Afolasade Oluwatosin Farotimi, PT (Kingston, Ontario Canada) Optimus Program-University of Calgary MS Program
Dori Goldman, OTR/L (New York, NY) Optimus Program-University of Calgary MS Program
Branka Jelcic, PT (Winnipeg, MB Canada) Baird MS Center-Jacobs Neurologic Institute
Ellen Belle, MA, PT (Englewood, CO) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Catherine Hranek, Student (Buffalo, NY) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Laura Miller, DPT (Louisville, KY) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Vivien Poon, PT (Toronto, ON Canada) Mellen Center for MS Treatment & Research-Cleveland Clinic
Carolyn Alma, OT (Toronto,ON, Canada) Foothills Medical Center, Optimus Program
Melissa Nance, OT (Winnipeg, MB Canada) Foothills Medical Center, Optimus Program
Caroline Rahn, BSc, PT (Hamel, QB Canada) NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
Jason Seltzer, PT (Plainview, NY) NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
Tracy Flemming Tracy, MSCS, OT (Sterrett, AL) NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
Mary Ellen Vore, PT, MS (Rochester, NY) NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
Marissa Barrera, MSCS, SLP (New York, NY) New York University
Cassie Bramhall, OT (International Falls, MN) Foothills Medical Center, Alberta
Cara Brown, BscOT (Winnepeg, MB) Mellen Center
Melissa Elpers, PT (Evansville, IN) Mellen Center
Danielle Gilbert, PT (Whitsett, NC) New York University
Meagan Harwood, PT (Philadelphia, PA) Mellen Center
Cathy Holper, PT, MSCS (St. Louis, MO) Foothills Medical Center, Alberta
Jacob McPherson, PT (Amherst, NY) Foothills Medical Center, Alberta
Jillian Melican, OT (Shrewsbury, MA) Foothills Medical Center, Alberta
Maria Rundell, PT (Williamsville, NY) New York University
Joy (Zhaoheng) Shi, OT (Alhambra, CA) New York University
Linda Courtney, PT (Dunkirk, NY) Jacobs Neurological Institute, University of Buffalo
Jennifer Dierberger, MA, CCC-SLP (Elkins, PA) The Heuga Center
Jennifer Fromm, MS, OTR/L, CCRC (New York, NY) Jacobs Neurological Institute, University of Buffalo
Jane Gates, BH, Sc, PT (Kelowna, BC) University of Calgary MS Center
Lindsey Kramer, PT (Fargo, ND) The Heuga Center
Lori Schmaderer, PT (Omaha, NE) Jacobs Neurological Institute, University of Buffalo
Rehabilitation Students Annual Meeting Scholarship
Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of comprehensive care, graduate students in the field of rehabilitation therapy will access specialized MS education through annual meeting scholarships.
FCMSC Rehabilitation Students Annual Meeting Scholars

Janae Marcello, PT, DPT University of Toledo Medical Center
Mitra Rouhani, PT, MS, Ph.D. Candidate Marquette University
MS Rehabilitation Students Annual Meeting Scholarships are supported by an FCMSC grant from Greenwich Bioscience.

Niki Chan Hunter College
Tina Raad University of Buffalo, SUNY
Melissa Williams Augusta University
MS Rehabilitation Student Annual Meeting Scholarships are supported by FCMSC grants from AbbVie and Sanofi Genzyme

Lisa Marie Cundey Georgia Regents University
Rebecca Cunningham University of Southern California
Shyra Dehner Rutgers University
Lynne Hardy Indiana University
Garrett Johnson University of Florida
Jasmine Konja Wayne State University
Jordan Caroline Luther University of Florida
Rebecka Schafer Duke University
Elizabeth Tillman University of South Florida
Alexis Williams University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Residents/Fellows Annual Meeting Scholarships are supported by an FCMSC grant from Acorda and CMSC

Catherine Boissoneault University of Florida
Laura Michelle Boose Duke University
Residents/Fellows Annual Meeting Scholarships are supported by an FCMSC grant from Acorda and CMSC

Valerie Block University of California-San Francisco
Hayley Boyer Saint Louis University
Catherine Browne University of Limerick
Hina Garg University of Utah
Rebecca Graue Saint Louis University
Catherine Jacobs University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Katie Kelly Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Danielle Lee-Lehman The Sage Colleges
Alicia Lipton Utica College
Jennifer Mesorana University of Florida
Joseph Miller University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Stephanie Navrat Rockhurst University
Audrey Osinski University of North Caroline – Chapel Hill
Josiah Ryks Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Michael Zervas Hunter College
Residents/Fellows Annual Meeting Scholarships are supported by an FCMSC grant from Acorda and CMSC

Kacia Birkmeyer Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
Amanda Curto Residential Services of Northeastern MN, Inc., Duluth, MN
Stefanie DiCarrado Hunter College/CUNY Graduate Center
Michael DuBois University of Alabama at Birmingham
Hina Garg University of Utah
Catherine Jacobs University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Natalie Metzger Ohio University
Alyssa Ober The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth
Audrey Osinski University of North Caroline – Chapel Hill
Roopinder Rekhi UMDNJ & Rutgers
Neysha Rosario-Rodriguez University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus
Michael Seils Nazareth College
Sarah Stuart Grand Valley State University
Jennifer Tooher University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Elizabeth Waddell University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chih-Huang Yu University of Puget Sound/University of Minnesota
Residents/Fellows Annual Meeting Scholarships are supported by an FCMSC grant from Acorda and CMSC
The Labe Scheinberg Award
For outstanding work in the field of neurorehabilitation. This award also honors the multi-disciplinary spirit prevalent among MS professionals. Dr. Labe Scheinberg was one of the earliest advocates for bringing together professionals from many disciplines to address MS. This award is generously supported annually by family members of Dr. Scheinberg. The FCMSC gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Mr. and Mrs. William Kristol, Dr. David Scheinberg, Dr. & Mrs. Ranard and Dr. Grace Minamoto.
The Labe Scheinberg Awardees
Physical Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI

Brian Hutchinson, PT, MSCS
Dignity Health, Citrus Heights, CA
Amy Thiessen, PT
Gabriel Pardo, MD
MS Center of Excellence, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Oklahoma City, OK
Telerehabilitation in MS: Gait, Balance, and Patient-Reported Outcomes

Vice president of Healthcare Access, National Multiple Sclerosis Society
New York, NY
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Robert Motl, PhD
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Stratford, NJ
Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University
Portland, OR
The Fes-I Predicts Falls and ABC Scores In People With Multiple Sclerosis

Her team’s work is important to multiple sclerosis, and has been actively aided by Ruth Ann Marrie, MD, MS, FRCPC(C) and Tuula Tryry, PhD, MAED, both affiliated with the NARCOMS MS Patient Registry.

Neurology, Jacobs Neurological Institute
University of Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
VALIDITY, RELIABILITY, AND SENSITIVITY OF THREE GAIT MEASURES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
2009 Labe Scheinberg awardees were Katrina Williams, Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist, Master’s of Applied Science, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Grad Cert Higher Education from University of Queensland, Australia and Phu Hoang, Doctorate of Physiotherapy, Bachelor of Physiotherapy from Multiple Sclerosis Society of New South Wales, Victoria, Australia. Their work entitled “Two Physiotherapy Models of Service Delivery for People with Multiple Sclerosis” was recognized as the most outstanding work in neurorehabilitation in MS, presented at the CMSC Annual Meeting by the Foundation of the CMSC.
Jose A. Cabrera-Gomez, MD, PhD, FAAN from International Neurological Restoration Center in Havana, Cuba was the recipient of the 2008 Labe Scheinberg award.
Thank you to our supporters!
The Foundation of the CMSC salutes the supporters of Scholarships, Fellowships and Professional Resources:
- Biogen
- Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers
- EMD Serono, Inc.
- Genentech
- Inserra Supermarket
- Labe Scheinberg Family
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
With your help and support of the Foundation of the CMSC, we can ensure that future generations of people with MS will receive the quality healthcare they need and deserve.