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- Nelson GonzalezTBI AmbassadorRoleOccupational Therapist and Executive Director at Rehab Without WallsLocationFloridaFun Facts
Nelson has a large loving family (wife, 5 siblings, 3 children and 15 nieces/nephews). If Nelson wasn’t so busy with family, work, and staying physically fit, there is a very good possibly you would catch him at a drum circle!
Nelson has been an occupational therapist (OT) since 2004. In his time, he has gathered several certifications and formed many affiliations with prominent therapy organizations that focus on spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). As a therapy leader and clinician, Nelson has helped restore function to clients who have disabilities following disease or profound injuries like SCI and TBI among many others. Nelson serves as the executive director of Rehab Without Walls NeuroSolutions in Florida. He has been a strong advocate for the value of rehab professionals’ role in a patient’s journey to accomplishing skills needed for life as well as using evidence-based practice to support their role.
Why does Nelson want to be an ambassador?
Nelson loves to share high quality research-based resources like the ones produced by the MSKTC that he believes in. Nelson points out that there is so much room for improvement in the services provided for people with disabilities, particularly in Florida with the lack of adaptive beaches and home & community based services. By being an ambassador, he shares the free research-based MSKTC resources with patients and clinicians to help achieve better rehabilitation outcomes.
What has Nelson done as an ambassador?
Nelson has used MSKTC’s resources to educate his staff at Rehab Without Walls in Florida whom he oversees so they can in turn educate patients/clients as well as family members and caregivers. Nelson hopes to use the reach of his national company to spread the word on MSKTC’s resources by posting MSKTC resources on the intranet page for all staff working for Rehab Without Walls.
- Nelson GonzalezSCI AmbassadorRoleOccupational Therapist and Executive Director at Rehab Without WallsLocationFloridaFun Facts
Nelson has a large loving family (wife, 5 siblings, 3 children and 15 nieces/nephews). If Nelson wasn’t so busy with family, work, and staying physically fit, there is a very good possibly you would catch him at a drum circle!
Nelson has been an occupational therapist (OT) since 2004. In his time, he has gathered several certifications and formed many affiliations with prominent therapy organizations that focus on spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). As a therapy leader and clinician, Nelson has helped restore function to clients who have disabilities following disease or profound injuries like SCI and TBI among many others. Nelson serves as the executive director of Rehab Without Walls NeuroSolutions in Florida. He has been a strong advocate for the value of rehab professionals’ role in a patient’s journey to accomplishing skills needed for life as well as using evidence-based practice to support their role.
Why does Nelson want to be an ambassador?
Nelson loves to share high quality research-based resources like the ones produced by the MSKTC that he believes in. Nelson points out that there is so much room for improvement in the services provided for people with disabilities, particularly in Florida with the lack of adaptive beaches and home & community based services. By being an ambassador, he shares the free research-based MSKTC resources with patients and clinicians to help achieve better rehabilitation outcomes.
What has Nelson done as an ambassador?
Nelson has used MSKTC’s resources to educate his staff at Rehab Without Walls in Florida whom he oversees so they can in turn educate patients/clients as well as family members and caregivers. Nelson hopes to use the reach of his national company to spread the word on MSKTC’s resources by posting MSKTC resources on the intranet page for all staff working for Rehab Without Walls.
- Sarah ConnerBurn AmbassadorRoleSurvivorLocationTexasFun Facts
Before Sarah’s burn injury, she was a competitive gymnast. While it took a long time gaining back her stamina as well as the ability to stretch her grafted skin, she is now into coaching gymnastics. When Sarah is not advocating for burn survivors or coaching gymnastics, you may see her doing yoga, backpacking, biking, or running. Sarah particularly likes hot yoga because it helps stretch her scars and grafted skins.
Sarah's Journey with Burn Injury
Sarah suffered a severe burn injury back in 2011 due to a cookout accident. After many surgeries and skin grafts, Sarah went through a very difficult time due to a lack of aftercare. She struggled with depression and thought she would never be loved. She learned about the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors where she was able to see that she was not alone. With support from other burn survivors, she has learned to overcome challenges and adjust life after burn injury. Now Sarah is an active advocate for the burn community where she facilitates two support groups at local hospitals. She is also passionate about helping other burn survivors to find intimate relationship and has shared her story in the Sexuality and Intimacy after Burn Injury video produced by the MSKTC.
Why does Sarah want to be an ambassador?
By being an ambassador to share the free research-based MSKTC resources, Sarah ensures that other burn survivors don’t have to go through what she did when she felt alone after her burn. By being a MSKTC ambassador, she wants to be a source of strength for other burn survivors so they can go on to support others. Burn injury impacts the entire family. Sarah recognizes the value of the MSKTC resources to not only help burn survivors but also caregivers and everyone around the burn survivor.
What has Sarah done as an ambassador?
Working with local hospitals and burn centers, Sarah ensures MSKTC resources are included in patient discharge packets. She also speaks with trauma nurses about aftercare using MSKTC resources because so many important aspects of aftercare are not in the routine care for burn patients. When Sarah facilitates support groups, she always makes sure to have the MSKTC resources ready to share, and is enthusiastic to get more people involved to support people with burn injuries. As a MSKTC ambassador, Sarah also encourages the burn community to participate in the MSKTC research opportunities such as taking the MSKTC user-feedback surveys.
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