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File Uploads - Kerri WalkerTBI AmbassadorRoleIndividual with TBI with End DV Now organizationLocationPhoenix, ArizonaFun Facts
Kerri loves English history and spends her free time reading and playing with her pet chihuahua. Having a great empathy and passion for helping others, Kerr went to college at the age of 51 and got her bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She is a Certified Trauma Support Specialist and is currently working towards becoming a Certified Trauma and Resiliency life coach.
Kerri's Journey with TBI
When Kerri was younger, she experienced an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. After years of abuse, she noticed herself getting confused easily, mixing up her words when she tried to speak, and getting frequent headaches. These symptoms, along with the brain aneurism she suffered, caused her to lose part of her vision, information processing, proper sleep, and led to severe mental health issues.
In 2010, Kerri decided to use her experience to help others that are victims of domestic violence (DV) through working in domestic violence shelters both in Ohio and Phoenix. Three years ago she founded her own organization, End DV Now. She has spent 8 years working with victims of DV who have suffered a TBI, and helps them find resources and services to live healthier, more fulfilled lives. Kerri currently serves as a Certified Trauma Support Specialist for The CACTIS Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona. Being able to understand others’ situations and their symptoms on a deeper level has been extremely rewarding for Kerri.
Why does Kerri want to be an ambassador?
Aside from wanting to help people with TBI that have a story like hers, Kerri appreciates MSKTC TBI resources because they are evidence-based and cover a wide range of situations. Being familiar with the MSKTC website for some time, Kerri believes MSKTC resources would be incredibly helpful to the individuals with DV she works with and wants to begin sharing them. She also hopes to work with MSKTC to produce more TBI resources specifically related to DV.
What has Kerri done as an ambassador?
Kerri has shared links to MSKTC resources on Twitter and plans to share them on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram as well. She provides relevant MSKTC resources to various advocacy groups and organizations, including End DV Now, and plans to share and discuss MSKTC resources directly with DV victims through her organization in the future. Kerri also has plans to share MSKTC resources with domestic service providers and law enforcement organizations, as well as indigenous people organizations.
- Suzanne WestonTBI AmbassadorRoleSurvivorFun Facts
After a career in financial services, Suzanne explored her creative side as a writer, and consultant in creating an awareness of the importance of supply chain diversity. She serves on a non-profit board whose vision is to foster kindness, compassion, and openness in the hearts and minds of children, who will give back to their communities to make the world a more accepting and loving place.
Suzanne's Journey with TBI
Suzanne learned about TBI after sustaining a concussion from a car accident in October 2022. MSKTC resources helped her understand her symptoms. TBI is invisible, which may be overlooked by the medical community and left undiagnosed. Suzanne learned that it is important to articulate issues and frustrations experienced by persons who have experienced mild concussions and offer support. She believes people who experienced a TBI, rather than resuming life as normal, should use this time to relax and heal.
Why does Suzanne want to be an MSKTC ambassador?
As a MSKTC ambassador, Suzanne has the goal to share information, resources, and hope. She wants to help maaking the information provided on the MSKTC website immediately visible to people in the early stages of recovery. She also wants to help medical professionals recognize that while brain injury is invisible, it is real, and should be taken seriously. She believes that patients should understand the signs, instruction for daily life, and be assured their experience is normal.
What has Suzanne done as an ambassador?
Suzanne has leveraged her expertise in writing and lived experience with TBI to provide input to the MSKTC team to help improve the formatting and presentation of the MSKTC website. She plans to share the information about the MSKTC resources by writing an article for a newspaper that she serves as an editor for. She also plans to share MSKTC resources to educate TBI survivors and healthcare providers about TBI.
- Claudia GonzalezTBI AmbassadorRoleAthletic Trainer and PhD Student in Rehabilitation CounselingLocationTexasFun Facts
Claudia has a deep appreciation for sports and the impact it can have across communities. When she is not involved in sports you may catch Claudia at a Lionel Richie concert, reading, traveling, spending time by a pool or beach, or watching Star Trek.
Claudia's Journey with TBI
Born in Mexico, Claudia is a first-generation college student in her family. She was an athletic trainer for 10 years before pursuing her PhD in rehabilitation counseling. In her time as an athletic trainer, Claudia observed misconceptions about concussion by athletes, their families and professionals. She understands the need for athletic trainers to have evidence-based research and resources to inform concussion protocols, as well as athletes to have the resources they need when struggling with physical and mental health or other issues stemming from concussion.
Why does Claudia want to be an ambassador?
Claudia wants to advocate for athletic trainers who don't get to see high quality resources like the MSKTC resources as much as they should. As a MSKTC ambassador, Claudia wishes to increase her capacity to support and advocate for athletes suffering concussion, spinal cord injury, and other injuries. By being an ambassador to share MSKTC evidence-based resources, she can help athletes, athletic trainers, and their family members to better understand and manage concussion.
What has Claudia done as an ambassador?
Claudia has shared MSKTC resources via social media channels. She also worked with a friend to include a story about the MSKTC resources in the bimonthly newsletter of the Valley Athletic Trainers Association. Claudia is currently working with a colleague on a concussion protocol which will be informed by some of the resources from MSKTC. They plan to give presentations to coaches and athletic trainers and share the MSKTC resources to help them better support athletes with concussion and other injuries.
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Burn Resource Inventory
This PowerPoint presentation includes slides on all MSKTC burn injury topics. It also includes slides on Burn Model System Program and BMS national Database. Model System researchers can use the slides to promote the BMS Program, database, and free research-based MSKTC resources to support the burn community.
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SCI Consumer Inventory Feb 2023
This PowerPoint presentation includes slides on all MSKTC spinal cord injury (SCI) topics. It also includes slides on SCI Model System Program and SCIMS national Database. Model System researchers can use the slides to promote the SCIMS Program, database, and free research-based MSKTC resources to support the SCI community.
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TBI Consumer Resource Inventory Feb 2023
This PowerPoint presentation includes slides on all MSKTC traumatic brain injury (TBI) topics. It also includes slides on the TBI Model System Program and TBI Model System national database. Model System researchers can use the slides to share MSKTC resources through their presentations to promote the TBI Model System Program, TBIMS database, and free research-based MSKTC resources to support the TBI community.
File Uploads - Jenni TaylorSCI AmbassadorRoleIndividual with SCILocationMinnesotaFun Facts
Jenni loves writing, and she is currently writing her memoir. Jenni also likes writing poetry, listening to audiobooks, hanging out with friends, and writes regularly on her blog. When she isn’t writing, Jenni paints (particularly watercolor) with her mouth. Exercising, volunteering, motivational speaking, and being outside are also things she really enjoys.
Jenni's Journey with SCI
Jenni was in a car accident at the age of 16 and sustained a C-1 C-2 spinal cord injury in 2002. She is on a ventilator and paralyzed from the neck down. During the 6 months she was in the hospital, Jenni had to decide if life was worth living. She made the decision to live her life to the fullest and believes everything happens for a reason. She was able to graduate from high school on time in 2005, and later went on to get her associate degree in communications. She is a motivational speaker and has a blog to help others in need by sharing her story. In 2011, Jenni became Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota and traveled to different cities talking to others about choosing happiness, no matter what happens in life. Jenni is a peer mentor to help others with SCI.
Why does Jenni want to be an ambassador?
Jenni always looks for ways that she could help other people. She came across MSKTC Ambassador Program and found it a great way to help people like her and connect with the SCI community.
What has Jenni done as an ambassador?
Jenni has written blog posts about MSKTC resources which she shared with various support groups via her social media channels. She has even shouted-out the MSKTC ambassador program on her blog. She plans to share MSKTC resources when mentoring others with SCI. Jenni also plans to let people know about the free research based MSKTC through public speaking engagements, sharing it with others and organizations.