General Session Speakers

* Biographies have been provided directly by the presenters and are published as submitted.

Monday, September 26, 2026
Opening General Session (8:00 am - 9:30 am)

Title: Growth of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Health Outcomes: CP Growth Charts and Beyond

Presenter: Richard Stevenson, MD

Richard Stevenson, MD, is a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician from Charlottesville, Virginia. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He completed general pediatrics training at the University of Virginia and a fellowship in Developmental Disabilities at the University of Iowa. He is board certified in neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Dr. Stevenson is Professor of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (NDBP) at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. His main interest and expertise relate to the care of children with cerebral palsy. He served as Chair of the UVA IRB for Health Sciences Research for 12 years (2009-2021), and he was Division Head of NDBP from 2011 to 2023. Dr. Stevenson is past president of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM, 2014). He co-edited a book (2018) Children and Youth with Complex Cerebral Palsy: Care and Management, aimed at primary care practitioners. In 2022, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Science from the Child Health Research Center of the UVA School of Medicine.

Dr. Stevenson's research has focused on growth, nutrition and nutrition assessment in children and youth with CP and how nutrition impacts health and quality of life outcomes. He was the principal investigator of the North American Growth in Cerebral Palsy Project, a multi-center, region-based NIH-funded study of growth in children with CP that demonstrated a relationship between nutritional status, health care utilization and social participation. He received an NIH Career Development Award (K-24) geared toward the development and implementation of clinical trials to enhance the health, function, and quality of life of children with cerebral palsy. He is a founding member of the Cerebral Palsy Research Network (CPRN), and he co-founded the research consortium Promoting International Collaborations on Nutrition in Neurologically Impaired Children (PICNNIC).

Title: One Among Many: Lessons about rare genetic conditions learned from Joubert Syndrome

Presenter: Dan Doherty, MD, PhD

Dan Doherty, MD, PhD (Professor and Division Head, University of Washington Pediatric Developmental Medicine) has devoted his research career to human hindbrain malformation conditions, studying their natural histories, genetic causes, developmental mechanisms, and treatments to improve the lives of affected individuals and their families. His group has enrolled >1500 families affected by a variety of hindbrain malformation conditions, following their progress for more than 20 years. Using genetic techniques that have evolved over time, Dr. Doherty’s group has identified genetic causes of tubulinopathy-related cerebellar dysplasia, TBCK- and TRAPPC12-related infantile encephalopathies, as well as Chudley-McCullough, Poretti-Boltshauser, and Joubert syndromes. Joubert syndrome (JS) is an excellent example of how human genetics is laying the groundwork for developing disease-specific treatments. JS is a genetic condition characterized by cognitive impairment, ataxia, and a distinctive hindbrain malformation called the “molar tooth sign.” It is one of the ciliopathies, conditions unified by their shared pathophysiology (primary cilium dysfunction), and overlapping phenotypes (brain malformation, retinal dystrophy, coloboma, cystic renal disease, liver fibrosis, skeletal dysplasia, polydactyly, and obesity). The primary cilium is a microtubule-based organelle that projects from the surface of most cells and senses chemical, light and mechanical input, as well as modulating the hedgehog, WNT, and other signaling pathways. Our work on natural history and genotype-phenotype correlations has also improved diagnostic, prognostic, and medical management information for patients.

Dr. Doherty’s clinical interests complement the research interests of his group. He cares for children with all types of neurodevelopmental conditions including brain malformations, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, intellectual disability, and cerebral palsy. He also provides prenatal counseling for women carrying fetuses with abnormal CNS imaging findings to provide a pediatric perspective on these conditions.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Morning General Session (8:00 am - 9:30 am)

Title: Back to the Future: Celebrating 80 Years of Science at AACPDM and Envisioning an Even Brighter Future

Presenters:

Diane L. Damiano, PhD, FAPTA

Diane L. Damiano, PhD, FAPTA, is a recently retired tenured Senior Investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She is internationally recognized for her research which focuses muscle strengthening and on the design of device-augmented interventions to promote activity, mobility and neuroplasticity in infants and children with cerebral palsy, including a pediatric strengthening exoskeleton and a smart harness to promote infant mobility. She pioneered the use of mobile brain imaging technologies to evaluate cortical activity during functional motor tasks and for neurofeedback training. She has over 175 peer-reviewed publications and was an Associate Editor of Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. She is Past President of the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society and the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) - the first physical therapist to serve in that role. She is a co-founder of the International Alliance of the Academies of Childhood Disabilities, an international effort to support the scientific education of multidisciplinary health professionals caring for children with CP and their families. She has received multiple awards, including the 2024 Mentorship award from the  AACPDM and the 2025 Lifetime Achievement award from the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.

Hank Chambers, MD

Hank Chambers, MD, was a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. He also serves as Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery, Emeritus at UCSD. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado in 1978. After medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine, he completed an orthopedic surgery residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. He pursued further training in a pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship in San Diego in 1990 under the tutelage of David Sutherland, Scott Mubarak, and Dennis Wenger. Dr. Chambers is the former Director of the Southern Family Center for Cerebral Palsy Program and Motion Analysis Lab at Rady Children's Hospital. He is a Past President of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (2006). Hank has been an associate editor of Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology since 2010. He is on the board of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and has been a member of their Scientific Advisory Council since 1996. He has authored 180 publications and 40 book chapters.  He has served as a Visiting Professor at more than 100 institutions worldwide. He has been recognized as one of the Top Doctors in San Diego for decades, named a Best Doctor in America, named a Top Doctor by U.S. News & World Report, and is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. He was inducted into the POSNA Hall of Fame in 2026.His wife, Jill, is active in many local and national patient advocacy groups and is a healing touch provider at Rady Children's Hospital.  His son, Sean (43), who has cerebral palsy, is currently living independently (with support) in San Diego, and his other son, Reid (42), is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH.  

Mark E. Gormley, Jr., M.D.

Mark E. Gormley, Jr., M.D., is a pediatric rehabilitation medicine physician at Gillette. He treats children and adolescents who have cerebral palsy, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular disorders, and other conditions, with a special interest in spasticity management. He joined Gillette in 1993. Dr. Gormley received his medical degree at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Ky. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Tufts Affiliated Hospitals in Boston, and completed a fellowship in pediatric rehabilitation medicine and traumatic brain injury at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Dr. Gormley is board-certified in pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation. His professional memberships include the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Association of Academic Physiatrists and the Association of Children's Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics.

Benjamin Shrader

Benjamin Shrader, BA, is a disabled self advocate, writer , film critic, and public speaker with cerebral palsy. He is the Vice Chair of the Delaware State Council for Persons with Disabilities, an ongoing member of the planning committee for the Delaware LIFE conference, the largest disability conference in the state, as well as a regular local, national and international  conference panelist on topics related to disability.

Alena Skinner

Alena Skinner is a Political Science student at Utah State University, disability advocate, and creator of the podcast "I can totally do that!". Alena created the podcast to highlight the experiences of adults with disabilities by sharing their stories, careers, and accomplishments, helping to challenge stereotypes and expand expectations about what people with disabilities can achieve. As a person with Cerebral Palsy, Alena is passionate about leadership, advocacy, and increasing opportunities for people with disabilities. Her involvement in 4-H played a significant role in developing her leadership skills and commitment to service, and she is proud of the experiences and lessons that continue to shape her work today.

Katherine M. Steele, PhD

Katherine M. Steele, is the Peterson Endowed Professor and Associate Chair of Research in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. She leads the Neuromechanics & Mobility Lab. She earned her BS in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. To integrate engineering and medicine, she has worked in multiple hospitals including the Denver Children's Hospital, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. For her research and innovations, she has led as PI multiple NIH R01/R21 grants from the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders & Stroke, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging & Bioengineering. She currently leads the renewal of R01NS091056 Quantifying patient-specific changes in neuromuscular control in cerebral palsy from the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders & Stroke and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. She has also been awarded a Career Development Award in Rehabilitation Engineering from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation CAREER Early Faculty Development Award, and the American Society of Biomechanics Young Scientist Award. In 2020, she co-founded and serves as Associate Director of CREATE, the Center for Research & Education on Accessible Technology & Experiences with partners from industry and academia. She also co-founded AccessEngineering, a program with initial NSF-support that aims to support individuals with disabilities to pursue careers in engineering and train all engineers in principles of universal design and ability-based design to create more inclusive products, environments, and experiences. Her current work focuses on advancing access to and effects of assistive technology for children with developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy and down syndrome. In 2026 she was named a Fellow of the American Society of Biomechanics.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Afternoon General Session (3:30 pm - 5:00 pm)

Title: My Inclusive Life

Presenters:

Samuel Habib

Samuel Habib is the co-director and featured participant of two Emmy Award winning films: the New York Times Op-Doc My Disability Roadmap and PBS film The Ride Ahead.  Samuel, 26, is a filmmaker and presenter for the Westchester Institute for Human Development and LikeRightNow Films.  He was profiled by Forbes Magazine and has been a Concord Monitor newspaper video columnist and college student. Samuel uses a wheelchair for mobility and a communication device (as well as his voice) to express himself. In addition to exploring his current and future academic and career options, Samuel also navigates significant, chronic health challenges. 

Dan Habib

Dan Habib is the Inclusive Communities Project Director at the Westchester Institute for Human Development and the founder of LikeRightNow Films.  He is the Director and Producer of Intelligent Lives, Including Samuel, Who Cares About Kelsey?, and Mr. Connolly Has ALS.  His produced the Emmy Award winning films My Disability Roadmap and the The Ride Ahead, both co-directed with his son Samuel Habib. Habib gave the TEDx talk, "Disabling Segregation," and served on President Obama's President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.  Habib and his wife, Betsy McNamara, live in Concord, NH, and have two sons: Isaiah, 29, and Samuel, 26.

 

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Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Closing General Session (11:45 am - 1:15 pm)

Title: Health Care Transition from Pediatric to Adult Health Care: Role of Clinician

Presenter: Patience H. White, MD, MA, FAAP, MACP, MACR

Patience H. White, MD, MA, FAAP, MACP, MACR is professor emeritus of medicine and pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and co-director, of the federally funded Got Transition National Center for Health Care Transition in Washington, DC. Dr. White received her MD from Harvard Medical School and a master’s in education from GWU School of Education and Human Development. Throughout her career, she has been active in academic medicine, clinical care, research, and public policy. In 2000-2001 she received a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship and worked in the Senate Finance Committee on Medicare part D. She has served as the vice president for Public Health Policy and Advocacy at the Arthritis Foundation, director of the Division of Adult and Pediatric Rheumatology and associate dean of Faculty Affairs at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is a practicing pediatric and adult rheumatologist in GWU division of Rheumatology for over 30 years and teaches the rheumatology fellows, medical residents, and medical students in the outpatient clinic. Dr. White is lead author on the 2023 reaffirmed joint American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Physicians statement: Supporting the Health Care Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood in the Medical Home. She co-developed the nationally recognized Six Core Elements of Health Care Transition that has been shown to improve transition health outcomes for youth and young adults as they move from pediatric to adult health care systems. She currently is the elected Governor of the American College of Physicians DC Chapter and has been awarded Masterships from American College of Physicians and the American College of Rheumatology.