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2023-2024 Iowa LENDTrainees

2023-2024 Iowa LEND trainees

 

Front row, above, left to right: Nathan Albano, Janessa Klein, Carolyn Burchfield, Amelia DeRynck, Marisa Ascencio, Jorg Westermann, Amira Khalafalla, Pammie Quintero Rodriguez, Ethan Jones, Jonathan Milligan, Allie Bonagura, Mary Howk, Ashley Augustine, Benjamin Smith

Second row, abve, left to right: Lauren Lavin, Kelly Thomas, Karianna Holte, Kaitlynn Harvey, Ted Rico, Uzair Ahmad, Michaela Mathews, Nick Hofmaier, Rohit Nair, Ryan Spence, Emily Puetz, Teresa Whiteaker

Trainee Bios

Uzair Ahmad – Pediatric Dentistry

Hey all, my name is Uzair Ahmad and I am a first year pediatric dental resident here at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. I am originally from LeClaire, Iowa where my parents still currently live. I graduated with a BS in Human Physiology in 2018 from the University of Iowa and decided to stay here for dental school. I graduated with my DDS in 2023. While in dental school, I developed a strong passion for pediatric care, including care for individuals with special health care needs. This led me to applying for residency in Pediatric Dentistry, so that I could better understand and treat these populations. Part of our curriculum allows us to participate in LEND, which is a great honor. Outside of work, I enjoy trying different foods, watching movies, and playing basketball.

Nathan Albano - Community

Nathan Albano is an ILEND community and self-advocacy trainee and an Independent Living Specialist at Access 2 Independence. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2022. While attending Iowa, he was the events planner and eventual president of UI Students for Disability Advocacy and Awareness, where he developed a space dedicated to the disability community which has since flourished into a hub of self-advocacy and peer support. He also served as the Disability Constituency Senator for the University of Iowa Undergraduate Student Government. Nathan has plans to continue his education in Sociology, hoping to one day earn a PhD studying the relationship between neurodiversity and maladjustment in post-industrial society. In his free time, Nathan likes to play video games, build Legos, and watch TV shows and movies that his friends never seem to enjoy as much as he does.

Marisa Ascencio - Psychiatry

My name is Marisa Ascencio and I am one of the third year psychiatry residents at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. I obtained my bachelor's degree in community health from The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. I went on to attend medical school at The University of Illinois, Peoria campus. Throughout medical school, I was involved in various organizations focused on health promotion in underserved populations. My interest in working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities started while working on the inpatient psychiatry unit in residency. After realizing this new interest, I joined a specialized track that allowed me to work with this patient population one half day per week. It has truly been the highlight of my residency experience. My personal interests include spending time with my family and fiancé David, who is an emergency medicine resident.

Ashley Augustine – Social Work

Ashley Augustine(she/her/hers) received her B.L.S at the University of Iowa in Family, Community, and Social Support. She is currently getting her master’s degree in social work at the University of Iowa and is an ILEND trainee. In addition to being a full-time student, she is a house coordinator for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois in Iowa City. She is a trained crisis counselor and has certifications in Applied Suicide Intervention Training (ASIST) and Psychological First Aid. She has a passion for raising mental health awareness and promoting suicide awareness, especially in rural Iowa. Ashley strives to use her privilege to help those in disadvantaged communities and promote equity for all. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.

Emilia Bendler – Social Work

Hello, my name is Emilia Bendler—I sometimes go by Emi. I am a Social Work Student Trainee of the ILEND program. I have a Bachelor of Arts in both Linguistics and Theatre Arts from the University of Iowa, and I am currently working towards my Master of Social Work degree at the University of Iowa. I have a passion for working with children. I am currently a nanny, and before that I was a preschool teacher. I also currently work with children and adolescents with disabilities through my practicum at the Center for Disabilities and Development. In the future, I would like to work with children in a behavioral therapy setting.

Allie Bonagura – Public Health

My name is Allie Bonagura and I am a 2023-24 ILEND trainee from the College of Public Health. I have a bachelors degree titled “Healthcare, Identity and Equity” from Hobart and William Smith Colleges (Geneva, NY) that focused on understanding and blending both sides of the healthcare status coin, the biological and the social. At the University of Iowa, I am currently getting my MPH in Community and Behavioral Health to further educate myself on the social, political and cultural determinants of health. In addition to my current academic program, I was a research assistant for the Academic Public Health Partnership, that focused on fostering collaboration between the University and local public health departments as a tool to increase workforce capacity and further enrich the academic experience of students. In undergrad, I was a student leader for the Public Leadership Education Network, which is a national organization focused on supporting women and gender minorities in policy and positions of leadership, which was the beginning of my formal leadership training. After completing my MPH, my goal is to attend medical school to become an MCH primary care physician, where I will again be able to blend all I have learned about the social determinants of health with a strong understanding of the physiologic processes of the body. In my free time, I love to do my own nails and to crochet - although it takes me forever to finish a project (I have been working on my current blanket for over 3 years!)!

Carolyn Burchfield – Speech-Language Pathology

My name is Carolyn Burchfield, and I am a second-year speech-language pathology master’s student at the University of Iowa and an ILEND trainee. I currently serve as a graduate student clinician at the Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic, working with individuals across the lifespan to improve their communication and swallowing abilities. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in speech-language-hearing: sciences and disorders with minors in dance, education, and psychology from the University of Kansas in 2022, where I graduated with highest distinction and departmental honors. During my time at KU, I had the privilege of contributing to the Measuring Early Communication in Students with Autism Project as an undergraduate research assistant, allowing me the opportunity to present our research findings at various conferences and symposiums.

I am passionate about providing equitable access to communication and creating inclusive environments for all. I value connection, empathy, advocacy, and collaboration in all that I do. My professional interests include pediatric neurodevelopmental disabilities, aural rehabilitation, and augmentative and alternative communication. Beyond my academic and clinical pursuits, I love music, dance, and the outdoors. I look forward to continuing to grow academically, clinically, and personally through the Iowa LEND program to best serve and advocate for my current and future clients and their families.

Amelia DeRynck - Education

Amelia (she/her) is a current LEND trainee and graduate student in both the Higher Education and Student Affairs and Public Affairs programs. Since earning her bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Illinois, she has worked with individuals with disabilities in several capacities and has personal experience living and working with disabilities. She began working for the University of Iowa in 2020 and has developed a passion for higher education, with a particular interest for students with disabilities. Currently, she works in the Office of the Registrar and hopes to gain various perspectives within higher education before becoming involved with higher education policy. 

As a person with acquired disabilities, she grappled with learning to navigate life, which has contributed to her desire to influence policies that create a more inclusive college experience for young adults with disabilities. Her research interests include Universal Design in postsecondary education and cross- disability experiences for individuals in Higher Education. Outside of work and studying, Amelia enjoys reading, cooking, and taking walks with her partner and one of their four dogs. 

Kaitlynn Harvey – Pediatric Dentistry

My name is Kaitlynn Harvey. I am a LEND trainee and a Pediatric Dentistry resident. I recently graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry and completed my undergraduate degree at Hastings College in Nebraska. I am passionate about helping others and making an impact on those around me. In my free time, I typically binge-watch the latest TV shows or walk my dog. I enjoy spending time with my friends or family, whether that's a weekend at the lake, golfing, or watching sports.

Nick Hofmaier – Pediatric Dentistry

University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics

Education

DDS, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, 2023

Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, 2019

I got into dentistry, specifically pediatric dentistry, to help get children started off on the right foot regarding their oral health. So many adults fear the dentist or don’t have the proper understanding of how to maintain their oral health. That’s where pediatric dentists can have a major impact. To me, starting a child off the right way with happy and healthy teeth is key to having a healthy relationship with dentists as adults. By familiarizing children with the dental environment and explaining how to maintain proper oral hygiene to both children and their families, hopefully I can help keep the children out of dental offices for extensive treatment when they are older, and if treatment is needed, they are comfortable in the environment. Oh, and kids are just awesome!

I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. For college and dental school, I made the massive 50-mile drive down southwest to Lincoln, Nebraska. Go Huskers. (Now that I am in Iowa, I am a Husker hiding among Hawkeyes).

If you don’t see me around or can’t get ahold of me, odds are I’m somewhere golfing. I am named after a golfer (Jack Nicklaus) and have been swinging a club since I could walk. Each year I try and play 100 rounds (sadly residency is cutting into that number slightly!). Otherwise, if not golfing, I enjoy reading science and histories, weightlifting, running, and skiing when the snow starts falling!

Kari Holte – Health Administration

My name is Kari Holte and I am a LEND trainee. I am Master of Health Administration student at the University of Iowa and I currently work as a Graduate Assistant at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in the Office of the Patient Experience. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I worked as a direct care professional with nonverbal individuals with disabilities. This experience showed me the importance of advocacy, which is a crucial skill to have as a health administrator in order to advocate for patients at a systemic level. I am excited to expand my knowledge and strengthen my advocacy skills through the LEND program, in order to be a well-equipped, informed advocate throughout my career. I personally value curiosity and continuous learning, so I look forward to continuing to seek out additional growth opportunities throughout my lifetime. Outside of work and school, I enjoy hiking and outdoor activities, traveling, reading, spending time with loved ones, and playing piano (though this hobby is a work in progress).

Mary Howk - Audiology

My name is Mary Howk and I am a current LEND Trainee at the University of Iowa and Doctor of Audiology graduate student at the University of Buffalo. I am currently finishing up my final year of my doctoral program and working full time as the 4th year audiology extern. Before joining the LEND program as a trainee this year, I previously served as Secretary of the University of Buffalo Student Academy of Audiology chapter.

I am personally very passionate about accessible and affordable health care for all people. Equity of care is something that in our society is still progressing, and working to advocate for that is close to my heart. In my personal time, I enjoy reading and travel; both of these allow me to gain both experience and perspective from people in different places.

Ethan Jones – Self-Advocacy

Hello, my name is Ethan Jones and I’m participating in the Iowa LEND program as a self-advocate. I am currently a Junior at the University of Iowa, and I attend the UI REACH program there. I have been able to accomplish goals and work hard on my academics because I believe that all that effort will be put to good use someday. My passion is to become a successful disability advocate and also put my determination, discipline, and perseverance to the test. I know that the thing that I am most interested in is improving my mental fortitude because that, in my opinion, is how you accomplish every goal in your life.

Amira Khalafalla – Family

Amira Khalafalla is a trainee in Iowa Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disability program (ILEND). Her role in the program is a caregiver of individuals with special health issues. She is a mother of three kids with disabilities, seventeen, eighteen and twenty-two years old. Being a family member of neurodivergent kids serves as her motivation to pursue a Masters in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA is a scientific approach to improve an individual’s socially significant behavior and their quality of life.

Amira is passionate about advocating for the needs of children with special health issues and raising awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle for their development. She enjoys reading, listening to music, being outdoors, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Janessa Klein – Speech-Language Pathology

Hello, I'm Janessa Klein, a LEND trainee currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Iowa. I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with my Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish. I am passionately committed to improving the lives of individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families within my clinical work, course work, policy work, and personal life. 

One of my proudest accomplishments is completing a research project that identified Spanish-English cognates as intervention targets for speech sound disorders with bilingual children. My values revolve around inclusivity, empowerment, individuality, and honesty, which guide my work both inside and outside the classroom. Beyond my academic and professional pursuits, I enjoy traveling as much as possible, reading thrillers and personal growth novels, and spending time outside with my fiancé and rescue dog. I'm thrilled to be part of the Iowa LEND program, where I can continue to learn and collaborate with passionate professionals to make a positive impact on the disability community.

Lauren Lavin – Public Health

Hello! My name is Lauren Lavin, and I am a LEND trainee and a 2nd-year PhD student at the University of Iowa. I am currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Health Services and Policy through the College of Public Health. As a PhD student, I am interested in addressing challenges in the U.S. healthcare system through research, analysis, and policy development. My personal research interests are in virtual care innovation. This is an intentionally broad descriptor, as I have many interests in the virtual care field, including telehealth and artificial intelligence. My goal is to understand how these technologies can be used to create better health outcomes without replacing the personal component of healthcare.

I wholeheartedly believe in the need to bring research into the "real world," so I work to bridge the gap between research and practice through my involvement with advocacy groups such as LEND, industry stakeholders, and community members. I believe research should always be done with an end in mind, and effective healthcare policy begins with a deep understanding of those it affects and the implications that are likely to follow. As such, I enjoy connecting with people on both professional and personal levels. I am excited about the opportunities to connect, learn, and create change within the disability community through the ILEND program over the next year!

Michaela Mathews – Pediatric Dentistry

My name is Michaela Mathews; I am a LEND trainee. I received a bachelor's degree from Central College and majored in Biology. This spring, I graduated from dental school at the University of Iowa. This summer, I started my pediatric dental residency at the University of Iowa. I am passionate about providing care to underserved and underrepresented populations in rural areas. I grew up in a small community and want to provide more resources for members of my community. This passion led me to my current career path. Some of my interests are listening to live music, exploring new places to eat, and spending time with my family.

Jonathan Milligan – Education

My name is Jonathan Milligan and I am both an ILEND trainee and a current student in the University of Iowa Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s program. As a rehabilitation counselor, my role is to aid individuals with disabilities in finding work or academic success to better their lives. This can include providing therapy, helping people navigate and find systems that will provide resources and aid they need for their daily lives, and providing professional training and development. As a student I am still learning, but I am passionate about this area and about how I can help.

In addition to my counseling skills, I have significant experience in psychological testing and assessment from my time as a graduate student in a research psychology program. I am professionally trained in the assessments such as the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence (TONI-4), Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE), Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT), WoodCock-Johnson III (WJ-III), Program Administrator Scale (PAS) and Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). I am also fourth author on the publication “Advantages of intrahemspheric processing and interhemispheric processing in simple and complex reading tasks using event-related potentials (ERPs)” and have designed and implemented my own study “Is OpenDyslexic Font Helpful for Dyslexic Readers?”. My passion for both researching and helping people with disabilities stems from my own experience growing up with a diagnosed written language learning disorder, and I want to help individuals with disabilities find success in school and in transitioning to the working world.

Rohit Nair – Preventive and Community Dentistry

Rohit Nair is a 2023-24 ILEND trainee and works as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Preventive and Community Dentistry at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. He underwent training in general dentistry and prosthodontics in his home country, India, before moving to the U.S. to pursue a certificate in Geriatric and Special Needs Dentistry at the University of Iowa. In his current role, Rohit is part of a team of faculty who provide didactic and clinical instruction to dental students in providing comprehensive oral health services to older adults and adults with special health care needs. He also provides direct care to patients in the intramural faculty practice clinic at the College of Dentistry. He considers service to be one of his core values and wants to enable better access to care for underserved groups, especially persons with special health care needs. In addition to his work at the dental school, Rohit also serves on the board of the Free Medical and Dental Clinic of Iowa City and volunteers there. He lives in Iowa City with his wife and their son, and in his spare time enjoys cooking, reading books, and listening to music.

Emily Puetz – Nursing

My name is Emily Puetz. I am a LEND trainee and graduate student at the University of Iowa, pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Pediatric Primary Care. In 2017, I graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with Honors College distinction. Since earning my BSN, I have worked as an inpatient Registered Nurse. My nursing experience has primarily focused on pediatric medical and surgical acute care. However, I have been fortunate to expand my training in neonatal intensive care and post-partum care. As a life-long learner, I continually seek opportunities to gain knowledge and have received additional certifications from the Emergency Nurses Association through their Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) and from the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board as a Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN).

Providing exceptional care to children and their families is my passion. I believe honoring the diverse experiences that make an individual unique and recognizing how these experiences impact the whole being are key to empowering children and families to thrive in their health. Honesty, integrity, and compassion are the values I strive to display when building relationships; I use these same values to set the foundation of the relationships I have with the individuals to whom I provide care, hoping they feel comfortable and confident in trusting me with their health care needs.

Outside of my studies and caring for others, I also find joy in gardening, reading, baking, playing violin, and exploring nature with my family.

Pammie Quintero Rodriguez – Self-Advocacy

My name is Pammie Rodriguez and I am a self-advocate trainee in the LEND program.  I help teach health advocacy. I am passionate about helping educate people by sharing my story.  Someday I'd like to be a musician.

Ted Rico – Pediatric Dentistry

My name is Ted Rico. I am a first-year pediatric dental resident at the University of Iowa. I graduated from A.T. Still University with a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Prior to this, I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree. I am passionate about providing dental care to underserved children.

Iris Rivera-Torres – Psychology (Puerto Rico)

Hi, my name is Iris Y Rivera Torres (she/her) and I'm from the Puerto Rico UCEDD. I'm currently in my doctoral internship in Clinical Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico. I also have a master’s in social work and believe that my roots in this field guide my systemic and social justice points of view in psychology. I'm also a yoga instructor, focusing on kids' yoga. I’ve had experience working in early interventions and supporting families of children with disabilities, especially autism. I try to lead all my interventions with compassion and kindness. My personal interest is the importance of social-emotional skills in early intervention programs, especially in children with disabilities. I'm very curious about the implementation of alternative psychology models, such as yoga and mindfulness-based models. I’m also passionate about recreational and self-care spaces for families with children with disabilities. I’m pretty shy when meeting new people, especially out of my first language (Spanish), but I'm always amazed by personal stories and I'm always open to support and help.

Zuleyka Rodriguez Ojeda – Psychology (Puerto Rico)

My name is Zuleyka Rodríguez and I am a Counseling Psychologist and LEND trainee.  I have a Psy.D. degree and completed a graduate certification in Autism.  I have experience in mental health consulting, therapy, and evaluation, particularly early ages, in various setting in the community, hear start programs and schools.  I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling and doing triathlons.  I am interested in participating in social research, family consulting, and voluntary work at the community.

Benjamin Smith – Psychology

I'm Benjamin Smith, a fourth year PhD candidate in the school psychology program at the University of Iowa. Before joining the program, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a degree in psychology, and then worked for a year with young children with developmental disabilities at an applied behavior analysis clinic. Prior to joining LEND, I worked in several research labs covering a variety of topics, including perceptual learning, applied behavior analysis, social-emotional learning, and reading intervention. I have also spent four semesters in schools working with school psychologists and special education staff to assess and design individualized education plans for schoolchildren. More recently, I spent two semesters at the Center for Disabilities and Development assessing and diagnosing children with attention and learning disabilities.

I have a wide variety of professional interests, but I have an especially large passion for social-emotional learning interventions and prosocial behavior development in children. When I'm not working, I greatly enjoy hiking, paddleboarding, and table-top role-playing games.

Ryan Spence – Physical Therapy

My name is Ryan Spence and I am a LEND Trainee and a second year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student at the University of Iowa.  As a future physical therapist, I am passionate in helping others reach their full potential through exercise and movement.  When I'm not in Iowa (I'm originally from San Diego, California), you can find me at the beach or at Petco Park watching the San Diego Padres!

Kelly Thomas – Health Administration

Hello! My name is Kelly Thomas, I am a current LEND trainee and second-year Master of Health Administration student here at the University of Iowa. I also received my undergraduate degree here at UI in Business Management on the Human Resources track and earned a certificate in Public Health. During my time in Iowa City over the past 5+ years, I have held a variety of internship roles both working for University of Iowa Health Care as well as other organizations within the healthcare industry to learn as much as possible throughout my academic career. Personally, I love spending my free time doing any outdoor activities, cheering on the Hawkeyes, and being with friends and family! I am also a very creative person, and doing anything where I can showcase my creative outlet is where I shine. My personal and professional life has solidified my passion for serving others, one of the many drivers that enforces my desire to pursue a career in healthcare. I am so eager to be a part of LEND this year and am looking forward to all the connections to be made throughout this program!

Jorg Westermann – Family

Dr. Jörg Westermann received his PhD in Hospital and Health Administration from the University of Iowa in 1998. He received an M.A. Degree in Economics from Wayne State University in 1993 and an Dipl.oec.Univ degree from the University of Augsburg in Germany in 1995. Dr. Westermann has been a faculty member at Ohio University, Des Moines University and the University of Iowa prior to joining Walden University in 2006.  At Walden University he currently serves as Dean, College of Health Sciences and Public Policy. Dr. Westermann has extensive experience in Online and Distance Education and served as Associate Director Online and Distance Education at Des Moines University and Director of the Certificate in Public Health Program at the University of Iowa.  He has published in journals such as Journal of Healthcare Management, Health Services Management Research, Journal of Health Administration Education, etc. and presented at professional conferences such as APHA (American Public Health Association), ASPPH (Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health) and AUPHA (Association of University Programs In Health Administration). He is active in professional associations and has served as president of the Iowa Public Health Association, chair of the Health Administration Section of APHA and chair of the Faculty Forum on Innovative Classroom Teaching at AUPHA.  Dr. Westermann has served as Fellow for CAHME (Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education) as well as consultant to programs considering CAHME accreditation.

Teresa Whiteaker – Nursing

Teresa is a caring and compassionate RN pursuing her doctorate in nursing at the University of Iowa College of Nursing. She’s focused on specializing in family medicine, hoping to provide essential healthcare and access to resources to underserved populations and communities. Her dedication to healthcare and passion for advocacy has not only led her to her current role as a nurse to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, but has also provided her with the priceless opportunity to be a LEND trainee. A firm believer in lifelong learning, Teresa is constantly reading anything that gets her closer to understanding the world around her and the people who live in it. Apart from healthcare and school, Teresa is a faithful member of her church and volunteers with their youth group. In her free time, you can find Teresa spending time with her family, going to her children’s sporting or drama events, or watching true crime documentaries.