About TLC

Mission
The mission of the Therapy Leadership Council (TLC) is to establish a network for therapy professionals who work in spinal cord injury (SCI). TLC promotes research, education, development of practice guidelines, and professional mentorship. TLC strives to improve clinical care by harmonizing research, evidence-based practice, and standardization of care to maximize functional outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with SCI.

History of TLC
Therapy Leadership Council (TLC) began in 2004 as a small meeting of VA SCI therapists. The meeting was held in Seattle, Washington and was sponsored by a grant from the United Spinal Association.  Because of the grassroots efforts of these VA SCI therapists, TLC’s meeting eventually became a parallel meeting with the Congress on Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. This long standing annual conference was sponsored by United Spinal Association and attended by the American Association of SCI Psychologists and Social Workers, the American Paraplegia Society (APS), the American Association of SCI Nurses.  For the next 5 years, support grew for TLC and membership expanded to include private sector SCI therapists.

In October of 2009 TLC along with the American Association of SCI Psychologists and Social Workers, the American Paraplegia Society, the American Association of SCI Nurses formally became the Academy of SCI Professionals (ASCIP).

The TLC section membership is comprised of therapy professionals from every region that represent the continuum of SCI rehabilitation from research and academia to clinical settings. The purpose of TLC remains the same it was in 2004 which is to provide a platform for clinical dialog, mentorship, and distribution of information that impact our therapy practice and our clients. Being a part of a larger interdisciplinary organization provides therapists with a broader outreach to fellow SCI professionals and a substantial voice for spinal cord injury.

TLC would like to acknowledge the 2009 founding Board Members:

• Theresa Berner MOT, OTR/L, ATP - The Ohio State University Medical Center
• Jacqueline LaMear Black, MSPT – VA St Louis Healthcare System
• Amy (Icarangal) Samora  PT, NCS – Harborview Medical Center
• Diane Johnston MSPT - Shepherd Center
• Marty Kilbane PT, DPT, OCS - Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
• Darrell Musick PT – Ekso Bionics; SCI Seminars, Inc
• Elaine Rogers PT, ATP – VA Puget Sound Health Care System
• Angela Stewart OTR - VA Puget Sound Health Care System