Professional Advisory Council

The Professional Advisory Council (PAC) advises SBA’s Medical Directors, Board of Directors, and Executive Staff. The PAC includes approximately 20-30 members from a wide range of professional disciplines who provide service to adults and children with Spina Bifida. The PAC may develop subcommittees from the expert community at large to assist with their efforts. Any subcommittee developed reports directly to the PAC.

We are honored by the involvement of the outstanding individuals who make up the PAC. Invitations to join this group are extended based on the expertise of an individual and represent every aspect of the SBA’s work. The list of members and past members of our PAC is a “Who’s Who” of the leadership in the Spina Bifida community, and we are grateful to each one for their time, their energy, and their leadership. We recognize that PAC members’ first obligation is to their patients and clients and appreciate that they are donating their limited free time to further the efforts of our organization and the wider Spina Bifida community.

The four committees established by the PAC allow it to better support SBA in its mission and vision moving forward.

1. Science and Research Committee
2. Education and Program Committee
3. Provider Engagement Committee
4. Transition and Adult Care Committee

Membership on the committees include current PAC members and people outside of the PAC who have an interest in Spina Bifida and also have expertise useful in an area important to support the care and quality of life of people with SB and their families.

Looking to get involved with the PAC?

If you are interested in becoming involved with SBA’s Professional Advisory Council (PAC), please send a cover letter expressing your interest and your CV to our Director of Research & Services, Judy Thibadeau: [email protected]. Your submission will be shared with SBA’s Medical Directors.

If your particular interests meet a need of the PAC membership and/or a particular PAC committee, your involvement will be confirmed by the PAC members.

Thank you for your interest in the clinical leadership of SBA.

Professional Advisory Council Members

Adams, Richard, MD
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
Dallas, TX

Beierwaltes, Patricia, DNP, RN, CPNP
Minnesota State University, Mankato School of Nursing
Mankato, MN

Bowman, Robin, MD
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Brei, Timothy, MD, FAAP
SBA Medical Director
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seattle, WA

Castillo, Jonathan
University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Medicine
Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Omaha, NE

Church, Paige, MD, FAAP
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation
Toronto, ON, Canada

Dicianno, Brad, MD
School of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA

Dosa, Nienke (Prins), MD, MPH
Center for Development, Behavior and Genetics
Department of Pediatrics
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Syracuse, NY

Fremion, Ellen, MD, FAAP, FACP
Baylor Transition Medicine Clinic
Texas Children’s Spina Bifida Transition Clinic
Houston, TX

Hopson, Betsy, MSHA
Children’s of Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

Houtrow, Amy, MD, PHD, MPH
University of Pittsburgh
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA

Jackson-Coty, Janet, PT, DPT
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA

Joseph, David, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Children’s Hospital
Birmingham, AL

Lollar, Donald
School of Public Health
Oregon Health and Science University

Partington, Michael, MD
Children’s Mercy Hospital
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
University of Kansas School of Medicine
Kansas City, MO

Peterson, Paula, APRN
Primary Children’s Medical Center
Salt Lake City, UT

Rocque, Brandon, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Heersink School of Medicine
Birmingham, AL

Rosenfeld, Samuel, MD, FAAOS, FAAP, FAOA
Children’s Hospital Orange County
Orange, California

Routh, Jonathan, MD
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, NC

Safder, Shaista, MD 
Arnold Palmer Hospital
Center for Digestive Health and Nutrition
Orlando, FL

Tess Simpson
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Aurora, CO

Smith, Kathryn, RN, MN, DrPH
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Los Angeles, CA

Swana, Hubert S. MD, FAAP, FACS
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
Orlando, Florida

Swaroop, Vineeta, MD
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, IL

Szymanski, Konrad, MD, MPH
Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health
Indianapolis, IN

Van Speybroek, Alex, MD
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Los Angeles, CA
Shriners for Children Medical Center
Pasadena, CA

Walker, William O., MD
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seattle, WA

Wood, Hadley, MD
Cleveland Clinic Department of Urology
Cleveland, OH

Yindra, Julie, M.Ed.
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York

Zabel, Andrew, Ph.D., ABPP-CN
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Baltimore, MD