Meet Our Board Members
Beth Nguyen RN, Founder, Executive Director
Bethnguyen@wstfcure.org
Beth started this organization because of the struggles she encountered in her own journey. No longer able to deliver care at the bedside due to illness, Beth is determined to use her 15 years of nursing experience to advocate for men, women, and children suffering from a disease that is still not well recognized in the medical community. She discovered her case was not as rare as once thought. Beth is a proactive leader, published author of Beyond Syringomyelia, and was the recipient of the 2017 NORD Rare Impact Award for her dedication, and spearheading new advances for the rare sector.
Bethnguyen@wstfcure.org
Beth started this organization because of the struggles she encountered in her own journey. No longer able to deliver care at the bedside due to illness, Beth is determined to use her 15 years of nursing experience to advocate for men, women, and children suffering from a disease that is still not well recognized in the medical community. She discovered her case was not as rare as once thought. Beth is a proactive leader, published author of Beyond Syringomyelia, and was the recipient of the 2017 NORD Rare Impact Award for her dedication, and spearheading new advances for the rare sector.
Ty Nguyen, Co-founder
Ty began this organization with his wife, Beth, in order to advocate for a treatment plan. Ty is focused on paving a new path for all who are affected so that men, women, and children can receive excellent care and improved access to direct medical care. He believes it is very important for this group to act as an advocate for those who feel they have been left in the dark for too long. Ty currently serves as Director of Information Technology in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ty began this organization with his wife, Beth, in order to advocate for a treatment plan. Ty is focused on paving a new path for all who are affected so that men, women, and children can receive excellent care and improved access to direct medical care. He believes it is very important for this group to act as an advocate for those who feel they have been left in the dark for too long. Ty currently serves as Director of Information Technology in Atlanta, Georgia.
Joanne Bolivar, Chairperson
Joannebolivar@wstfcure.org
Joanne is a mother of three adopted children with rare diseases. She has been involved with our board and with legislation regarding her children’s diseases. From Beth's journey with Syringomyelia, Joanne knew there needed to be an educational modality. She understands the need to create a better public perception on how to address the multiple complexities in any disease. Joanne currently resides with her husband and adult son in West Linn, Oregon.
Joannebolivar@wstfcure.org
Joanne is a mother of three adopted children with rare diseases. She has been involved with our board and with legislation regarding her children’s diseases. From Beth's journey with Syringomyelia, Joanne knew there needed to be an educational modality. She understands the need to create a better public perception on how to address the multiple complexities in any disease. Joanne currently resides with her husband and adult son in West Linn, Oregon.
Emily Stewart, Vice-Chairperson
Emilyclaxton@wstfcure.org
Emily grew up in Southern California and has a passion for helping others. She moved to Missouri in 2001. After working several years in the administrative field, Emily was diagnosed with Syringomyelia. She struggled for several years to find knowledgeable medical professionals and tangible help. Those struggles led her to develop a strong sense of responsibility for helping others who suffer with this rare spinal cord disease. Despite Syringomyelia and the complications that Syringomyelia causes her, Emily refuses to let it define her. While she has limitations and can no longer lead an active lifestyle, Emily enjoys sightseeing trips, growing flowers and vegetables, watching movies and learning new things. She also loves spending time with family, friends, and her spoiled dogs. Emily believes in keeping a positive attitude and enjoying each day to the best of her ability.
Emilyclaxton@wstfcure.org
Emily grew up in Southern California and has a passion for helping others. She moved to Missouri in 2001. After working several years in the administrative field, Emily was diagnosed with Syringomyelia. She struggled for several years to find knowledgeable medical professionals and tangible help. Those struggles led her to develop a strong sense of responsibility for helping others who suffer with this rare spinal cord disease. Despite Syringomyelia and the complications that Syringomyelia causes her, Emily refuses to let it define her. While she has limitations and can no longer lead an active lifestyle, Emily enjoys sightseeing trips, growing flowers and vegetables, watching movies and learning new things. She also loves spending time with family, friends, and her spoiled dogs. Emily believes in keeping a positive attitude and enjoying each day to the best of her ability.
Deborah Barton
On behalf of our WSCTF Family:
Deb served on our WSCTF Team for many years and was a fierce advocate for the underserved.
We will continue forward in honor of her memory. We love you Deb!
On behalf of our WSCTF Family:
Deb served on our WSCTF Team for many years and was a fierce advocate for the underserved.
We will continue forward in honor of her memory. We love you Deb!
Brian Stewart, Software Development & Data Manager
Brian is originally from Southern California and moved to Missouri in 1992. He is a compassionate understanding person who strives to see the positive in anyone or in any situation, and always lends a helping hand. He has used his soft skills to build relationships not only in his 20 year career in information technology, but also to give back to community through volunteer efforts. Brian has devoted time over the years to causes he believes in, such as animal rescue shelters, being a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children, volunteer firefighter, and IT support for a local chapter of Christian Womens Job Corp, to name a few. He graduated from Missouri State University in 1999 with a Bachelors degree in Industrial Psychology and Computer Information Systems, and immediately put his knowledge and skills to the test with a small group of young graduates to develop the first ever purely Internet Browser based EMR, targeting medical long term specialty care facilities and Home Health/Hospice providers and organizations. He has held a variety of positions largely in the healthcare IT field in software and database development, database administration, data warehousing and mining, customer/technical support, business use case development, regulatory researcher, and training and implementation. He lives in Nixa Missouri with his wife Carmell, nearby to her grown children, and with his 15 and 18 year old daughters (and we can't leave out the dog, cat, and rabbit!), and nearby to his siblings. Brian was looking for his next volunteer opportunity when he learned of WSTFCure through his sister Emily who has Syringomyelia. Brian still struggles today with the after effects of a back injury from years ago, thus he has great understanding and compassion for those who have had their active lives stripped away due to disease or injury.
Brian is originally from Southern California and moved to Missouri in 1992. He is a compassionate understanding person who strives to see the positive in anyone or in any situation, and always lends a helping hand. He has used his soft skills to build relationships not only in his 20 year career in information technology, but also to give back to community through volunteer efforts. Brian has devoted time over the years to causes he believes in, such as animal rescue shelters, being a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children, volunteer firefighter, and IT support for a local chapter of Christian Womens Job Corp, to name a few. He graduated from Missouri State University in 1999 with a Bachelors degree in Industrial Psychology and Computer Information Systems, and immediately put his knowledge and skills to the test with a small group of young graduates to develop the first ever purely Internet Browser based EMR, targeting medical long term specialty care facilities and Home Health/Hospice providers and organizations. He has held a variety of positions largely in the healthcare IT field in software and database development, database administration, data warehousing and mining, customer/technical support, business use case development, regulatory researcher, and training and implementation. He lives in Nixa Missouri with his wife Carmell, nearby to her grown children, and with his 15 and 18 year old daughters (and we can't leave out the dog, cat, and rabbit!), and nearby to his siblings. Brian was looking for his next volunteer opportunity when he learned of WSTFCure through his sister Emily who has Syringomyelia. Brian still struggles today with the after effects of a back injury from years ago, thus he has great understanding and compassion for those who have had their active lives stripped away due to disease or injury.
Lisa Johnson, R.N., JD, Director of Counsel
Lisa A. Johnson attended Jefferson State Community College obtaining a degree in Nursing in 1985. After working several years at a major hospital, she decided to relocate to the Atlanta area. She attended Kennesaw State University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and then attended John Marshall Law School all while working full time as a Registered Nurse. Lisa A. Johnson has over 30 years of experience in the medical field dealing with various catastrophic situations. |
Barbara A. McLean, MN, RN, CCRN, CCNS-BC, NP-BC, FCCM
Director of Education
Barbara McLean has been in critical care practice for 40 years. Currently, Barbara is the advancing evidence-based practice clinical specialist for the division of critical care at the Grady Health System; Atlanta GA. Ms. McLean is a member of many professional organizations including the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the American Association of Surgery and Trauma. She has been awarded the excellence in education award by the AACN as well as the circle of excellence for clinical practice in 2014 and the SCCM has presented her with the prestigious Norma J. Shoemaker Award for critical care nursing excellence in 2013.
Barbara has written 24 chapters 16 articles and is a regular reviewer for Critical Care Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine and NEJM.
Director of Education
Barbara McLean has been in critical care practice for 40 years. Currently, Barbara is the advancing evidence-based practice clinical specialist for the division of critical care at the Grady Health System; Atlanta GA. Ms. McLean is a member of many professional organizations including the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the American Association of Surgery and Trauma. She has been awarded the excellence in education award by the AACN as well as the circle of excellence for clinical practice in 2014 and the SCCM has presented her with the prestigious Norma J. Shoemaker Award for critical care nursing excellence in 2013.
Barbara has written 24 chapters 16 articles and is a regular reviewer for Critical Care Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine and NEJM.
Lisa Raman , RN, MScANP, M Ed
Director of Nursing Committee and Educational Initiatives
Lisa Raman is an advanced practice nurse and educator who specializes in neurological and neurosurgical conditions. She is currently a pediatric outreach nurse in epilepsy. Prior to her current position, she worked for a decade as a national health advisor in both the U.S. and U.K. for people living with or caring for those with complex spinal defects and rare diseases. She was the primary investigator on a 5 year CDC grant to develop the Spina Bifida Collaborative Care Network, whose aim is to improve access to quality care for people with Spina Bifida (SB) across the lifespan. She also is a key person on an international project to revise the Healthcare Guidelines for SB. Further to that, Lisa volunteers as a professional and parent advocate to improve health care for people with rare diseases. She has started 2 non profit organizations for people with rare neuro biological defects. She has published in peer reviewed journals on complex urologic issues, and is a reviewer in “Urologic Nursing” Journal. Lisa sees no distinction between her personal and professional values. She works everyday to promote awareness and education within the professional community for marginalized and vulnerable people.
Director of Nursing Committee and Educational Initiatives
Lisa Raman is an advanced practice nurse and educator who specializes in neurological and neurosurgical conditions. She is currently a pediatric outreach nurse in epilepsy. Prior to her current position, she worked for a decade as a national health advisor in both the U.S. and U.K. for people living with or caring for those with complex spinal defects and rare diseases. She was the primary investigator on a 5 year CDC grant to develop the Spina Bifida Collaborative Care Network, whose aim is to improve access to quality care for people with Spina Bifida (SB) across the lifespan. She also is a key person on an international project to revise the Healthcare Guidelines for SB. Further to that, Lisa volunteers as a professional and parent advocate to improve health care for people with rare diseases. She has started 2 non profit organizations for people with rare neuro biological defects. She has published in peer reviewed journals on complex urologic issues, and is a reviewer in “Urologic Nursing” Journal. Lisa sees no distinction between her personal and professional values. She works everyday to promote awareness and education within the professional community for marginalized and vulnerable people.
Dr. KELLY COLEMAN PT, DPT, OCS, GCS
Physical Therapy Education
CERTIFICATIONS:
American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists ABPTS
Orthopedic Board Certified Specialist (OCS)
American Physical Therapy Association Credentialed CCIP Trainer
MEMBERSHIPS IN SCIENTIFIC/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Physical Therapy Education
CERTIFICATIONS:
American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists ABPTS
Orthopedic Board Certified Specialist (OCS)
American Physical Therapy Association Credentialed CCIP Trainer
MEMBERSHIPS IN SCIENTIFIC/PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
- American PT Association
- Missouri PT Association
- American Society of Neuro Rehabilitation
- The Society for Neuroscience
- Orthopedic Section APTA
- Education Section APTA
- Neurology Section APTA
- Geriatric Section APTA
Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton , MD
UCLA
Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton received his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from Michigan State University, Masters from University of Iowa and BS from East Carolina University. He is the Director of the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory and Distinguished Professor of the Departments of Integrative Biology and Physiology, Neurobiology and Neurosurgery and a member of the Brain Research Institute at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
He has been teaching and conducting research at UCLA for over 40 years. His research is focused on how the neural networks in the lumbar spinal cord of mammals, including humans, regain control of standing, stepping and voluntary control of fine movements after paralysis, and how can these motor functions be modified by chronically imposing activity-dependent interventions after spinal cord injury. Many of these projects are being performed with national and international collaborators and he has published over 460 peer-reviewed papers on topics in this area. Dr. Edgerton is also the President and Chairman of the Board for Neuro-recovery Technologies Inc.
UCLA
Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton received his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from Michigan State University, Masters from University of Iowa and BS from East Carolina University. He is the Director of the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory and Distinguished Professor of the Departments of Integrative Biology and Physiology, Neurobiology and Neurosurgery and a member of the Brain Research Institute at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
He has been teaching and conducting research at UCLA for over 40 years. His research is focused on how the neural networks in the lumbar spinal cord of mammals, including humans, regain control of standing, stepping and voluntary control of fine movements after paralysis, and how can these motor functions be modified by chronically imposing activity-dependent interventions after spinal cord injury. Many of these projects are being performed with national and international collaborators and he has published over 460 peer-reviewed papers on topics in this area. Dr. Edgerton is also the President and Chairman of the Board for Neuro-recovery Technologies Inc.
Dr. Miguel B. Royo Salvador, MD, Phd
Dr. Miguel B. Royo Salvador, MD, Phd, was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and is the director and manager of the Institut Chiari & Siringomielia & Escoliosis de Barcelona, formerly director and manager of the Institut Neurològic de Barcelona. He was head of the neurosurgery department at Barcelona’s Tres Torres Clinic and attending physician of the neurosurgical department at Barcelona’s Municipal Neurological Institute, former assistant professor for neurosurgery at the Medicine School of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and neurosurgeon at Barcelona’s Corachan Clinic.
He graduated in Medicine and Surgery in 1974 from the University of Barcelona’s School of Medicine. He earned his specializations in Neurosurgery and Neurology in 1978 and finished his doctoral thesis with the title “A contribution to the etiology of syringomyelia” cum laude at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 1992 and can practice as a general practitioner in the public health systems of all other European Union member states.
Dr. Miguel B. Royo Salvador has been focusing his studies for more than forty years on the etiological connection of a series of diseases that so far had been considered to be idiopathic or of doubtful origin and in 1996, two publications describe a new disease, the Filum Disease, which includes and explains different idiopathic diseases, like Syringomyelia, the Arnold Chiari I Syndrome, Scoliosis, basilar invagination, platybasia, retroflexed odontoid and kinking of the brain stem, and later, in different conferences and latter publications, he sets out a new syndrome, the Neuro-CranioVertebral Syndrome. In 1997, he contributes a new minimally-invasive trans-sacral approach to address the filum terminale. The new technique reduces the conventional four-hour surgery to forty minutes and eliminates frequent complications. He is one of the authors to have published most pages in relation to Syringomyelia and Arnold Chiari I Syndrome.
Dr. Royo Salvador currently alternates his research and medical activities at the Institut Chiari de Barcelona, founded in 2007, and works with the healthcare method Filum System® , the compendium of twelve protocols applied to more than one thousand patients since 1993. In 2014, he founds the Filum Academy Barcelona® for the training and accreditation of the health care personnel on the different levels of the FilumSystem®. Until now there are accredited professionals in three European countries.
Professional associations:
-Member of the Catalan Neurosurgical Society
-Member of the Spanish Neurosurgical Society
-Member of the Spanish Neurological Society
Dr. Miguel B. Royo Salvador, MD, Phd, was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and is the director and manager of the Institut Chiari & Siringomielia & Escoliosis de Barcelona, formerly director and manager of the Institut Neurològic de Barcelona. He was head of the neurosurgery department at Barcelona’s Tres Torres Clinic and attending physician of the neurosurgical department at Barcelona’s Municipal Neurological Institute, former assistant professor for neurosurgery at the Medicine School of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and neurosurgeon at Barcelona’s Corachan Clinic.
He graduated in Medicine and Surgery in 1974 from the University of Barcelona’s School of Medicine. He earned his specializations in Neurosurgery and Neurology in 1978 and finished his doctoral thesis with the title “A contribution to the etiology of syringomyelia” cum laude at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 1992 and can practice as a general practitioner in the public health systems of all other European Union member states.
Dr. Miguel B. Royo Salvador has been focusing his studies for more than forty years on the etiological connection of a series of diseases that so far had been considered to be idiopathic or of doubtful origin and in 1996, two publications describe a new disease, the Filum Disease, which includes and explains different idiopathic diseases, like Syringomyelia, the Arnold Chiari I Syndrome, Scoliosis, basilar invagination, platybasia, retroflexed odontoid and kinking of the brain stem, and later, in different conferences and latter publications, he sets out a new syndrome, the Neuro-CranioVertebral Syndrome. In 1997, he contributes a new minimally-invasive trans-sacral approach to address the filum terminale. The new technique reduces the conventional four-hour surgery to forty minutes and eliminates frequent complications. He is one of the authors to have published most pages in relation to Syringomyelia and Arnold Chiari I Syndrome.
Dr. Royo Salvador currently alternates his research and medical activities at the Institut Chiari de Barcelona, founded in 2007, and works with the healthcare method Filum System® , the compendium of twelve protocols applied to more than one thousand patients since 1993. In 2014, he founds the Filum Academy Barcelona® for the training and accreditation of the health care personnel on the different levels of the FilumSystem®. Until now there are accredited professionals in three European countries.
Professional associations:
-Member of the Catalan Neurosurgical Society
-Member of the Spanish Neurosurgical Society
-Member of the Spanish Neurological Society
Dr. Justin Kunes, MD
Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr. Kunes is a practicing pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia. He first became aware of Syringomyelia while studying scoliosis as a resident physician. "As we sought neurological causes as potential barriers to successful treatment of scoliosis, a syrinx was always in our minds. If found on imaging studies like MRI, we would quickly involve our neurosurgical colleagues to understand what impact any given syrinx might play in that child’s condition."
Dr. Kunes has agreed to provide specific involvement with this task force. His goal is to continue to discover and educate his peers and patients on the interrelated role between the health of the spinal cord and its wide ranging effects.
Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr. Kunes is a practicing pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia. He first became aware of Syringomyelia while studying scoliosis as a resident physician. "As we sought neurological causes as potential barriers to successful treatment of scoliosis, a syrinx was always in our minds. If found on imaging studies like MRI, we would quickly involve our neurosurgical colleagues to understand what impact any given syrinx might play in that child’s condition."
Dr. Kunes has agreed to provide specific involvement with this task force. His goal is to continue to discover and educate his peers and patients on the interrelated role between the health of the spinal cord and its wide ranging effects.
David S. Cantor, Ph.D., MS
Dr. Cantor received his Bachelors Degree with Distinction in Psychology from the University of Connecticut. His honors work was in the field of neurophysiological correlates of cross modal integration processes in ADHD children. He went on to get his Masters and Doctorates in Psychology at SUNY, Stony Brook where he produced the ine if the first publications in demonstrating classical conditioning in human newborn infants and another first on the quantitative EEG correlates in Autism. He helped developed the first prototype system to monitor comprehensive brain functioning in coma patients at bedside at the Shock Trauma Institute in Maryland.
He attained a post-doctoral Masters Degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Farleigh Dickinson University. He is a former President of the EEG and Clinical Neuroscience Society, and is a Fellow in the National Academy of Neuropsychology, the Academy of Learning and Developmental Disorders, and the American College of Forensic Examiners. He was selected as an APA Congressional Fellow and New York State Fellow in Behavioral Sciences.
He is currently licensed as a psychologist in the States of Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. In addition to his clinical activities with the Mind & Motion Developmental Centers of Georgia, he is also researcher and consultant for many organizations and reviewer for many journals. He has several awards and publications in the general fields of developmental disorders, biobehavioral sciences, and functional neurosciences. He is on the Speakers Bureau for National and State psychological associations and has made several radio and television appearances.
Dr. Cantor received his Bachelors Degree with Distinction in Psychology from the University of Connecticut. His honors work was in the field of neurophysiological correlates of cross modal integration processes in ADHD children. He went on to get his Masters and Doctorates in Psychology at SUNY, Stony Brook where he produced the ine if the first publications in demonstrating classical conditioning in human newborn infants and another first on the quantitative EEG correlates in Autism. He helped developed the first prototype system to monitor comprehensive brain functioning in coma patients at bedside at the Shock Trauma Institute in Maryland.
He attained a post-doctoral Masters Degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Farleigh Dickinson University. He is a former President of the EEG and Clinical Neuroscience Society, and is a Fellow in the National Academy of Neuropsychology, the Academy of Learning and Developmental Disorders, and the American College of Forensic Examiners. He was selected as an APA Congressional Fellow and New York State Fellow in Behavioral Sciences.
He is currently licensed as a psychologist in the States of Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. In addition to his clinical activities with the Mind & Motion Developmental Centers of Georgia, he is also researcher and consultant for many organizations and reviewer for many journals. He has several awards and publications in the general fields of developmental disorders, biobehavioral sciences, and functional neurosciences. He is on the Speakers Bureau for National and State psychological associations and has made several radio and television appearances.
Dr. Clare Rusbridge is a council member of the Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding, the neurology expert for the Feline Advisory Bureau Feline, an Honorary Friend of the Ann Conroy Trust (British Syringomyelia and Chiari Society)and Life Patron of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of the Rand South Africa.
In 2011 she has been honoured by the veterinary profession, receiving BSAVA JA Wight (aka James Herriot) Memorial Award for Animal Welfare for her work with CKCS society with respect to Syringomyelia. Career Clare graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1991 and following an internship at the University of Pennsylvania and general practice in Cambridgeshire, she completed a BSAVA/Petsavers Residency and then became Staff Clinician in Neurology at the Royal Veterinary College. She became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 1996 and a RCVS Specialist in 1999. In 2007 she was awarded a PhD from Utrecht University for her thesis on Chiari-like malformation & Syringomyelia - a painful disease occurring in some toy breed dogs.
For 16 years she operated a neurology and neurosurgery referral service at the Stone Lion Veterinary Hospital in Wimbledon. In September 2013 she joined Fitzpatrick Referrals and the University of Surrey where the ethos and the state of the art facilities allows her to take her clinical and research work to the next level. Her professional interests include neuropathic pain, inherited diseases, epilepsy and rehabilitation following spinal injury. She treats many animals with painful and/or distressing inherited disease which motivates her research aiming to find a better way of diagnosing, treating and preventing these conditions.
In 2011 she was awarded the J. A. Wright (a.k.a. James Herriot) Memorial Award by The Blue Cross Animal Welfare Charity for her work with the Cavalier King Charles spaniel society with regard to syringomyelia. She has written over 50 scientific papers, contributed to several veterinary textbooks and has edited a medical textbook on syringomyelia
In 2011 she has been honoured by the veterinary profession, receiving BSAVA JA Wight (aka James Herriot) Memorial Award for Animal Welfare for her work with CKCS society with respect to Syringomyelia. Career Clare graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1991 and following an internship at the University of Pennsylvania and general practice in Cambridgeshire, she completed a BSAVA/Petsavers Residency and then became Staff Clinician in Neurology at the Royal Veterinary College. She became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 1996 and a RCVS Specialist in 1999. In 2007 she was awarded a PhD from Utrecht University for her thesis on Chiari-like malformation & Syringomyelia - a painful disease occurring in some toy breed dogs.
For 16 years she operated a neurology and neurosurgery referral service at the Stone Lion Veterinary Hospital in Wimbledon. In September 2013 she joined Fitzpatrick Referrals and the University of Surrey where the ethos and the state of the art facilities allows her to take her clinical and research work to the next level. Her professional interests include neuropathic pain, inherited diseases, epilepsy and rehabilitation following spinal injury. She treats many animals with painful and/or distressing inherited disease which motivates her research aiming to find a better way of diagnosing, treating and preventing these conditions.
In 2011 she was awarded the J. A. Wright (a.k.a. James Herriot) Memorial Award by The Blue Cross Animal Welfare Charity for her work with the Cavalier King Charles spaniel society with regard to syringomyelia. She has written over 50 scientific papers, contributed to several veterinary textbooks and has edited a medical textbook on syringomyelia