Presenters
Dr. Fairfull is a UR Attending physician and Assistant Professor who specializes in spinal cord injury medicine. She earned her Medical Degree in 2019 at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. In 2023, she completed residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Washington in Seattle. Last year she completed her fellowship in Spinal Cord lnjury Medicine at MetroHealth in Cleveland. Her clinical interests include autonomic dysfunction and interventional spasticity management. She has additional interest in medical education.
Outside of work, Dr. Fairfull enjoys playing volleyball, watching crime documentaries, and caring for her pet mini pig, Guinness.
Jean Nickels, MD, is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) in Rochester, NY. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Rochester.
Dr. Nickels has been working in general Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for the past 30 years. She is currently the director of the skilled nursing service line of the URMC PM&R department. She is also currently serving in the consult, inpatient and outpatient settings in the Medically Complex and Spinal Cord Injury Service line at Strong Memorial Hospital.
Vicki Hartman, OTR/L, CST - Vicki Hartman (she, her) is a staff occupational therapist in acute rehab at Strong Memorial Hospital. She became an occupational therapist later in life, after working as a ceramic artist, landscaper, and as a community organizer in the local food movement. Vicki became interested in the role of OT in sex and intimacy as she recognized people's meaningful and sustained interest in sexual health and vibrancy, regardless of age, injury, or ability. Simultaneously, she often observed an underlying lack of support for people to pursue a healthy sex life.
Vicki believes that occupational therapy's focus on ability, function, safety and accessibility is a powerful framework to promote sexual function and activity. Since working in acute rehab, she has assisted people with new and chronic injuries and illnesses through modifications and shifts in perspective to access intimate pleasure through their bodies, both with partners and individually. Vicki is certified as a sexuality occupational therapist through The Institute for Sex, Intimacy & Occupational Therapy.
Octavia Brooks-Taylor, RN - SCI Health Eucator
Octavia Brooks-Taylor is a wife, mother of three boys and registered ICU nurse at URMC Medical Intensive Care Unit. She was raised in Rochester, NY where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and African American studies from the University of Rochester. While working as a substitute teacher for the Rochester City School district she completed her studies at Monroe Community College in the Associates degree nursing program. Upon completion of school she obtained a position in the ICU where she has been for the last 5 years. Among these things, Octavia is heavily involved in her faith
community where she serves as the Youth Pastor at Gods Vision Ministries, INC. Octavia is excited to learn, grow, educate and build trust worthy relationships in this new position with the Rochester Spinal Association.
Chris Hilderbrant - Injured in a diving accident at age 14, Chris Hilderbrant has served as an eloquent and effective advocate for people with disabilities for the past two decades, helping to expand rights on the local, state, and national level. Having served as Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Disability Rights and Common Ground Health, Chris is the Executive Director of the Rochester Spinal Association. During his time in this role, RSA's budget has tripled and the organization has been at the forefront nationally for its emphasis on addressing gaps in care experienced by individuals with SCI from gun violence.
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Chris is committed to diversity, equity, and integration for all and proudly serves as a connector between numerous communities. Chris helped establish and serves as the captain of the WNY Wreckers—Western New York’s only wheelchair rugby team.
Trauma Therapy and the SNUG Street Outreach Program
Shiy Coins, LMSW – social worker, Rochester SNUG
Alexis King, MSW – social worker, Rochester SNUG
Jacquie Gray, LMSW – social worker, Niagara Falls SNUG
Kristin Geiger, LCSW-R – social work supervisor, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services