Meet
the
Board
Our board of directors is made up of a dedicated group of individuals from the local community. They meet on a monthly basis to oversee the day to day running of our nonprofit organization.
Board of Directors
Amy Scaramuzzino, President
Amy Scaramuzzino has been an active member of our chapter since 1991. She spent her career working in education with disadvantaged youth. For Amy, knowing that there is life after spinal cord injury was crucial in order for her to heal emotionally and spiritually. Our chapter was and continues to be the bridge to those opportunities for all with SCI/D, their families and loved ones. ​
Cathy Flanagan, Treasurer
Cathy O’Malley Flanagan, RN, MBA was a nurse on the rehab unit at Strong Hospital in the 1980’s where she met many young people with new spinal cord injuries. Moved by the realization that so much of recovery occurs after the hospital, she was one of the founding members of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association’s Rochester Chapter in 1991. Since that time, she has been actively involved with the Chapter while continuing to work at Strong Hospital. Cathy and her husband Jim reside in Brighton with their two daughters, Mary and Meghan.
Susan Shepard, Secretary
Susan Shepard became interested in spinal cord injuries (SCI) started in 1983 at the age of 15 when I was injured in a bicycle accident that left me paralyzed from the waist down. Since then as part of my recovery I have participated in many activities directed at helping those with SCI. I was one of the founding members of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association’s Rochester Chapter in 1991. Since then I have been actively involved as a participant then part of the organizational team working to sustain the chapter in the area for anyone needing assistance. Over the years I have participated in activities for members such as peer mentor programs, prevention programs, sports and recreational activities, support group meetings, local health conferences & national association conferences. My connection with this organization has helped me find strength whenever life throws me challenges and hopefully, I have been able to provide others with the support they may need as well. My husband Mark and I reside in Henrietta with my daughter Allison and niece Carrie.
Scott Frail​, Board Member
Scott Frail received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University center at Binghamton in 1985, and then spent 25 years in sales management in both the commercial printing and paper recycling industry. Inspired by his daughter’s career choice, Scott went back to school in 2010 completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Rochester School of Nursing. For three years he has been employed as a certified rehabilitation nurse on inpatient rehabilitation unit at Strong Memorial Hospital. During this time Scott has assisted with a social support group for individuals with spinal cord injury. Scott finds the work with the SCI community extremely rewarding and his hope is to assist individuals with SCI to develop as much functional independence as possible.
Other professional duties at SMH include Chair of the Professional Nursing Council and Co-Chair of the Magnet Champion Council.
Nicole Nabors, Board Member
​Nicole Nabors is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She has Bachelors degree in Philosophy & Religion and Psychology. Currently, she is working a her second Masters degree in Theology. Professionally, Nicole works as a clinical therapist at her private practice. She is the founder and CEO of Grace & Peace Counseling. Nicole is an ordained minister. She pastors a house church at Asaph International Ministries and a prayer intercessor in the community. Nicole is a speaker and teacher who captivates audiences with transparentcy and vulnerability that inspires. She is the author of Dance Again: A Journey of Healing. Nicole is utilizing her skills to help the people systemic programs fail to reach. Her goal is to bring light where there is darkness, love where there is hate, joy where there is sorrow, and peace where there is pain. She believes we cannot control what happens to us, but we can help one another to make things easier and more pleasant in this life.
Jean Nickels, Board Member
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.
Porche "Shay" Powell, Board Member
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Shay Powell was a home-owner in the City of Rochester, working full-time as a CNA, and raising her two children when her ex-boyfriend broke into her house and shot her in the back. Shay was paralyzed. Since the attack, Shay has worked diligently to rehabilitate and become independent again. She recently completed her GED and became a Certified Nail Technician.
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She is still raising her two children and provides support for many other people in her family. She also provides peer support to others with new spinal cord injuries and is one of the hosts of RSA's nightly social / support meeting for survivors of gun violence.
Kaitlin Pashina, Board Member
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Kaitlin holds a B.S. Degree in Business Administration – Accounting from Rochester Institute of Technology. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and is a manager at Tronconi Segarra & Associates, LLP where she specializes in sales & use taxes. Kaitlin’s personal connection to the spinal cord injury community is that her boyfriend is paraplegic. He was injured in a motorcycle accident in 2020. They reside in Irondequoit with their kitty and enjoy traveling together and going to concerts and sports games.
James Henry, Board Member
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Paralyzed as the result of a dirt bike accident in 2004, James has accomplihed a great deal since his injury. James received his bachelor’s degree in Communication from Nazareth University, spent time as a stay-at-home dad, and currently works for Liv Home Pros, a local accessibility solutions company. James has been a member of RSA since 2012 and joined the board in 2024. He has also been a member of the WNY Wreckers wheelchair rugby team since 2014.
Eileen Hurley, Board Member
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Eileen Hurley is a Registered Nurse and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with a postgraduate certificate in Family Therapy and a postgraduate diploma in Narrative Therapy and Community Work. She has practiced community health care in Rochester, NY, among socially and economically disadvantaged families for over 40 years.
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Over the past 35 years, Eileen has developed and implemented trauma-informed psychosocial services, health care, and community projects among the uninsured in Rochester, incarcerated youth, adults with histories of criminal conviction, youthful earthquake survivors in Haiti, and former child soldiers and refugees in Africa.
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A former Spinal Cord Injury nurse and the pilot RSA service coordinator for gun violence survivors, Eileen is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals living with spinal cord injuries.
Connor Herbst, Board Member
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Connor Herbst was injured in a 2022 workplace accident, resulting in T11/12 paraplegia. After receiving peer mentoring from RSA members during his recovery in the hospital, Connor has focused on giving that same type of support to other newly injured individuals, particularly teens and young adults. In just three years since his injury, he has become very involved in parasports including Wheelchair Football, Rugby and Basketball and has travelled across much of the US to play in tournament. Connor holds a Bachelor's Degree in Children's Psychology from SUNY Brockport.
Linda Riek, Board Member
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Linda Riek, PT, DPT, PhD is a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Nazareth University. She is the director of the motion analysis lab and coordinates courses in Kinesiology, Research, and Prosthetics/Orthotics. She received her undergraduate degree from Ithaca College, her clinical doctorate from A.T. Still University, and her PhD from the University of Rochester. Linda was the senior therapist on Acute Rehab at Strong Memorial Hospital and has been actively involved with RSA (formerly NSCIA, Rochester Chapter) and the SCI community since 1994. Linda is currently a professor at Nazareth University and is committed to enhancing the health and quality of life of individuals with spinal cord injuries.
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