Presenters
Raj Chaggar, MD - Raj Chaggar is a spinal cord injury trained physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at VCU Health in Richmond, Virginia. He was first exposed to the field after one of his dogs Leo, a miniature dachshund, suddenly a herniated disk causing incomplete paraplegia while in medical school. This led him to discover the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation and to ultimately pursue a training program with spinal cord injury medicine as his focus.
Currently, Raj splits his time providing consultation for individuals with new spinal cord injuries or disorders in the acute care hospitals, providing medical care during inpatient rehab for patients with spinal cord injuries, and following those with spinal cord injuries long term in the outpatient setting.
Raj has a strong interest not only in clinical care, but further in looking at ways to improve the lives of those with spinal cord injuries/disorders through community engagement and research initiatives emphasizing patient focused outcomes. As a result, he is excited to discuss emerging options for improving the quality of life after a spinal cord injury or disorder.
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.
Jordan Adler, MD - Dr. Adler completed a sub-specialty fellowship training specific to spinal cord injury rehabilitation medicine. His clinical interests are in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, brain injury rehabilitation, rehabilitation in the critical care setting, management of neurogenic bowel/bladder and spasticity management. Dr. Adler led the spinal cord injury rehabilitation service line at Strong Memorial Hospital and the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Dr. Adler earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia in 2010. He then earned his Doctor of Medicine from Saba University School of Medicine in 2016. In 2020, he completed his PM&R residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Adler then completed a Spinal Cord Injury Medicine fellowship at Central Virginia Veterans Affairs Medical Center/Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in 2021.
Renee Madathil, PhD - Dr. Madathil currently serves as the Inpatient Rehabilitation Neuropsychologist at URMC. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The University of Montana, and went on to complete her residency and post-doctoral fellowship in both Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology at The University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Trauma Center. In addition, she completed a one year research fellowship at the Seattle VA examining the effects of repeated, blast-related mTBI in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans.
Dr. Madathil provides psychological services with the goal of increasing function and quality of life for persons living with chronic illness, injury, and/or disability. Her current clinical practice focuses on assisting individuals and their support systems in coping with, and adapting to, the effects of injury or illness during and after hospitalization. She also specializes in brain-behavior relationships, and the neuropsychological assessment and treatment of neurological disorders.
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.
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.