Content Creators
Jonathan Sigworth - Co-Founder, Co-CEO, President - is a C7 peer-mentor, filmmaker, public speaker, and co-founder/advisor to ESCIP Trust India, which runs a successful transitional living program for quadriplegics and paraplegics in Delhi. He introduced wheelchair rugby to India in 2008 and directed the award-winning film “More Than Walking” in 2009. B.A. English, Dartmouth ’13. Jon lives in Stratford, CT with his wife, Jessica.
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Corey Lee - Peer Mentor Coordinator - is a United States Naval veteran, who served from 2001-2005. He was stationed in Norfolk Virginia, where he worked as a machinist in the engineering departments auxiliary division (A-gang) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN 71. Apart from advocacy, he enjoys listening to and creating Hip-Hop music, and has produced several albums to date under the name "Pheez." Corey lives in Bloomfield, CT with his wife, Christi, and their 2 children.
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Jessica Bello Capote - Co-Founder - is a Physical Therapist, curriculum developer, and has four years of clinical experience with neurological disorders, aqua-therapy, and orthopedics. She was valedictorian of the Class of 2012 for Physical Therapy at Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia. Her senior thesis focused on spinal cord injury and exercise prescription. Jessica lives in Stratford, CT with her husband, Jonathan.
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Erin Lampron is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Department at Quinnipiac University, teaching neurorehabilitation and human anatomy. She has a BS in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a MS in Physical Therapy from Sacred Heart University, a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Arcadia University, and is a Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist since 2011. Erin spent most of her clinical career at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford, CT.
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Victoria Briggs is a documentary video editor from the Greater Boston Area. She graduated from Hampshire College in 2015, where she studied video production, critical theory, and disability studies. Since graduating, she has worked as an assistant editor on television programs that have aired on PBS and Discovery Channel. She has also edited videos for nonprofits, schools, and companies, such as Roca, Phillips Academy, Tufts University, and Esri.
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Board Members
Charlie O’Connell is CEO and founder of Fitscript. He is a certified personal trainer, a CDC certified diabetes prevention lifestyle coach, speaker, author, golfer, skier, runner and entrepreneur. He founded FITSCRIPT.COM in September of 2012 to help others with diabetes reach their fitness goals through structured exercise guidance, support, and training.
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Signian McGeary, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA is an Associate Professor Emerita from Quinnipiac University who has supported international rehabilitation programs and earned national recognition for that effort via the FAOTA award. She has worked for the advancement of adult rehabilitation for well over 40 years.
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Joey Paladino is a peer mentor and founder of New Britain Medical Supplies. In 1973, Joey was injured in a car accident that left him with a spinal cord injury. Began competing in the Olympic Games from 1976-1981. Served for 15 years as a Transitional Counselor/Advocate dedicated to helping people stuck in nursing homes get back in the community and live independently.
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Advisors
Carrie Callahan has practiced physical therapy for over 12 years, graduating from Ithaca College in 2003. She currently specializes in seating, positioning and wheeled mobility, earning her Assistive Technology Professional Certification in 2015, and now holds a position as Territory Sales Manager for Permobil, TiLite and ROHO products in the Boston area.
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Tracy Van Oss is an assistant clinical faculty in the Occupational Therapy department at Quinnipiac University. Tracy has worked as an occupational therapist at Yale-New Haven Hospital and several home care agencies. Tracy has a Doctor of Health Science degree from Nova Southeastern University. Her area of interest is injury prevention with a focus on preventing unintentional injuries in the home environment.
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Dr. Susan D. Newman is an Associate Professor and Junior Research Scientist in the College of Nursing. She received her Ph.D. in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Clemson University. Dr. Newman is a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse with clinical experience in acute inpatient medical rehabilitation, caring for individuals with a variety of disabilities.
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Diana Pernigotti, MSG, works at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare researching the effects spinal cord injury has on the community. The focus of her work is on improving the quality of life for persons after spinal cord injury or dysfunction. She is actively involved with the Spinal Cord Injury Association of CT, a chapter of United Spinal, which allows her to educate and support people affected by spinal cord injury.
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Beth Weaver is Executive Director of United Spinal's Greater Boston chapter. She has spent her career working for major medical product manufacturers. She has extensive experience in areas of sales, management and navigating the healthcare system. In December 2007, her brother-in-law fell and became a C4-5 quadriplegic. From the first hour, she traveled the road with him, her sister and their two daughters.
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