Medical Roundtable
Pathways.org activities are based upon the expertise of the Pathways.org Medical Roundtable, comprised of leading physicians, therapists, clinicians, nurse practitioners, and lay advisors. They are sensitive to the medical and emotional needs of infants, children, and their families.
Co-Chairs
Michael Msall
MD
FAAP
FAACPDM
Member since 2004
John F. Sarwark
MD
FAAP
FAACPDM
FAAOS
Member since 1992
Members
Nina Aliprandi
MA
Member since 2008
Laura L. Deon
MD
Member since 2015
Deborah Gaebler-Spira
MD
FAAP
FAACPDM
Member since 1988
Karen R. Judy
MD
Member since 2003
Richard L. Lieber
PhD
Member since 2017
Amy Becker Manion
PhD
RN
CPNP
Member since 2003
Michael N. Nelson
PhD
Member since 1988
Beth Osten
MS
OTR/L
Member since 2016
Ana-Marie Rojas
MD
Member since 2015
Theresa Sukal-Moulton
DPT
PhD
Member since 2015
Lori Walsh
MD
FAAP
Member since 2003
Rosemary White-Traut
PhD
RN
FAAN
Member since 2003
Michael Msall
MD
FAAP
FAACPDM
Member since 2004
Dr. Msall has been professor of pediatrics and the Section Chief of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital and has been an active member of the Pathways.org Medical Roundtable since 2004.
Additional Achievements:
- Chair of the Treatment Outcome Committee for the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
- Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Editorial board member of Infants and Young Children
- Scientific advisory board member of the Children’s Guild of Buffalo Education
- MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- BS, Northwestern University
John F. Sarwark
MD
FAAP
FAACPDM
FAAOS
Member since 1992
Dr. Sarwark has held positions as the Head of Orthopaedic Surgery at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the Martha Washington Foundation for Handicapped Children Professor in Pediatric Orthopaedics, and as a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Sarwark has been a member of the Pathways.org Medical Roundtable since 1993 and has served as Co-Chair since 1995.
Additional Achievements:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee/Section of Orthopedics and Surgical Advisory Panel for the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Fellow of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
- Member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
- Member of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science
- Member of the American Medical Association
- Member of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America
- Member of the Chicago Pediatric Society
- 2004 recipient of the Pathways Pioneer Award for his outstanding commitment to assuring the best for all babies’ physical development.
- 1990 recipient of the Berkheiser Award for Research in Orthopedic Surgery from the Institute of Medicine of Chicago
- 1997-2000 recipient of the American Medical Association Physicians Recognition Award
- MD, Northwestern University
- BS, University of Illinois
Nina Aliprandi
MA
Member since 2008
Nina Aliprandi serves as the Intake Coordinator at Maryville Academy. Ms. Aliprandi is also Director of Program Services for the Crisis Nursery, the Children’s Healthcare Center, the Madden Shelter for Pregnant and Parenting Teens, and the Farm Campus for Young Women for the agency.
Nina Aliprandi has been serving the Pathways.org Medical Roundtable as the parent liaison since 2008.
Additional Achievements:
- Mother of two children and has seen the dramatic value of early detection and intervention through her child’s involvement in physical, occupational and speech therapy services
- Master’s Degree in Community and Family Counseling
- Bachelor’s Degree in Law Enforcement Administration with minors in both Psychology and Sociology
Laura L. Deon
MD
Member since 2015
Dr. Deon is a pediatric rehabilitation physician at Rush University Medical Center and Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Deon is also an assistant professor at Rush University.
Additional Achievements:
- Member of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
- Member of the Association of Academic Physiatrists
- Member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division of Specialized Care for Children Medical Advisory Board Palliative Care Committee at Rush University Medical Center
- MD, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Deborah Gaebler-Spira
MD
FAAP
FAACPDM
Member since 1988
Dr. Gaebler-Spira is a professor of pediatrics and physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Gaebler-Spira is also a staff physician and Director of The Cerebral Palsy Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC).
Dr. Gaebler-Spira is a founding member of Pathways Medical Roundtable in 1988.
Additional Achievements:
- Director of the Cerebral Palsy Program and Early Intervention Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC)
- Director for the Hypertonia Management Clinic at RIC
- President of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
- Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Member of the Association of Academic Physiatrists
- Recipient of the Goldstein Award from the Cerebral Palsy Foundation
- MD, University of Illinois
- BS, University of Illinois
Karen R. Judy
MD
Member since 2003
Dr. Judy is the Vice Chair of Education and the Pediatric Program Director at Loyola University Medical Center. Dr. Judy is also an associate professor of pediatrics at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. Director of Newborn Nursery Loyola University
Additional Achievements:
- Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Member of the Chicago Pediatric Society
- MD, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
- BS, John Carroll University
Richard L. Lieber
PhD
Member since 2017
Dr. Lieber is the Chief Scientific Officer and Senior Vice President at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. Throughout his career his work has been focused on promoting an interdisciplinary approach, relevant to those who study biomechanics and orthopaedic surgery.
Additional Achievements:
- Publishes over 250 articles ranging from The Biophysical Journal and The Journal of Cell Biology to those more applied such as The Journal of Hand Surgery and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
- Member of the American American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
- Founders Award Winner, American College of Sports Medicine (Southwest Chapter), Irvine, CA., 2014
- Gayle G. Arnold Award Winner, American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Minneapolis, MN., 2013
- Kappa Delta Award Winner, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Chicago, IL., 2013
- PhD, University of California Davis
- MBA, University of California San Diego
- BS, University of California Davis
Amy Becker Manion
PhD
RN
CPNP
Member since 2003
Dr. Amy Becker Manion is a pediatric nurse practitioner with a specialization in primary care pediatrics at Northwestern Children’s Practice. Dr. Manion is also an Assistant Professor at Rush University in the College of Nursing.
Additional Achievements:
- Member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- Active participant of the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC)
- 2005-2006 recipient of the NAPNAP Foundation Research Grant to study differences in quality of life and health outcomes in obese and non-obese inner city children with asthma
- Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing from Loyola University
- MS, Rush University, Nursing
Michael N. Nelson
PhD
Member since 1988
Dr. Nelson is the Director of the Section of Pediatric Psychology at Rush Children’s Hospital. Dr. Nelson is also an associate professor of child psychology at Rush University Medical Center.
Dr. Nelson is a founding member of Pathways Medical Roundtable in 1988.
Additional Achievements:
- Former President and current member of the Illinois Neonatal Development Follow-up Association
- Member of the Illinois Premature Infant Health Network Continuity of Care Committee
- PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Beth Osten
MS
OTR/L
Member since 2016
Beth Osten owns a pediatric clinic in Skokie, Beth Osten & Associates, and specializes in sensory processing and motor disorders in infants and young children. She has also researched and worked in the Michael Reese Hospital, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Illinois Institute for Developmental Disabilities.
Additional Achievements:
- Helped develop the Test of Infant Motor Development (TIMP)
- Faculty member and lecturer with the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning
- Faculty member and lecturer with the Profectum Foundation
Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington, Seattle
- Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago
Ana-Marie Rojas
MD
Member since 2015
Dr. Rojas is a fellow in pediatric and adolescent rehabilitation at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Additional Achievements:
- Member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Member of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
- MD, Ponce School of Medicine
Theresa Sukal-Moulton
DPT
PhD
Member since 2015
Dr. Sukal-Moulton is a research assistant professor in Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Additional Achievments:
- Member of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
- Member of the American Physical Therapy Association
- PhD: Northwestern University, Biomedical Engineering
Lori Walsh
MD
FAAP
Member since 2003
Dr. Walsh is a primary pediatrician, who has been in private practice at Glenbrook Pediatrics since 1990 and a managing partner since 1996. Dr. Walsh is also an attending physician at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and an instructor in the Clinical Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Additional Achievements:
- Member of the Children’s Community Physician’s Association
- Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Rosemary White-Traut
PhD
RN
FAAN
Member since 2003
Dr. White-Traut is a professor and department head of the Department of Women, Children and Family Health Science in the College of Nursing at University of Illinois, Chicago.
Additional Achievements:
- Member of the board of directors for the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute
- Past member of the board of directors for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing
- Member of the American Academy of Nursing
- Member of the nominating committee for the Midwest Nursing Research Society
- 2009 recipient of the Jonas Salk Health Leadership Award from the March of Dimes, Chicago chapter
- PhD, Rush University College of Nursing
- MS, Boston University School of Nursing
- BA, Georgetown University