Committees & Task Forces
The Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy is built on a system of committee actions aligned with the organization’s strategic plan and sometimes directly linked to specific tasks and initiatives. Established committees help link the Academy leadership with the attitudes, expectations and needs in the real world of its members. Committees represent, involve, and serve members. They also provide an important training ground for future leaders. Committees are an effective workforce for the Academy- they ensure group participation in problem solving and provide a critical forum for the many interests within the organization. If you are interested in volunteering a committee or pitch a task force charge, please explore our Volunteer Opportunities page. There are three types of volunteer groups:
- Standing committees are designated to make policy recommendations to the board, undertake long-term assignments.
- Management committees have specific memberships and continuing assignments from year to year that help execute the strategic plan.
- Task Forces or special working groups formed by the governing board to undertake highly focused tasks within a specific period of time, usually one year or less.
Board Liaison: Each Academy group reports to a Board Liaison who provides communication channel with the Board and ensures committee work is on track within the scope of the Academy’ strategic plan
Staff Liaison: Each Academy group reports to a Staff Liaison who helps provide data, logistical and strategic guidance
STANDING COMMITTEES
Standing committees are designated to make policy recommendations to the board, undertake long-term assignments.
Executive Committee
President Cathy Konkler
Vice President Jennifer Hungate
President-Elect Heather Jeffcoat
Treasurer Molly Lisenby
Secretary Kelly Huestis
Governance Committee
Chair Kaitlyn Parrotte
Meryl Alappattu
Mark Bishop
Amy Pannullo
Kari Ziemba
Whitney Bartley
Board Liaison: Secili DeStefano, Past President
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
Finance Committee
Chair Molly Lisenby
Cathy Konkler
Kim Parker-Guerrero
Truly Moore
Staff Liaison: Aika Bazhaxynova
Nominating Committee
Chair Stephanie Fournier
Member Jeanice Mitchell
Member Daniel Kirages
Email: nomcomm@aptapelvichealth.org
Board Liaison: Secili DeStefano, Past President
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
TASK FORCES
Task Forces or special working groups formed by the governing board to undertake highly focused tasks within a specific period of time, usually one year or less.
Patient Education Review Task Force
Term: January 2021-December 2021
Caitlin Smigelski
Dana Taussig
Jennifer Gentile
Julia Monie
Karen Snowden
Lori Marie Walton
Miranda Harvey
Sandi Gallagher
Truly Moore
Email: hello@aptapelvichealth.org
Board Liaison: Miranda Harvey, Director of Education
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
Charge Summary
- Revise existing 20+ patient education handouts
- Develop new patient education handouts
- Translate patient education handouts into 3+ other languages
Past Patient Education Handout Writers & Contributors
Darla Cathcart, Amanda Mahoney, Stacey Head, Justine Wiltsie, Melinda Gross, Kerin Cook, Melissa Eagleton, Christin Peters.
Pessary Task Force
Term: February 2021-September 2021
Chair Katie McGee
Katherine Miles
Amanda Olson
Andrea Wood
Gail Zitterkopf
Email: pessarytaskforce@aptapelvichealth.org
Board Liaison: Kim Parker-Guerrero, Director of Practice
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
Charge Summary
- Research scope of practice barriers in states’ Practice Act language
- Review models of pessary fitting by PTs that occur outside of the US
- Determine reimbursement guidelines, ie CPT codes, that address pessary fitting
- Determine and recommend training requirements for pessary fitting
- Research collaboration opportunities
MANAGING COMMITTEES
Management committees have specific memberships and continuing assignments from year to year that help execute the strategic plan.
Membership
Membership Committee
Chair Karen Weeks
Region 1 NE Rep Laura Scheufele
Region 2 SE Rep Kristi Kliebert
Region 3 MW Rep Wynne Tezak
Region 4 SW Rep Karen Brandon
Region 5 NW Rep Krystyna Holland
Volunteer Coordinator Angela Pappas
Sub-Group: State Representatives
Board Liaison: Heather Jeffcoat, President-Elect
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee
Co-Chair Alexandra Hill
Co-Chair Tracy Thomas
Member Ijeoma Nwankpa
Member Laura Teasley
Member Kali Aucoin
Member Meryl Alappattu
Member Lauren Plum
Member Darshana Naik
Board Liaison: Shannon Fox, Director of Communications
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
Awards Committee
1 Past Elizabeth Award Recipient
1 Past Board member
1 Current Volunteer
2 Members-at-large
Board Liaison: Heather Jeffcoat, President-Elect
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
Pregnancy/Postpartum Special Interest Group (PPSIG)
Director Kristi Kliebert
Director Kimberly Seymour
Director Lisa Sator
Director Stacey Head
Board Liaison: Jennifer Hungate, Vice President
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
Early-Professional Special Interest Group (EPSIG)
Director Julie Jenner
Director Claire Hamnett
Director Matthew Harville
Director Vacancy
Board Liaison: Jennifer Hungate, Vice President
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
Student Special Interest Group (SSIG)
Director Lindsay Durand
Director Amanda Clarke
Director Jillian Watson
Director Sasha Schneider
Board Liaison: Jennifer Hungate, Vice President
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
Education
Educational Review Committee
Chair Karen Snowden
Ariel Zablocki
Beth Genday
Eileen Geary
Jennifer Davia
Lauren Bauer
Lori Marie Walton
Maggie Dye
Pamela Kays
Stephanie Fournier
Tammy Roehling
Board Liaison: Miranda Harvey, Director of Education
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
International Education Committee
Chair Rebecca Stephenson
Jennifer Davia
Wendy Featherstone
Lori Mize
Theresa Spitznagle
Vacancy
Board Liaison: Miranda Harvey, Director of Education
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
CAPP-Pelvic Committee
Chair Whitney Bartley
Andrea Schultz
Carina Siracusa
Erica Holland
Karen Snowden
Kaysi Gray
Kari Ziemba
Lakshmi Shankar (Madhu)
Lori Mize
Mary Hughes Johnson
Mary Jane Strauhal
Karen Snowden (June 2021-June 2024)
Stephanie Dillon (Jan 2022-Jan 2025)
Emily Finn (May 2021-May 2024)
Board Liaison: Miranda Harvey, Director of Education
Staff Liaison: Kalki Gizaw, Events Manager
CAPP-OB Committee
Chair Sandi Gallagher
Incoming Chair 2022: Karen Litos
Beth Northrop
Julia Monie
Karen Litos
Rebecca Stephenson
Susan Giglio
Janelle Haynes (April 2021-April 2024)
Caitlin Smigelski (April 2021-April 2024)
J. Michelle Martin (April 2021-April 2024)
Board Liaison: Miranda Harvey, Director of Education
Staff Liaison: Kalki Gizaw, Events Manager
CAPP-Pelvic Case Review Committee
Chair Karen Snowden
Melissa Aul
Samantha Dickson
Lauren Garges
Miranda Harvey
Amanda Kilgore
Marisa Krick
Amy Kronas
Julia Monie
Truly Moore
Janeen Newman
Rhonda Norton
Jennifer Schiek
Andrea Schultz
Kari Smith
Elizabeth Trausch
Board Liaison: Miranda Harvey, Director of Education
Staff Liaison: Kalki Gizaw, Events Manager
CAPP-OB Case Review Committee
Chair Karen Snowden
Leader Kristi Kliebert
Heather Asti
Stacey Head
Joan Quinonez
Dannan Siano
Kimberlee Sullivan
Board Liaison: Miranda Harvey, Director of Education
Staff Liaison: Kalki Gizaw, Events Manager
Research
$10K Research Grant Review Committee
Chair Christine Cabelka
Jill Boissonnault
Patricia Downey
Meryl Alappattu
Pamela Downey
Laura LaPorta Krum
Board Liaison: Christine Cabelka, Director of Research
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
2022 CSM Posters & Platforms Committee
Chair Christine Cabelka
Board Liaison: Christine Cabelka, Director of Research
Staff Liaison: Kalki Gizaw, Events Manager
JWHPT Editorial Board
Editor-in-Chief Cynthia Chiarello
Senior Editor Mary Dockter
Associate Editor Karen Abraham
Associate Editor Rebecca Reisch
Associate Editor Patricia Nelson
Associate Editor Tracy Spitznagle
Digital Media Editor Rita Gillian
Board Liaison: Christine Cabelka, Director of Research
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
JWHPT Editorial Advisory Board
Susan C. Clinton
Linda McLean
Sub-Group of the JWHPT Editorial Board
JWHPT Manuscript Reviewers
Report to: Cindy Chiarello, Editor-in-Chief
Adrienne McAuley
Ann Dunbar
Ann Marie Flores
Beth Marcoux
Carol Figuers
Cynthia Chiarello
Darija Scepanovic
Darla Cathcart
Donna Edwards
Elaine Wilder
Gerard Hesch
Jill Boissonnault
Karen Pryor
Katy Mitchell
Lori J Tuttle
Mary K. Kearse
Monica White
Meryl Alappattu
Nicole Gergich
Pamela Downey
Paula Click Fenter
Prisca Collins
Rebecca Reisch
Sarah Glesmann
Stephanie Fournier
Susan C. Clinton
Practice
Practice Committee
Gail Zitterkopf, Federal Government Affairs Chair
Vacancy | Payment & Reimbursement Affairs Chair
Board Liaison: Kim Parker-Guerrero, Director of Practice
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
CPG Steering Committee
Chair Tracy Spitznagle
Karen Abraham
Danielle Long
Shayne Tarrance
Darryl Young
Board Liaison: Kim Parker-Guerrero, Director of Practice
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director
CPG Sub-Groups
Report to: CPG Steering Committee
CPG-Mixed Urinary Incontinence Committee
Leader Adrienne McAuley
Leader Mary McVearry Austin
Amanda Mahoney
CPG-Lower GI Function: Constipation Committee
Leader Susan George
Jennifer Kurz
Dianne Borello-France
Gregg Marchetti
CPG-Chronic Pelvic Pain Committee
Leader Sandra Hilton
Meryl Alappattu
Mark Bishop
CPG – Inflammatory Disorders: IBD
Leader Jessica Elia
Eileen Johnson
Amanda Olson
Nancy Cullinane
Sunanda Kane
Christina Ha, MD
CPG-Pelvic Pain in Postpartum Population
Leader Adrienne Simonds
Karen Abraham
Tracy Spitznagle
Programming
Programming Committee
Chair Carina Siracusa
Assistant Chair Ariana Jones
Kali Aucoin
Kari Ziemba
Alex Hill
Amy Pannullo
Vacancy
Board Liaison: Carina Siracusa, Director of Programming
Staff Liaison: Aika Barzhaxynova, Executive Director