Greater Boston Chapter

Reaching out to those affected by SCI
        Inspiring the newly injured through role models and peer mentors
              Supporting individuals and families as they begin their post-injury journeys
                      Empowering those with SCI to fulfill their goals and dreams

Phone #: 781.933.8666 A non-profit 501(C)(3) organization Email: sciboston@aol.com

Donations

EIP

Biographies of Board Members

Ronald Bielicki

In 1983, while on leave from the Navy, Ron was paralyzed after being held up at gun point for his Navy paycheck. After an honorable discharge, Ron became involved in disabled sports and won a gold medal in the National Veterans Games. Ron then went on to college and received a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications & Broadcast Journalism from Northeastern University. He has served on our board since 1993 in various positions, and is currently the Vice President of Advocacy.

Larry Brennan

In 1991, Larry was in the Bahamas on spring break from college when he suffered a C5-6 spinal cord injury. Since his injury, he has been an active member of the chapter and has served the GBC in a variety of capacities. He participates in a variety of sports, including sailing and skiing.

Larry graduated college from UMASS Boston and has worked in the advertising field. Currently, he works at Massachusetts General Hospital in the Development Office.

Midge Dawicki - C5/6 Quadriplegic

Midge sustained a spinal cord injury in 2005. Since her accident, Midge has volunteered at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and is back to work at her job prior to her injury on a part-time basis. She has been appointed to the Saugus Disability Commission to address disability issues for the residents of Saugus. Midge is a mother of four and grandmother of seven.

Chris Diehl, PT

Chris has worked with persons with spinal cord injuries for over ten years. He joined the board in 2006 and is the current co-director of a spinal cord rehab-ilitation unit in Boston. He brings a wealth of knowledge of the rehabilitation process and assists the chapter in its advocacy roles. He has testified before the state legislature on issues concerning spinal cord injury.

Mike Ferriter, MSW

Mike Ferriter became a quadriplegic in 1979 during a construction accident. Since then, Mike has served as an outstanding example of how one can live successfully with a spinal cord injury.

After receiving his master’s degree from Boston College in 1989, he became a mental health volunteer for four New England hospitals that treat persons with spinal cord injuries. Mike is also a founder of the Greater Boston Chapter and created a peer visitation program for persons with spinal cord injuries. Mike wrote an article on peer visitation that was published by the American Association of Spinal Cord Injured Psychologists and Social Workers in 1995. Soon after, the Greater Boston Chapter’s peer visitation program was recognized as a national model within the spinal cord injury community.

Jason Fowler

A former motocross racer, in 1991, an accident left him a T5 paraplegic. Four months after spinal fusion surgery he was back racing, this time in a wheelchair. Jason’s drive, determination and strong will has served him well as he has completed over 140 road races, 28 marathons and 17 triathlons. He won the 2009 Ironman Triathlon in the men’s Wheelchair Division. Jason has an MBA & works full time.

Bethlyn Vergo Houlihan, MSW, MPH

Bethlyn joined our board in 2004 and currently serves as secretary. Her knowledge of spinal cord injury stems from five years of researching health quality outcomes and economic research at a spinal cord rehabilitation center in Boston.
She has managed studies such as internet training, WebTV access, and an internet guide for persons with spinal cord injury. Bethlyn has coauthored articles that have been published in the following journals: Disability & Rehabilitation and Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Kristen McCosh

Kristen sustained a C6 spinal cord injury in a diving accident at the age of 15 and uses a power wheelchair for mobility. A gifted speaker and writer, Kristen is currently finishing a Women's Fiction novel series featuring women with disabilities as heroines. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in English and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, and has been steadily employed since graduating in 1995. Kristen served as Ms. Wheelchair America 2008 and Ms. Wheelchair Massachusetts 2007, which gave her the opportunity to travel and speak about important issues concerning people with disabilities, including health and fitness, literacy, education and employment. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, sports, reading and travelling. She lives in Boston and Falmouth, Cape Cod, with her husband.

Maureen McKinnon-Tucker

After slipping and fracturing her lower spine, resulting in partial paralysis in her legs, Maureen has served as a board member since 1998. She has owned her own floral business, married and has two lovely children. Maureen often speaks to women with paralysis and lets them know that they can still accomplish anything they set their mind to.

Maureen is an avid sailor and is the first woman to earn a spot in the paralympics in 2008. She also teaches sailing to persons with disabilities and is an asset to the Greater Boston Chapter.

Jean M. O’Leary, BSN,CCM,CRRN, MPA/H

Jean O’Leary has been a registered nurse for thirty years. She began her nursing career at the New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Unit at University Hospital, Boston. She has held various roles in caring for and working with individuals with spinal cord injury and their families. She has published and lectured nationally on the topic of “Case Management for Individuals with SCI”.

Jean received the Inaugural Service Excellence Award in 2002 from the Case Management Society of America for her work with SCI individuals and their families. Additionally, the Greater Boston Chapter of NSCIA honored Jean with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

Jean has been privileged to be associated with the Greater Boston Chapter of NSCIA, serving in several roles including, most recently, Vice President for Programs, on the Board of Directors.

Ellen Philbin

Ellen has been involved with the Greater Boston Chapter since she served as it’s executive director from 2002 to 2004. As she describes, “I could not walk away from such a wonderful organization,” and now contributes her time as a board member. Ellen has over twenty years of non-profit experience and is the Executive Director of the City of Cambridge Retirement System.

Deborah Woodbury, BSN

Deb Woodbury worked as a staff nurse from 1976 to 1985, then as a Medicare claims reviewer for one of the largest HMO’s in the country. From 1987 to the present, Deb has worked at two of the major spinal cord rehabilitation centers in New England. She currently serves as the co-director for the spinal cord injury program at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center, a Partners care facility in Boston. In 1991, Deb helped form the Greater Boston Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association and has served in various roles as a board member.