Margaret MANSFIELD
Current position
MS, MSOTR/L is a PATH Intl. Master Certified Instructor, CTRI, PATH Intl. Registered Therapist, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, Mentor, Faculty/ Evaluator, and member of the PATH Intl. Riding Certification Sub-committee.
Bios
She is an Associate Professor in Therapeutic Horsemanship Associate and Program Director at State University of New York (SUNY) Cobleskill. SUNY Cobleskill began offering Bachelors in Technology in Therapeutic Horsemanship in 2016.
She earned a Masters of Science in Animals and Public Policy from Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University. She received the PATH Intl. Professional of the Year nationally and for Region 2 in 2014. She has practiced in the field of EAA/T at programs both large and small for over 25 years and is a lifelong horsewoman.
Debbie Silkwood-Sherer
Current position
Professor of Department of Physical Therapy at Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions at Central Michigan University
Bios
Debbie Silkwood-Sherer PT, DHSc, HPCS is a licensed physical therapist with over 40 years of experience. She holds a clinical specialist certification in hippotherapy (HPCS) from the American Hippotherapy Certification Board.
Dr. Silkwood-Sherer is currently the Chair and Professor in the Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy at Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, USA. She has published several research articles that have assessed the effects of incorporating horse movement into treatment of postural control/balance issues in children with various neurological/developmental conditions, as well as adults with multiple sclerosis. Debbie has served on the Board of Directors for the American Hippotherapy Association (Research Chair, Secretary, Vice-President, and President) from 2007-2014.
She currently serves on the American Hippotherapy Certification Board, is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Horses and Humans Research Foundation, and is a manuscript reviewer for several professional journals.
Tracie FAA-THOMPSON
Current position
Co-Director of the Turn About Pegasus
Bios
Tracie FAA-THOMPSON, BA Social Work, MA Crim, PG NDPT, Clin Hypno, Cert EAGALA, Certified Non-directive Play Therapist; Filial Therapist, Supervisor & Filial Therapy Instructor. IIAAPT Instructor, supervisor, International trainer and speaker.
Tracie for 26 years was a specialist social worker in adoption working with traumatized children and their adoptive and foster families. She is a British Association of Play Therapists-registered play therapist who uses a mix of individual play therapy, filial therapy, and group filial methods.
Tracie is a practice teacher of social work students and newly qualified social workers, and a trainer in Life Story Work, Attachment Theory and resilience in adversity. As a clinical hypnotherapist, Tracie incorporates Eye Movement Integration with Emotional Freedom Technique as an effective approach to trauma.
Her passion is working outdoors in nature and since 2004 has been amalgamating Nature family therapy with Equine Assisted Family Therapy. Lover of the natural world she is just about to finish her applied herbal choices animal health consultancy course. She also has a unique approach to therapeutic life story work using nature to plot adopted children and adults journeys in 3D!
Yuval NERIA
Current position
Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry and Epidemiology) at the Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology at Columbia University Medical Center
Bios
Yuval Neria is Professor of Medical Psychology at the Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology at Columbia University Medical Center, and Director of Trauma and PTSD at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He completed his studies in philosophy (BA), political science (BA) and clinical psychology (MA) in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and received his doctorate (PhD) in psychology from the Haifa University, Israel.
Dr. Neria joined Columbia University in 2002, and since then has led and collaborated on numerous epidemiological, clinical, and neuroimaging studies in trauma and PTSD. In the last five years, Neria’s lab is focused on translational research aiming to identify highly needed behavioral and neural markers for trauma related psychopathology. By using multimodal brain imaging (MRI; fMRI, CBV) and a number of novel paradigms focusing on fear circuitry, his lab was able to probe new biomarkers of PTSD, and to identify structural and functional neural markers of clinical response to PTSD treatment.
Dr. Neria has authored more than 180 articles and book chapters, a war novel, and co-edited 4 textbooks focusing on the mental health consequences of exposure to trauma.
Janet L. JONES
Current position
Brainworks LLC (USA)
Bios
Janet L. JONES applies brain research to the training of horses and riders. She earned her Ph.D from UCLA and taught the neuroscience of perception, language, memory and thought for 23 years. Janet trained horses at a large stable early in her career and later ran a successful horse training business of her own. She has schooled hundreds of green or difficult horses and competed in hunter, jumper, halter, western pleasure, and reining disciplines. “Horse Brain, Human Brain” is her fourth book. www.janet-jones.com.
Karin HEDIGER
Current position
Researcher at the University of Basel, at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and a neurorehabilitation clinic (Switzerland)
Bios
Dr. Karin HEDIGER is a licensed psychotherapist and researcher at the University of Basel, Switzerland, at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and a neurorehabilitation clinic, investigating effects of animal-assisted interventions. After studying psychology at University of Zürich, Switzerland, she did her PhD in Rostock, Germany, in the field of human-animal interaction. She has a certificate in animal-assisted therapy, a diploma in equine-assisted therapy and recently founded a centre for animal-assisted psychotherapy.
Karin HEDIGER is president of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Human-Animal Relationship (IEMT Switzerland), secretary of the International Society for Animal Assisted Therapy (ISAAT), board member of the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHIAO) and gives courses on animal-assisted interventions in different institutes in Europe.
Nina Ekholm FRY
Current position
Professor of University of Denver / Director of Institute for Human-Animal Connection
Bios
Nina Ekholm FRY is the Director of Equine Programs at the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at University of Denver where her work encompasses therapeutic human-horse interactions and equine behavior and welfare. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Social Work and the Graduate School of Professional Psychology, and leads the post-master Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate program. For the past 15 years, she has focused on horses in human services, specializing in the inclusion of equine interactions in psychotherapy and counseling. Nina is the Vice President of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA Inc.), the immediate past Co-Chair of the Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals (CBEIP) and serves as the Chief Editor of the HETI Journal: International Research and Practice, published by the International Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy (HETI). Nina has a background as a mental health practitioner providing clinical services, specializing in trauma treatment, as a competitive rider and equine behavior consultant, and as an academic professional actively engaged in national and international organizations for both human and equine health. She has a particular interest in applied ethics and social justice perspectives within human-animal interactions, including human-horse conflict.
Jérôme MICHALON
Current position
Research fellow in Sociology (CNRS – UMR Triangle – University of Lyon – France)
Bios
I’m a Sociologist, at The French National Centre for Scientific Research, currently working at the Triangle laboratory (UMR 5206 – University of Lyon). My research interests are human-animal relationships, science studies, sociology of mobilization, and sociology of health. My work consists in a sociological exploration of social dynamics within the “benevolence towards animals’ communities”. My PhD dissertation about Animal-Assisted Therapy as a social phenomenon has been published in 2014 (Panser avec les animaux. Sociologie du soin par le contact animalier, Presses de Mines, Paris). I tried to understand how health care has changed the social status of some animals (namely dogs and horses). I’m also working on Animal Rights Activism, and especially the links between Advocacy and Academia.
Sanna Mattila RAUTIAINEN
Current position
President of HETI Federation
Bios
President of HETI Federation since 2015. Researcher in Biomedicine, University of Eastern-Finland. Physiotherapist, self employed. Specialized in Equine Facilitated therapy, movement analysis and biosignal measures. Editor for books Ratsastusterapia and it´s translation Equine facilitated therapies -in Finland and writer to several other science books. Teacher in Finnish EFT education since 1990.
Kathy ALM
Current position
CEO of Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH, Intl.)
Bios
Kathy Alm began her service as Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH Intl.) in 2014. For the previous 15 years she served as Executive Director of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Washington state. She served as PATH Intl.’s board president in the 2010-2012 term, first joining the board of trustees in 2005. Kathy has facilitated numerous workshops and presentations on Equine-assisted Services (EAS) nationally and internationally as well as trainings on fundraising, board development, and organizational sustainability. Most recently, Kathy led an initiative to build consensus on optimal terminology for EAS. The resulting Optimal Terminology for Services in the United States That Incorporate Horses to Benefit People: A Consensus Document (Wood, Alm, Benjamin, Thomas, Anderson, Pohl, Kane, 2020) was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Kathy holds a BA from Pacific Lutheran University.
Hyun Jung CHANG, M.D., Ph.D.
Current position
Professor of pediatric rehabilitation at the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
Bios
Completed the studies in medical science at Ewha Womans University, Seoul (BA), and Yonsei University, Seoul (MA), and received the doctorate (PhD) in medicine from the Pusan National University, Pusan. After completing the resident course at Severance Hospital, I started working as a clinical assistant professor at Samsung Medical Center, where I first encountered equine-assisted activities and therapy and observed its effect. Since 2009, while working at Samsung Changwon Hospital, I wanted to let the children with neurologic disorder experience horseback riding, but it was difficult due to accessibility. Therefore, I became interested in the horseback riding simulator, and recently attempting to combine virtual reality to enhance the therapeutic effect.
Natasha SKULT
Current position
CEO & Creative Director of MiTale
Bios
Natasha SKULT is the CEO & Creative Director of MiTale, a game development company from Finland focusing on narrative-driven experiences in mixed reality and gamification. She is an active member of the Finnish and international games industry as Board Member of IGDA.org and Chairperson of IGDA Finland. She is also one of the founders and elected Chairperson of The Hive – Turku Game Hub (game business center in South-West Finland). Besides industry work, she is active in academic research and teaches courses in game design and game (digital) art production at University of Turku.
Minna PELTONEN
Current position
Stable Business Developer at Equestrian Federation of Finland
Bios
Ms Minna PELTONEN is a specialist working at the Equestrian Federation of Finland. She is an educated level II riding instructor and a corporate and social responsibility specialist who has a proven track record working in equestrian trade for decades. In her current position she is helping to create a sustainability program for the federation and further developing the communication and liaison with different key stakeholders groups in order to maintain positive environment for the equestrian trade to act as a part of the society. In her free time Minna is an active showjumping judge.
Jeong-Yi KWON
Current position
Professor of Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
Chair of Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center
Bios
Jeong-Yi Kwon, M.D.,Ph.D.is Professor in the Dept. of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. She is a current board member of the HETI (2015-present) and the Korean Society of Pediatric Rehabilitation and Developmental Medicine (2006-present). She has had a career in clinical research as a principal investigator in Equine assisted activities and therapies and has published numerous articles in this field.
Jung Soon SHIN
Current position
RDAI of Korea Racing Authority
Bios
I earned my bachelor's degree in Health Science and received master’s degree in Family Counseling from YonSei University. I started to learn about horses and riding program ..( in 2002). From that moment, I realized(or found) myself being happy with horses and people in this field. I love to teach students who are interested in this area
Ji Hye HWANG
Current position
Professor of Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine
Bios
1. Y Kim, Js Seo, SY An, DH Sinn, JH Hwang(corresponding). Efficacy and Safety of an mHealth App and Wearable Device in Physical Performance for Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Development and Usability Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020;8(3):e14435
2. SM Yeo,, HJ K, SA An, IA C, Y Kim, JH Hwang(corresponding). Mechanical Properties of Muscles around the Shoulder in Breast Cancer Patients: Intra-rater and Inter-rater Reliability of the MyotonPRO. PM R 12 (2020) 374–381
3. N Kim, H Kim, JH Hwang(corresponding), W Park, WK Cho, SM Yeo, H Lee, SK Lee. Longitudinal impact of postmastectomy radiotherapy on arm lymphedema in patients with breast cancer: An analysis of serial changes in arm volume measured by infrared optoelectronic volumetry. Radiotherapy and Oncology 158 (2021) 167–174.
4. KH Kim, SM Yeo, IA Cheong, Y Kim, BJ Jeon, JH Hwang(corresponding). Early Rehabilitation after Total Mastectomy and Immediate Reconstruction with Tissue Expander Insertion in Breast Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Case-control Study. J Breast Cancer. 2019 Sep;22(3):472-483
5. IA Cheong, JS Yoo, SH Chung, SY Park, HJ Song, JW Lee, JH Hwang(corresponding). Functional loss in daily activity in ovarian cancer patients undergoing Chemotherapy. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2019) 299:1063–1069
6. IA Cheong, SY An, WC Cha, MY Rha, ST Kim, DK Chang, JH Hwang(corresponding). Efficacy of Mobile Health Care Application and Wearable Device in Improvement of Physical Performance in Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy. Clinical Colorectal Cancer(2018)
7. H Lee, KE Uhm, IA Cheong, JS Yoo, SH Chung, YH Park, JY Lee, JH Hwang(corresponding). Patient Satisfaction with Mobile Health (mHealth) Application for Exercise Intervention in Breast Cancer Survivors. Journal of Medical Systems (2018) 42: 254
8. SW Park, I Kim, JI Lee, H Park, JD Lee, KE Uhm, JH Hwang, JY Lee. Factors associated with physical activity of breast cancer patients participating in exercise intervention. Supportive Care in Cancer(2018)
9. KE Uhm, JS Yoo, SH Chung, JD Lee, I Lee, JI Kim, SK Lee, SJ Nam, YH Park, JY Lee, JH Hwang(corresponding). Effects of exercise intervention in breast cancer patients: is mobile health (mHealth) with pedometer more effective than conventional program using brochure? Breast Cancer Res Treat (2017) 161:443–452
Brenda TANNER
Current position
Managing Director of EQUINE ENCOUNTERS AUSTRALIA
Bios
After a 25-year global career, as a business leader supporting organizations and their people through change, Brenda decided to follow her passion to support people through life-changing events. After gaining Qualifications in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Post Graduate in Gestalt Therapy she founded Equine Encounters Australia (EEA). Creating highly experiential, immersion-style programs which bring horses into the therapeutic process, the focus initially was on supporting Veterans suffering with PTSD. These programs gained national recognition and formed the basis of a clinical research study conducted by Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation. In 2018, after working closely with a group of women who had just completed Breast Cancer treatment, she realized there was a desperate need to support women post-treatment to overcome the emotional scars of their journey – and so ‘Who Am I Now?’ Program was launched.
Saebra PIPOLY
Current position
Hoof Falls & Footfalls, LLC- Owner/Founder
Bios
Saebra Pipoly lives in Arizona and owns and operates Hoof Falls & Footfalls, LLC. Under Hoof Falls & Footfalls she runs an “inclusive” lesson program for traditional and adaptive students and also specializes in providing professional, affordable, and accessible resources and education to adaptive/therapeutic riding instructors not only in the US but around the globe.
Saebra grew up living and breathing everything equine and has spent her professional career dedicated to the EAS (formerly EAAT) industry. She has a passion for educating, equipping, and empowering other instructors to be the best they can be so they can go out and impact countless lives during lessons with their students or mentoring/training up and coming instructors. Saebra’s focus is to pass on "how" and “why” instructors can implement solid teaching techniques in every lesson, have a mindfulness of their equine co-workers, and understand the importance of horse and human mechanics and interactions; all these pieces come together to enable instructors to provide quality, safe, and engaging lessons that keep their students, horses, and volunteers happy, healthy, and safe!
Doug Hyun HAN
Current position
Professor of Chung Ang University Hospital
Bios
Professor, Chung Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
Chief of Human & IT center, Chung Ang University
2004 – 2005 Research Associate in Neuroscience, Seoul National University Hospital, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
2005 – 2006 Clinical and Research Fellow in Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
2006 – NIDA INVEST Research Fellow, McLean Hospital, Brain Imaging Center, Belmont, MA
Jill CAREY
Current position
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICR of FESTINA LENTE ENTERPRISES
Bios
Jill Carey is Chief Executive Officer of Festina Lente Enterprises – a leading organisation that provides a wide range of equine assisted activities to people affected by socio economic disadvantage and /or disability. Additionally, Jill co-ordinates and lectures on Quality in Qualifications Ireland (QQI) educational programmes run by Festina Lente, which equips people with the skills to deliver Therapeutic Riding, Equine Assisted Learning and Social and Therapeutic Horticulture. Jill works with staff across the organisation to ensure that collectively the best quality of services are provided to the hundreds of people who avail of the range of activities, services and events. Jill holds a PhD, an MSc in Economic and Social Studies, a National Diploma in Business Studies, a Diploma in Psychoeducational Remedial Riding and an Advanced Diploma in Mental Health and Well-being Coaching. In her down time, she is a keen cook, cinemagoer and walker, and regularly practices Sean-nós dancing.
Gisela Heimsath RHODES
Current position
Vice President of HETI
Bios
Gisela Heimsath-Rhodes has a Masters Degree in Education. She is a Credentialed Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Advanced Therapeutic Riding and Interactive Vaulting Instructor. She has been an instructor for HETI’s Therapeutic Riding workshops internationally and is currently faculty for PathIntl’s Interactive Vaulting certification in the USA. In addition she co-develops and co-teaches workshops with Marilyn Sokolof through her company Hallas, LLC.
Previously Executive Director/Secretary for HETI she now serves as Vice President on the Executive Committee. Gisela has authored and co-authored two books and presented at national and international professional congresses.
Marilyn Sokolof
Current position
HETI Executive Council of Unbridled Therapy
Bios
Marilyn is a licensed psychologist and a Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning, providing Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy for 25 years. In addition to private practice, she Directed the Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy program at a residential drug treatment center. She has been an instructor for PATH workshops, and teaches workshops through her company Unbridled Therapy, in addition to workshops with Gisela Heimsath-Rhodes. Marilyn serves on the Executive Committee of HETI and also on the HETI Scientific Review Committee. She has authored articles and book chapters and presented at national and international professional psychology and equine conferences.
Vera Maria HORNE DA CRUZ
Current position
Vice president of ANDE-BRASIL
Bios
I’m a Brazilian Clinical Psychologist, Post-Graduaded in Psychomotricity and in Neuropsychology and working in the Equine Assisted Therapy field for about 30 years. My “career” began with the incentive of my late father who would ask me to translate some of the material that had come from abroad and that served as the theoretical basis for the creation of the methodology launched by the National Association of Equotherapy (“Equoterapia” in Brazilian Portuguese), ANDE-BRASIL, founded by a good friend of my father, Cirillo, and himself, in 1989. I’ve also been the founder of a Center in the Southern region of the Country in 1992, which was the first Center of Equotherapy to be attending with a professional team besides that of the National Association, in Brasilia, the Capital city of Brazil. Since 1996 I’ve been working at ANDE-BRASIL, where I’ve been as the Vice-president for the last 9 years. In 2010 I received an invitation to substitute a member of the EC of HETI which I’ve accepted. I went through the election process in 2012 and became the Treasurer and in 2015 I was elected Vice-president of HETI. For that I believe that this has been the highest point in my trajectory as a Brazilian Psychologist in the EAT field and very proud to take part of a selected and important group of professionals of this area in the world.
Roisin BRENNAN
Current position
Executive Director of HETI
Bios
Roisin Brennan is currently the Executive Director of The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International. She has been working in this position for the past 3 years and is dedicated in her role in assisting HETI members as well as supporting the HETI Executive Committee in achieving their strategic goals. Roisin holds a 1st class Masters in Social Science from the University College Dublin . Roisin’s research focus was on human and horse interactions during equine assisted learning within a social psychology framework. For the past 10 years Roisin has worked on several programmes in Ireland that incorporate human and equine interactions to aid in the development of social and emotional learning. She has apprenticed in several horse training facilities in British Columbia and California. Roisin’s interests lie in curriculum development, research and equine welfare. Roisin is currently in her final year studying a Bachelor of Science in Counselling and Psychotherapy with Coventry University, UK.
Margareta Håkanson
Current position
Physical therapist of PT Group(EEFTN)
Bios
Physiotherapist, med lic, and clinically active in the area of mental health and longlasting pain. Have been attending HETI conferences since 1998 and have been attending professional congresses and conferences nationally as well as internationally, presenting and participating. Served as a moderator in IAHAIO int conf 2010 in Stockholm and was last time moderator in a seminar on Nordic Equine Assisted Physiotherapy at HETI congress in Dublin 2018.
Published in scientific journals and also served as referee for physiotherapy and for EAI. Have been a board member in the Swedish organisation OHI and now edit the national newsletter.
Margareta owns an ardenner working at a centre for EAA/T in West Sweden.
Inkyung LEE
Current position
Professor of Cheju Halla Univ.
Bios
Major in Immunological Pathology and Occupational Therapy
2018~present Chief professor / Dept of Equine management science, school of Equine Science, Cheju Halla Univ. Jeju, S. Korea
2014~2018 professor/ Dept of Medical Service Management, Kyungwoon Univ. Gumi, S. Korea
2013~2018 Therapeutic Riding Instructor,/ Korea Racing Authority(KRA), Busan, S. Korea
2002~2013 Chief professor / Dept of Therapeutic Riding and Occupational Therapy, Sungwoon Univ. YoungCheon, S. Korea
2000~2002 Research professor / biological research center, Youngnam Univ. Daegu, S. Korea
1996~2000 post-Doc/National Animal Diseases Center(NADC), USDA, Ames, IOWA, USA
