Psychological Dimensions Related to Idiopathic Scoliosis Assessment and Treatment in Adolescents and Adults

Please join us for the upcoming SOSORT Webinar -Psychological Dimensions Related to Idiopathic Scoliosis Assessment and Treatment in Adolescents and Adults- scheduled for February 17, 2024 from 9-10:15 a.m. EST. 

This webinar aims to provide tools and strategies for managing the psychological aspects of a patient both across the team of providers and during the individual practioner's evaluation and treatment.

Meet the Speakers 

MC - Joseph P. O’Brien is President & CEO of the National Scoliosis Foundation (NSF) and a co-founder and past President of the Society On Scoliosis Orthopedic and Rehabilitative Treatment (SOSORT), He is also a former Board member & Treasurer of the U.S. Bone & Joint Initiative (USBJI) representing all musculoskeletal patients. Mr. O’Brien was elected as an Honorary Fellow Member of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) in 2006 and has since actively served as an Advisor on multiple committees. He is also a Patient Representative on the FDA Advisory Panel for the Centers for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) and Drug Evaluation & Research (CDER) and serves as a Patient Representative on the Cochrane Rehabilitation Advisory Board. Joe is a scoliosis patient who has had six spinal surgeries and is one of fifteen family members with this structural spinal disorder, including three of his five children.

Dr. Elisabetta D'Agata, PhD in clinical psychology, is an Italian psychologist and a researcher, specialized primarily in the area of Idiopathic scoliosis. She believes in the indissolubility of the mind-body unit and she is aware of a need for a human support in patient treatment. Her research interests are related to the application of the bio-psycho-social model in the treatment of the patients with scoliosis. She is strongly motivated in the educational field as a trainer in some of the most important international programs. She has written a book related to the psychological aspects of Idiopathic Scoliosis. Her commitment with scientific community moved her to participate actively to Sosort Conferences since 2010.

Dr. Lisa Graham-Wisener is a Lecturer (Assistant-Professor) in Health Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her research is in the area of clinical health psychology, where she is interested in the assessment and promotion of psychological wellbeing and quality of life in chronic conditions. Lisa has previously conducted research to validate quality of life measures and psychological distress screening tools, and to develop evidence-based psychological interventions. She is currently leading on a project to develop a ‘core outcome set’ to be used when evaluating treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Mina Jelacic works at ScolioControl, a  center for nonsurgical scoliosis treatment in  Novi Sad, Serbia. She is a specialist in  physical medicine and rehabilitation with  more than 10 years dedicated to the  conservative treatment of scoliosis as MD,  PT and CPO. Mina is a Rigo concept-  BSPTS instructor.

Rachel Mulvaney is the Vice President of  the Curvy Girls Scoliosis Foundation—an  international nonprofit organization founded  in 2006. Since its inception, she helped  build and develop this global network of  peer-led support groups, comprised of 85  chapters in 19 countries. Our primary  objective is simple: provide emotional  support, health education, and leadership  development for adolescent girls worldwide. Her keen interest in helping others has led her to pursue a career in public health and she received a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Brown University. Rachel is devoted to creating a positive impact on the lives of others by merging my expertise in the nonprofit and research sectors.

 Amanda Sheehan was raised in Arizona, and now resides in Bolton, Massachusetts, with her husband, 2 children, Harrison and Greer, and family dog Lincoln. Her eldest child Greer was braced with the WCR brace for 3 years, and recently underwent anterior vertebral body tethering surgery April 19, 2023. Amanda also has scoliosis, and while not braced as an adolescent, per current guidelines she would have met criteria for bracing. As adults, both she, as well as her aunt, have been treated with Scoliosis Specific Physical Therapy to effectively decrease scoliosis related symptoms and improve physically. Professionally, Amanda is a Nurse Practitioner, working in the fields of endocrinology and clinical research. She is also in graduate school at John's Hopkins University pursuing an additional master's degree as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.