Sun., October 12, 2025: Preconference

Welcome, Conference Overview, Housekeeping and Announcements - Gavin Colquitt, EdD

 Comprehensive Support throughout the Lifespan - Rebecca Putnam, MD 

10:30 AM

Breakout Session 1

Physical Health: Parent Delivered Upper Extremity Intervention for Children with Early Motor Delays - Allison McIntyre, MOT OT/L, CCRP

Mental Wellbeing: Navigating Difficult Conversations: Parent and Provider Coffee Talk - Diane Coffey, Kaaren Hayes, & Stacy Morgan

Communication and Behavior: Language as the Missing Link and the Toolkit - Garry McGiboney, PhD

Advocacy and Empowerment: Transition Planning from School to the Community -  Robert Darcy, Kelsey Trevethan, M. Ed, Jana Dobbins, MA & Beth Sibley, MSW 

Networking/Lunch (Provided)

12:45 PM

Breakout Session 2

Physical Health: Exercise Recommendations for Children with Developmental Delays - Keagan Kiely, DrPH

Mental Wellbeing: Supporting Parents in Early Diagnosis: Practical Applications From Grief to Hope - Tandrea Carter, PhD & Thea Wilson, MEd

Communication and Behavior: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Behavioral Coaching Models - Holli Sink, PhD

Advocacy and Empowerment:  Transition from Early Intervention to School-Based Services session -Stephanie Allen & Erin Selle

2:15 PM

Breakout Session 3

Physical Health: Tone Management - Natalia Byrne, MS, PT

Mental Wellbeing: The Intersection of Neurological and Psychological Implications for Mental Health - Gary Maslow, MD

Communication and Behavior:   Focused Intervention Approaches for Children with ASD -  Sarah Vess, PhD, LP, HSP-P, NCSP & Nicole B Doyle, PhD

Advocacy and Empowerment: Teaching Self-Advocacy for Children - Laurel Powell

3:50 PM

 Early Intervention in NC and the World - Jennifer Check, MD, MS & Jennifer Hollman, MD 

Welcome, Conference Overview, Housekeeping and Announcements - Gavin Colquitt, EdD

 Advocacy: Partnerships and Relationships - Diane Coffey, Kay McMillian & Talley Wells, EdM, JD

10:30 AM

Breakout Session 1

Physical Health: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) - Laurie Ray, MPT, PhD & Kathleen Ollendick, PT, DPT, PCS 

Mental Wellbeing: Integrating Resources for Resilience into Clinical Care - Ann DuPre Rogers, MSW, LCSW

Communication and Behavior:   Trauma-Informed Behavioral Supports: Psychological and Mental Health First Aid -  Jennifer Tyson, MPH

Advocacy and Empowerment: Behind the School Doors: Partnering, Advocating, and Communicating for Better Outcomes - Cari Carson, JD, MSW, Aimee Combs, & Haley Gowdy

11:45 AM

 Networking/Lunch (Provided) 

12:45 PM

Breakout Session 2

Physical Health: Medication Management Throughout the Lifespan - Elizabeth Farrington, PharmD, FCCP, FCCM, FPPAG, BCPS, BCNSP

Mental Wellbeing: Therapeutic Approaches  and Treatment for Children and Youth with IDD and Mental Health Challenges - Jill Hinton, PhD

Communication and Behavior: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for Children with Complex Communication Needs - Carolyn Gilmore, MS, PhD, CCC-SLP

Advocacy and Empowerment: From Resources for Resilience: Empowering Parents to Embrace Therapy and Self-Care - Ann DuPre Rogers, MSW, LCSW

2:20 PM

Collaborative Approaches to Child Welfare and Mental Health - Dana M. Hagele, MD, MPH

RECORDED Moving Mountains and Community Conference

Includes:

• Recordings of the same workshops led by regionally recognized clinicians, researchers, and advocates in pediatric care.
• All recorded sessions mirror the in-person experience, including breakout sessions on physical health, mental wellbeing, communication, and advocacy.

All recorded workshops will be available ON DEMAND for 3 months following the live event. Links to register for the recordings will be available following the live conference.

Stephanie Allen
School Psychologist, Hardin Park
Watauga County School System

Elizabeth Barton, MD, FAAPMP
Assistant Professor and Residency Assistant Program Director
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
UNC School of Medicine

Natalia Byrne, MS, PT
Physical Therapist
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Cari Carson, JD, MSW
Supervising Attorney
Disability Rights North Carolina

Tandrea Carter, PhD
Director, Counseling for Faculty and Staff
Appalachian State University

Jennifer Check, MD, MS
Associate Professor
Neonatology, Pediatrics
Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Diane Coffey
MHTA Director of Programs - NC 
Director LightNavigator Advocacy Partnerships a Program of Mental Health Transformation Alliance 

Gavin Colquitt, Ed.D.
Executive Director
Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness

Aimee Combs
Executive Director
Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center

Rhonda Cox, MS
EVP and Chief Population Health Officer
Vaya Health

Trenton D'Agostino
Two Time Gold Medalist
Special Olympics World Winter Games

Robert Darcy
Director of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)
Watauga Opportunities, Inc.

Jana Dobbins, MA
Exceptional Children’s Program Director
Watauga County School System

Nicole B Doyle, PhD
Pediatrics - Developmental, Clinical Assistant Professor
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist

Ann DuPre Rogers, MSW, LCSW
Executive Director
Resources for Resilence

Elizabeth Farrington, PharmD, FCCP, FCCM, FPPAG, BCPS, BCNSP
Clinical Pharmacist
New Hanover Regional Medical Center

Carolyn Gilmore, MS, PhD, CCC-SLP
Assistant Professor
Communication Sciences and Disorders/Speech-Language Pathology
Appalachian State University

Haley Gowdy
Exceptional Children's Teacher, Hardin Park
Watauga County School System

Kaaren Hayes
Retired Director
Parent to Parent: Family Support Network-High Country

Dana M. Hagele, MD, MPH
Board Certified Child Abuse Pediatrician
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC

Jill Hinton, PhD
Clinical Director
National Center for START Services

Jennifer Holman, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Neonatology, Pediatrics
Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Keagan Kiely, DrPH
Post Doctoral Fellow
Arnold Healthy Kids Initiative - University of South Carolina

Nathalie Maitre, MD, PhD
Professor, Neonatology
Emory University School of Medicine

Gary Maslow, MD
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Co-Division Director of Child and Family Mental Health and Community Psychiatry
Clinical Professor in the School of Nursing
Professor of Pediatrics
Duke University School of Medicine

Garry McGiboney, PhD
Executive Director
Sharecare

Allison McIntyre, MOT OT/L, CCRP
Lead Occupational Therapist
Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology
Emory University School of Medicine

Kay McMillan
Co-Founder and Board Chair
Youth LEAD NC

Stacy Morgan
Executive Director
Mental Health Transformation Alliance (MHTA)

Kathleen Ollendick, PT, DPT, PCS
Director of Clinical Education, Assistant Professor
Western Carolina University

Laurel Powell
Program Manager 
UNC Family Support Program and Family Support Network of NC

Rebecca Putnam, MD
Family Physician
Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) / Mission Hospital

Ann DuPre Rogers, MSW, LCSW
Executive Director
Resources for Resilience

Erin Selle
Exceptional Children’s PreK Teacher, Hardin Park
Watauga County School System

Beth Sibley, MSW
Assistant Director, Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program
Appalachian State University

Holli Sink, PhD
Chief Program Officer
Southmountain Children and Family Services

Steve Strom, MEd, MBA
Director, Money Follows the Person
NC Department of Health and Human Services

Kelsey Trevethan
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Coordinator
Watauga Opportunities, Inc.

Jennifer Tyson, MPH
Research Faculty
Appalachian State University

Sarah Vess, PhD, LP, HSP-P, NCSP
Pediatric Psychologist
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Psychology Services Division Head
Associate Professor
Wake Forest University School of Medicine 

Talley Wells, EdM, JD
Executive Director
NC Council on Developmental Disabilities
NC Department of Health and Human Services

Dylan White, MPH
Chief Compliance Officer, Healthy Blue Care Together
Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina

Logan Wilson
Business Development Coordinator
Summit Design and Engineering Services, Inc.

Thea Wilson, MEd
Child Find Transition Specialist 
Wake County Public School System

Kate Younger, MS, SSP, NCSP
School Psychologist, Watauga Outreach and Family Services Coordinator 
Parent to Parent Family Support Network of the High Country
Appalachian State University