Join the TAA for a collaborative roundtable discussion on Tourette Syndrome and Anxiety – the final workshop in a three-part series on TS and co-occurring conditions. You’ll hear from Dr. Jennifer Vermilion (TAA Medical Advisory Board Member) and Dr. Jennifer Stenger (TAA Education Advisory Board Member) who will share their experiences supporting individuals with TS and Anxiety in a clinical and education setting. You’ll hear from TAA Rising Leader, Lara Capellino, who will share her lived experiences managing TS and Anxiety. We will also have Dr. Jeannette Reid, a member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, who will share her knowledge on the intersection between TS and Anxiety.
Intended Audience:
Teens, Young Adults, Families, and the Community
Key Takeaways:
- Hear about the lived experiences of an individual with TS and Anxiety
- Learn how to support individuals with TS and Anxiety at school, work, and in social environments
- Learn from professionals about their experiences supporting individuals with TS and Anxiety
- Access resources to help you better understand TS and Anxiety
Dr. Jennifer Vermilion
Jennifer Vermilion, MD is a board-certified Child Neurologist and an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at the University of Rochester (NY) where she is also the Director of the Pediatric Movement Disorders Fellowship and co-director of the Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence at the University of Rochester. Dr. Vermilion received her BS (Molecular and Cellular Biology) from Vanderbilt University and her MD from the University of Rochester. She completed residency training in Child Neurology at the University of Rochester, where she stayed on to complete a dual fellowship in Pediatric Movement Disorders and Experimental Therapeutics. She joined the faculty at the University of Rochester in 2019. Dr. Vermilion has an active research program focused on tic disorders and co-occurring conditions in youth. She has active research projects assessing anxiety symptoms and rage attacks in tic disorders as well as testing new screening instruments to improve detection of tic disorders. Clinically, she specializes in pediatric movement disorders with a special interest in Tourette Syndrome. Dr. Vermilion previously served on the Scientific Program Committee at the CNS and as a member on the editorial board for the Resident and Fellow Section of the Neurology journal.
Dr. Jennifer Stenger
Dr. Stenger has been in public education for 20 years, first as a high school English teacher and currently as a school counselor. She has also taught adjunct classes ta two universities in Southern Illinois. In 2011, she received a PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her dissertation research was based on other public K-12 educators who, like herself, have Tourette Syndrome. After completing her doctorate, she self-published The Life that Chose Us: Educators with Tourette Syndrome, based on this work. Since publishing in 2013, she has presented at multiple conferences and speaking engagements; she also meets with younger children with disabilities to promote positive self-image and self-confidence. She is energized when working with and serving the TS community, as she is driven to help school-aged children succeed both academically and socially. She has been a member of the Education Advisory Board since 2016.
Lara Capellino
Lara is a 21-year-old college student originally from Argentina, who moved to the state of New York in 2022 to pursue her Bachelor’s in chemical engineering. She was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 18, despite having dealt with multiple tics and co-occurring conditions throughout the majority of her life. Passionate about the sciences and their applications in the pharmaceutical and medicinal industries, she hopes to bring positive change toward patient-focused therapeutics development. She values advocacy in its many forms, and enjoys listening to rock music, reading, and baking.
Jeannette Reid, PhD
Dr. Reid is a licensed psychologist in the state of Maryland, currently affiliated with Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change. She earned her doctorate from Fordham University after receiving specialized training through WellSpan Philhaven CBT – Behavioral Health at the Meadowlands (York, PA), Terry Children’s Psychiatric Center (New Castle, DE), Columbia University Medical Center (Manhattan, NY), Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy (Manhattan, NY), and Fordham University Anxiety Disorders Clinic (Bronx, NY). Prior to licensure, she worked as a Social/Behavioral Researcher with University of South Florida Department of Pediatrics/Rothman Center for Pediatric Neuropsychiatry; her dual focus on anxiety and tic disorders led to numerous publications and presentations, and she led a parent support group for individuals whose children struggled with Tourette’s. More recently, Dr. Reid practiced through Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington, with a focus on Tourettic OCD. Dr. Reid is very excited to be involved in this roundtable highlighting the intersection between Tourette’s and anxiety.
*By registering for this event, you are agreeing to the Tourette Association of America’s Event Terms and Conditions.
