Staff Information Handout

North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS)

**Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Team Services**

This handout is intended for use by veterans with traumatic brain injury
and their caregivers.

Your physician is referring you to the following professionals. This
list will help you understand the people you will see and the services
each will provide. If you have any questions about your care, please
contact the TBI Coordinator.

**□TBI Coordinator:**

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.5in"
height="1.5263888888888888in"}**Cristina Ward, LCSW**

Contact Information:

352-376-1611 x7581

800-324-8387 x7581

The TBI Coordinator is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. This person
helps veterans with mild traumatic brain injury. Services include
helping with appointments and managing your overall care. The TBI
Coordinator also refers veterans to community and VA resources. The TBI
Coordinator can help you with financial problems, transportation,
housing/homelessness, and VA benefits\
and claims.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.5in"
height="1.5277777777777777in"}**Physicians/Physiatrists:**

**Charles Levy, MD, Chief, PMRS\
Joseph Ferraro, MD\
Hellena R. Scott-Okafor, MD**

Check in Room B218, Gainesville

For appointments and scheduling, contact

Oscar Mercado-Pagan, TBI Clerk,

352-248-0259

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="1.5in"
height="1.5138888888888888in"}**Physiatrist (pronounced
fiz-ee-á-trist):**

A physiatrist is a physician who specializes in physical medicine &
rehabilitation. Physiatrists are trained to assess physical and thinking
abilities. They will help you function at your best.

As the first step in your treatment, a physiatrist will interview and
examine you to learn the tasks you can do easily and those that are
giving you problems. The physiatrist, along with other members of the
TBI team, will then develop a treatment plan. Your team members may
include physical, occupational,

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.5277777777777777in"}and
speech therapists, psychologists, vocational counselors, and social
workers. You may need to have tests such as x-rays or magnetic resonance
imaging\
studies (MRIs).

Our goal is to develop a sensible plan based on your needs, desires, and
skills. We want you to have a happy and productive life.

**□**![](media/image5.jpeg){width="1.5in"
height="1.5277777777777777in"}**Physical Therapists:**

**David Omura, DPT, MHA**

Room B-222-1, Gainesville

352-379-4127

Physical therapists (PTs) evaluate and treat patients who have movement
problems. These problems may be due to bone, heart, lung, and/or nerve
conditions. The physical therapist is trained to identify and treat
these problems. PTs use several methods including exercise and manual
therapy. These treatments will often help reduce pain, and improve
flexibility and strength.\
The physical therapist helps patients become as functional as possible.

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.5in"}**□Occupational
Therapists:**

**Teresa Howell, OTR/L**

**Sandy Koenig, OTR/L, LCSW**

Room 219-1, Gainesville

352-379-4128

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="1.5in"
height="1.5138888888888888in"}Occupational therapists (OTs) assess how
well you can care for yourself, both physically and mentally, at home,
work, and school. If you have problems in these areas, OTs can recommend
treatment plans to help you. OTs may teach you how to use memory aids or
exercises to help keep you focused and remember important information in
your everyday life. OTs can work with you and your family members to
make sure you understand how to use these methods in your daily
activities. OTs work together with other TBI team members to make sure
all of your physical and mental needs are met.

**□Speech Pathologists:**

![](media/image8.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.5in"}**Bethany Hieber,
M.A. CCC-SLP**

On your first visit, the speech pathologist will assess if you have
problems with speaking, listening, reading, writing, remembering, or
swallowing. These problems can result from injury. The speech
pathologist will review your goals\
to decide if you need more evaluation or therapy.

It is common for patients with TBI to have problems learning new
information or remembering older information. The goals of
rehabilitation include plans to help manage time, set goals, stay
organized, and choose good study habits for work or school. You may be
given exercises to focus your attention on certain sounds. You may also
be given homework or asked to do exercises with your clinician over the
phone. You may also be invited to participate in group activities.

Gainesville: 800-324-8387 x 5607

Gainesville: Room: EB36-1

Lake City: 800-324-8327 x 2275

Lake City: Room: A-246

Daytona Beach Out-Patient Clinic: Specialty Clinic Area

**□Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor:**

**Charles Brown, MS Ed.**

![](media/image9.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.5416666666666667in"}

The vocational rehabilitation counselor helps veterans whose jobs have
been affected by traumatic brain injury. The VR counselor assesses your
job interests, gives you individual career counseling, provides job
testing, and helps with plans that can lead to jobs. The VR counselor
checks to see if you are eligible for help through the Department of
Veteran Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. If you are
eligible, the counselor will help you apply for that program. The VR
counselor may refer you to other services that may be helpful. The VR
counselor can also serve as the point of contact with employers.

825 NW 23^rd^ Avenue

Bldg III, Suite B

Gainesville, Florida 32609

352-3761611 ext 4822

800-324-8387

![](media/image10.jpeg){width="1.5in"
height="1.5in"}**Neuropsychologists:**

**Jason A. Demery, Ph.D.**

The neuropsychologist helps veterans who have problems with memory,
speech, problem- solving, emotions, concentration, and fine motor
skills. The neuropsychologist conducts tests to decide if these problems
are the result of traumatic brain injury, depression, or post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). The neuropsychologist provides therapy for
veterans who suffer from brain injury,

stroke, or other brain disorders. Neuropsychologists have special skills
for working\
with veterans who have served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The
neuropsychologist

provides one-on-one therapy and coordinates patient treatment to provide
the best possible care.

Appointments -- contact the TBI Clerk at (352) 248-0259 or 800-324-8387
x7545

Neuropsychological evaluations are conducted at our off-site facility
located at

825 NW 23^rd^ Ave., Suite B

Gainesville, Florida 32609

**□PTSD Clinical Teams (PCT)/Psychologists:**

![](media/image11.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.5in"}**Thomas
Hundersmark, Ph.D.**

2^nd^ Floor Room 8266, Gainesville

Appointments - contact Jack Mckenzie 352-374-6127

The PTSD Clinical Teams (PCTs) provide outpatient care for veterans with
post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The PCTs help veterans manage
the long-term effects of military combat as well as trauma that occurs
in civilian life. The PCTs provide both evaluation and treatment. Most
often treatment consists of group therapy sessions. A PCT psychiatrist
will provide medication management when needed. Individual therapy is
given if needed.

**□**![](media/image12.jpeg){width="1.5in"
height="1.5in"}**Audiologists:**

**Robert Yanke, Au.D.**

Room EB 36-1, Gainesville

352-376-1611 ext. 6171

An audiologist works with you to solve hearing problems. Your hearing
ability will be tested. The audiologist will help you learn how to cope
with hearing loss and bothersome sounds in your ears. Hearing aids or
other devices may be provided if you need them.

![](media/image13.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.5in"}**Veterans' Video
Network (VVN) staff:**

**Mathew De Wein, LCSW, Lead Care Coordinator**

**Lynn G. George, ARNP**

![](media/image14.jpeg){width="1.5in" height="1.5in"}

Locations:

Matt DeWein, 1029 NW 23^rd^ Avenue, Gainesville 32609 (352) 375-4237\
Lynn G. George, Lake City Professional Building, 1435 US Highway 90
West, Lake City 32055 (386) 487-1797

Cristi Hardy, Program Support Assistant, Gainesville (352) 375-4237

Gene Griffis, Administrative Support Assistant, Lake City (386) 487-1798