“It was very interesting to hear a neonatologist’s perspective on what they are looking at and how they interpret MRI results. Betsy provided a different perspective as well on how parents want direct honesty sprinkled with hope and support. Viewing HIE through two different lenses other than our therapy lens was very powerful and informative.” – Katie Bochi, MA, CCC-SLP
Title: Taking the Mystery Out of HIE: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Speakers Monica Arroyo, MD & Betsy Pilon, Executive Director, Hope for HIE Foundation
Course Description: Babies with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) often require significant levels of care and benefit from a team approach to caring for both the baby and family. Learn from pediatric neurologist Dr. Monica Arroyo how neonatal therapists can bring their expertise to partner and improve care for this population and empower families in their journey with HIE in the NICU and beyond. Hear about HIE from the parent perspective from Betsy Pilon and discover opportunities to lend your skills to empower parents and caregivers.
Target Audience: OT, SLP, PT, RN, MD, and Neonatal professionals
CE Credit: PT, OT, SLP – 1 hour
Level: Intermediate
Fee: $57 or FREE for NANT Members
Objectives
- Define therapeutic hypothermia treatment.
- Recall the parent perspective and importance of communication and team approach to care.
- Identify the challenges involved in transitioning home after HIE.
Speaker Bios
Monica Arroyo, MD is an attending Neonatal Neurologist at Joe di Maggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. Prior to this position, she completed a Pediatric Neurology residency and subsequently a fellowship in Fetal and Neonatal Neurology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 2018. In her current position, she has started a Neonatal Neurology service, fetal consultation service, and a high-risk clinic for NICU follow-up since her arrival to the institution. She is an advocate for optimizing continuity of care between the hospital and home and creating safe medical homes for children with complex needs. Dr. Arroyo is also interested in parent mental health and support and looking for ways to improve the NICU experience, as she herself is a NICU mother who lost her child to complications of prematurity.
Betsy Pilon is the Executive Director of Hope for HIE, a global nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and families impacted by HIE through awareness, education, and support for neonatal and pediatric acquired hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Hope for HIE connects over 7,000 families worldwide, through a comprehensive support network.
After her own son, Max was born in 2012 with HIE, it was difficult to find any resources or connections. Eventually, she found a small group of families gathering on social media. Working with the existing group, she led the efforts to start the grassroots nonprofit foundation in 2013 to ensure no family faces HIE alone. As a result, Facebook recognized her in 2019 for building community with Hope for HIE.
She is passionate about neurodevelopment, early intervention, parent education, and building patient and family-centered care and partnerships. She advocates for improving care, communication, and connection among providers, patients, and families, positively impacting outcomes in healthcare and education.
Her background is in marketing and communication in automotive, healthcare, and education, bringing community-building skills to broaden the reach and make meaningful connections for the organizations she has worked with. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Newborn Brain Society, co-chairing the Communication & Networking Committee.
Instructional Method
Lecture, handouts, recorded question, and answer session. Learning assessment and course evaluation follow the course.
Click here to take this course now.
“Appreciate the holistic approach & family resources in the treatment & long-term management of HIE.” – Korilynn Snow PT, DPT, CLC, CNT
“It was so helpful to hear the parent’s point of view as she was hearing the medical information. The combination of the two voices and perspectives was powerful.” – Anne Cain-Sheban, OT/L
