Therapist NTMC Phase III Hands On Training Details

Access NTMC Speakers’ Disclosures Here.

MELISSA BLOOMER, MA, CCC-SLP, NTMTC

Melissa is a licensed SLP with nearly 20 years of experience working in a variety of acute care settings, with the last 12 years focused on infant feeding and family-integrated care. Melissa currently works in a Level IV NICU at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC. She is co-chair of the Feeding Committee, sits on the Developmental Care Committee and provides comprehensive education as a professional support for all regional Medstar NICUs. Melissa provides regular physician and nursing education and lectures in the Master’s Programs at Gallaudet, Howard, UDC and GWU in Pediatric Dysphagia. Melissa is passionate about infant-led feeding practices, feeding development and neurodevelopmental care. She strives to support and empower families in providing and advocating for optimized developmental care in the NICU and beyond.

RACHEL HARRIS, OTD, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

Rachel received her clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine. During her time at Washington University, she was actively involved in research related to maternal mental health and neonatal feeding outcomes. Rachel worked in a level IV NICU at Medical City Dallas Children’s Hospital for five years, where she also saw infants through home health with torticollis, plagiocephaly, and developmental delays. Rachel currently works in a Level III NICU in Chicago, is on the Creative Therapy Consultants’ team, is an NTMC presenter, and is passionate about improving outcomes for neonates and their families.

AUNE HJARTARSON NUNN, OT Reg. (Ont), CNT, NTMTC

Aune is an Occupational Therapist in the NICU at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. She received her undergraduate degree and Occupational Therapy Degree from McMaster University. She is part of McMaster NICU’s small baby team and the VON collaborative. Aune is a certified neonatal therapist, and has been privileged to call the NICU home for over 20 years. Aune is a sought after international speaker, educator, and consultant. She lectures in the McMaster University Masters OT Programme, has published in the area of clinical and video fluoroscopic assessment of aspiration in high risk infants. She was awarded the OT Practice Excellence Award at Hamilton Health Sciences. Aune is a dedicated life-long learner, and passionate about education to empower clinicians, teams, and families in the NICU.

BRIDGETTE RILLO, MBA, MSN, RNC-NIC, C-ELBW, NTMNC

Bridgette has been a nurse for over 18 years at a large level III-b NICU. She started her career in an emergency room and quickly learned her passion extended beyond emergency care. Bridgette transitioned to her role as a NICU nurse in 2005. She was a NICU educator for six years and continues to help other NICU nurses grow in their knowledge and experience. Bridgette has served on the unit’s Vermont Oxford Network Committee, Shared Governance Council and other NICU committees during her career. She received her Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing certification in 2015 and her Care of the Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate certification in 2020. She received her Master of Science in Nursing Administration and a Master of Business Administration in December 2023. Bridgette’s goal is to continue her passion for improving the lives of infants and families in and beyond the NICU by sharing her knowledge, expertise, and experience with the future generation of nursing.

ERIN SPRINGER, MOTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

Erin has practiced as a pediatric and neonatal occupational therapist for 22 years. She received her Master of Science from University of Puget Sound and currently works at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. She works in the Main Campus level 4 NICU as well as the off-site level 2 nurseries. She is a Certified Neonatal Therapist, certified lactation educator, and a certified Neonatal Touch & Massage therapist. Erin has presented nationally and locally on developmental care and support for infants in the NICU. She has completed training for Small Baby Care Specialist and also participates in the Vermont Oxford Network Quality Improvement initiatives focused on enhancing the care of micro-preemies. Erin also has experience in NICU follow-up for developmental and feeding support. She is passionate about working with these little babies and their families

KARA ANN WAITZMAN, OTR/L, CNT, NTMTC

Kara Ann has been a neonatal therapist for 36 years in a level III NICU and serves as the nursery’s developmental specialist. Kara Ann is president of Creative Therapy Consultants, Founder of the Neonatal Touch & Massage Certification (NTMC®) and Original Co-Founder of Infant-Driven Feeding® and original co-developer of the Infant-Driven Feeding Scales© She is certified in NTMC, is Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT) trained, reliable in NIDCAP. She has served on the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Continuum of Care Advisory Board and Power of Touch Committee, the National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT) Professional Collaborative, the Pampers Womb to World Advisory Board, and the March of Dimes Program Services board. Kara Ann has been a nationally sought after speaker, educator, and consultant for over two decades and has published articles on positioning and feeding, and written a chapter on Neuromotor Development and Massage. She developed videos on Massage, Skin-to-Skin, and Swaddled Bathing. Kara Ann has received professional awards including the Ohio Occupational Therapy Pediatric Model Practice Award, the March of Dimes Healthcare Worker of the Year Award, the MVH Excellence in Service Award and the Inaugural Pioneer in Neonatal Therapy Award from the National Association of Neonatal Therapists.