Episode 2: Collaborative Care Teams

Three experts in pediatric medicine join us to discuss the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in caring for medically complex children. Listeners will gain insights into how healthcare professionals work together to provide comprehensive support for both the child and their family.

Meet our expert guests:

Nicole Sergent, pediatric physical therapist, was a member of the 2001 entry level master’s program at the WVU School of Physical Therapy. She received a BA in multidisciplinary studies with an emphasis in health promotion in 2000 and a master’s in physical therapy in 2001 and was a University Honor’s Scholar. As part of the WVU Rural Health Initiative, she began practicing in the Eastern Panhandle of WV with an immediate emphasis in pediatrics and aquatics. While Nicole has spent time in both the outpatient and inpatient practice, the majority of her career and professional focus has been on the zero to three population in early intervention as a contractor through West Virginia Birth to Three. Through her love for young children’s families and her belief that coaching and supporting parents is the most effective way to promote early development, Nicole co-founded Milestones and Miracles, LLC. She co-created and co-authored, “1-2-3 Just Play with Me”, an award-winning developmental card resource that pairs early milestones with purposeful play and intervention strategies. “1-2-3 Just Play with Me” is used with parents and clinicians in every U.S. state and over ten countries worldwide. Nicole is a presenter for the online continuing education platform Medbridge Education on topics including play-based therapy, brain-based learning and roadblocks to natural development. She has also presented at children’s hospitals, at national, regional and state conferences and at teacher trainings throughout West Virginia. Nicole co-founded and co-hosts the pediatric podcast “More Than Child’s Play”, has consulted for organizations such as The Lego Foundation on play-based initiatives, was the 2022 recipient of WVU Physical Therapy Department’s Mary Lou Barnes Award for Distinguished Professional Service, and teaches a yearly lecture to WVU Physical Therapy students in the pediatric section.

Tabi Jones-Wohleber is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)-focused SLP who has worked with families through WV Birth to Three for the past seven years. For 16 years, she was a team leader on the assistive technology team for a public school system. Tabi is a contributor to PrAACtical AAC Blog, created the widely shared model as a MASTER PAL training series, and co-developed Stepping Into AAC. She has also authored chapters on AAC implementations in various texts. Tabi has worked with Angelman Syndrome family organizations in multiple countries, and presents on AAC-related topics at local, state, national and international conferences.

With over two decades of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist, Leslie Bowman specializes in early intervention, helping children and their families navigate developmental challenges. She holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy and a Post-Professional Doctorate in occupational therapy from Shenandoah University, with extensive experience across NICU, inpatient/outpatient, school-based and early intervention settings.

Leslie’s expertise includes infant and toddler development, sensory processing, neonatal toxic exposure, feeding skills and medically complex conditions. She is passionate about empowering caregivers with the knowledge and tools to support their child’s growth, ensuring they reach their full potential.

View the transcript. 

Music: Daylight by JayJen 

Sponsored by the West Virginia Department of  Human Services, Office of Maternal, Child, and Family Health/Children with Special Health Care Needs Program and the West Virginia Family 2 Family Health Information Center and Produced by the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities.