Rehabilitation for return to work and navigating ADA accommodation

Thursday, April 17, 2025

11:30 AM - 2:00 PM (EDT)

Maggiano’s Little Italy Buckhead

3368 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30326 United States

Category: Atlanta Chapter Event

Join us on April 17th, for our Rehabilitation for return to work and navigating ADA accommodation presentation, where a panel of speakers will discuss brain injury and spinal cord injury rehabilitation and return to work preparation and accommodation for these devastating disabilities and ADA required accommodations. Our distinguished panel includes rehabilitation and vocational experts from Shepherd Center, a disability and ADA expert, and a former patient that was able to return to work.

Doors open at 11:30 am for registration, networking and lunch; program starts at Noon.

Meet the Moderator and Panelists:

Greg Whittle Senior Vice President Employee Benefits, McGriff	Greg is a Senior Vice President of Employee Benefits consulting and assists clients with total rewards strategy and design, contribution modeling, and vendor negotiation. He has over 35 years of employee benefits experience, initially as an underwriter, then with increasing areas of responsibility in the brokerage/consulting arena. Greg’s areas of expertise include developing funding and contributions for multi-option health and benefits plans, alternate funding arrangements, and healthcare innovation. He holds a BS in Finance from Miami University and an MS in Marketing from Georgia State University.
Gloria Fagan, BSN, RN, CCM Director of Workers’ Compensation, Shepherd Center	Gloria is an accomplished healthcare professional with over two decades of experience, currently serving as the Director of Workers' Compensation at Shepherd Center. Specializing in spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, and neurological conditions, Gloria excels in collaborating with employers, insurers, case managers, and attorneys to ensure optimal care for patients facing multi-trauma or catastrophic injuries. Gloria's passion extends beyond clinical nursing excellence to a fervent commitment to promoting disability employment awareness. Acknowledged for her exceptional leadership capabilities, Gloria has a proven track record in leadership development, sales territory management, and advocacy. Her exemplary communication skills, particularly with CEOs and high-level leadership, significantly contribute to strategic decision-making and organizational success. Her clinical background encompasses orthopedic/neurological trauma, medical-surgical intensive care, and cardiothoracic intensive care, adding depth to her expertise. In addition to her other professional achievements, Gloria earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Alabama, highlighting her commitment to academic excellence. Beyond the professional realm, she finds fulfillment in travel and cherishing moments with her family.
Laura McDowell Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, Shepherd Center	Laura is a vocational specialist at Shepherd Center, where she helps patients navigate the process of returning to work or volunteering after injury or illness. She is passionate about empowering individuals to reclaim their independence and re-engage with their communities. Laura holds a master’s degree in clinical rehabilitation counseling, and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Certified Vocational Evaluator. Laura has extensive experience in vocational services in a variety of settings, as well as expertise in vocational forensics and assessment. Laura was drawn to Shepherd Center because of its unique commitment to offering vocational services supported by donor funds — a rare feature in hospital settings. She values Shepherd’s understanding of how meaningful employment can positively impact patients and their families, reinforcing purpose and confidence during recovery.
Bill Rasmussen Principal, Foundation Health Consultants	After spending over 40 years helping employers of all sizes navigate group health insurance and employee benefits, Bill decided to get a different perspective on healthcare, the patient perspective. In March of 2020 Bill suffered a stroke that allowed him to study and analyze the inpatient, outpatient and rehabilitation aspects of our healthcare system firsthand. Bill is happy to add his new experiences to his extensive resume. Bill spent the last 20 years serving his clients as senior leader with two national employee benefit consulting firms. Reentry he co-founded a boutique benefit consulting firm where he continues to help employers manage their population risk across all benefits and into wellness, chronic condition management disability management, and predictive modeling through data analysis. In addition to Bill’s extensive background with large, national customers and his extensive leadership positions with several Health Plans he is an active volunteer for several charitable enterprises.
Kathryn Thompson Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant, Unum	Kathryn graduated from The University of Alabama in 2015 with a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She began her career as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, focusing on transition-age students and youth with disabilities, particularly those with blindness and visual impairment. Since 2020, Kathryn has been with Unum Group, working in the Short Term Disability sector. In her current role, she assists individuals on short term disability benefits with return-to-work planning. Kathryn resides in Middle Georgia with her husband and four children.

Continuing Education: This program has been approved for the following continuing education credits: 1 HRCI credit, 1 HRM credit. Attendees may also self-submit for CEBS, ASPAA and accounting CPE credit, as appropriate.