Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that affects the individual, family, and immediate community. Therefore, the goal of allowing the individual with cerebral palsy to live life with the least impact of the disability requires c- plex attention to the individual and the family. Furthermore, society needs to be sensitive and to accommodate individuals with disabilities by limiting architectural impediments and providing accessible public transportation and communication. The educational system provides the key means for helping the individual prepare to function in society to his or her maximum ability. In many ways, the medical care system probably has the least sign- icant role in preparing the child with cerebral palsy to function optimally in society. However, the medical care system is the place where parents first learn that their child has developmental issues outside the expected norm. It is almost universally the place where parents also expect the child to be made normal in our modern society. In earlier times, the parents would expect healing to possibly come from the doctor, but also they would place hope for healing in religion. As this belief in spiritual or miraculous healing has - creased, a significant font of hope has decreased for parents of young ch- dren with disabilities.
Dr. Freeman Miller was Co-director of the Cerebral Palsy Program and the Clinical Director of the Gait Analysis Laboratory at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children for 30 years. He continues as an emeritus staff member at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children providing consultative services and is active in the research program. His clinical practice of pediatric orthopedics is limited to children with cerebral palsy. For the past 25 years, Dr. Miller has held Adjunct Professor appointments in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Physical Education at the University of Delaware. He is also a member of the University BIOMS program, which is an interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical engineering. Current and past research interests include investigation of surgical outcomes of CP surgery through gait analysis, mathematical modeling of the hip joint in children with CP, hip monitoring and management for children with CP, and management of spinal deformity in CP.
Dr. Miller has published approximately 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He has been invited to give many lectures in over 35 different countries. As a coauthor with Dr. Bachrach, he published a book Cerebral Palsy: A Guide for Caregiving directed at families and nonmedical care providers, which was published in 1995, second edition in 2006, and in 2017 was revised and released as the third edition. A medical textbook, Cerebral Palsy, with 1080 pages outlining musculoskeletal care of the child with cerebral palsy, was written by Dr. Miller and published in 2005 by Springer-Verlag
Dr. Steven Bachrach was Co-director of the Cerebral Palsy Program and Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE, for nearly 30 years. He is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Neuro-developmental Disabilities, and his clinical practice encompassed both general pediatrics and the care of children with developmental disabilities. He continues as an emeritus staff member at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, primarily involved in educational and research efforts. Dr. Bachrach also served for 20 years as Medical Director of the HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Philadelphia, PA, and currently serves on their Board of Directors. He is also a consultant to the Alyn Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel.
Dr. Bachrach has a faculty appointment as Professor of Pediatrics, Clinical and Educational Scholarship Track, at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. He has been a member of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine for over 35 years and has often been a presenter at their annual meetings. His research focus has been on children with cerebral palsy, and especially the evaluation and treatment of osteoporosis in children who are non-ambulatory.
ren who are non-ambulatory. Dr. Bachrach has published over 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as a number of book chapters and abstracts. As a coauthor with Dr. Miller, he published the book Cerebral Palsy: A Guide for Caregiving, which was aimed at a lay audience and published by Johns Hopkins Press in 1995, second edition in 2006, and the third edition in 2017.
Dr. Bachrach has been married for 46 years and has 4 children and 14 grandchildren, all of whom he enjoys spending time with.
Ms. Nancy Lennon a physical therapist, is the manager of the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Program at the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware, where she works with Dr. Miller and Dr. Bachrach. She has many years of experience in the Gait Analysis Laboratory and in Nemours Biomedical Research, where she collaborates with Dr. O 'Neil. Ms. Lennon has a Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy from the University of Delaware and a Master of Science degree from Hahnemann University. She has 30 years of clinical experience in working with children and families affected by cerebral palsy, 15 years of experience conducting clinical research, and 5 years of experience coordinating family engagement and advisory activities at the hospital.
Margaret E. O 'Neil is a Professor in the Programs in Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. She conducts research, advises graduate students, and teaches content in pediatric physical therapy and research. She has received grant funding from several federal and professional organizations. In her research, she examines objective measures of physical activity for youth with cerebral palsy and effectiveness of activity-based interventions (including active video games and virtual reality) to promote fitness and activity. She collaborates with an interprofessional team to conduct her research and they have published widely on these topics.
She co-teaches clinical workshops on measurement and intervention strategies to promote strength and fitness in children with disabilities. She serves as a grant reviewer for multiple agencies and is a member of the APTA and AACPDM where she serves on multiple committees.
