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9:00am - 4:00pm
Marriott Downtown Hotel | 85 West Street | New York City

14th Annual Information Forum | 2015

 
 
VOICES 14th Annual
Day of Remembrance Information Forum
 
Free program for 9/11 Family Members, Responders and Survivors
 
Thursday, September 10, 2015
 
Marriott Downtown Hotel | 85 West Street | New York City
Registration Opens: 8:00 am | Program: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
 
Click here for more information on the 2016 events
Click here to view a photo gallery of the Information Forum.
Click here to view presenter bios.
 

On Thursday, September 10, 2015 VOICES hosted our 14th Annual Day of Remembrance Information Forum. This event was an insightful day featuring presentations, panel discussions on the World Trade Center Health Program and re-authorization of the Zadroga Act, and interactive workshops led by accomplished clinicians, authors, and researchers. We were pleased to bring together this group of professionals with expertise in the fields of psychology, research, occupational health, and medicine. VOICES thanks the World Trade Center Health Program, Rutgers School of Social Work, Kreindler & Kreindler, and Barasch, McGarry, Salzman & Penson for co-sponsoring the event.

The day-long event included the following speakers and presentations:

Suzanne B. Phillips, PsyD, ABPP, CGP, FAGPA opened the day in giving the Keynote Address, "The Road from Shared Loss and Private Pain to Unexpected Resilience and Reasons for Hope." Dr. Phillips, psychologist, psychoanalyst, certified group therapist, and Adjunct Full Professor of Clinical Psychology at LIU Post, drew upon theory and examples to consider the pain and promise of Anniversary Events, the transformation of traumatic loss, the role of grieving, the potency of human connection, the narration of healing, the building of resiliency, the meaning of recovery, the power of hope and the right to happiness.

Sheila Birnbaum, JD; Frances Gottfried, PhD; Michael Barasch, JD; and Noah Kushlefsky, JD next presented about the Victim Compensation Fund and the Zadroga Law. They answered questions from the audience about claims and emphasized the upcoming deadline.

In the adjacent room, Robert H. Klein, PhD, ABPP CGP, DLFAGPA; Kathleen Hubbs Ulman, PhD, CGP, FAGPA; Craig Haen, PhD, RDT, CGP, LCAT, FAGPA; and Madelyn Miller, PhD, LCSW, CGP led round table groups discussing getting support after trauma. The discussions provided an opportunity for those attending to respond to ideas raised in the keynote address, raise other issues related to dealing with the aftermath of traumatic events, ask or answer questions based on their own experience, highlight unmet needs and give voice to their journey in the company of others who want to listen. These groups made possible the sharing of wisdom and understanding that people who have faced life's challenges can offer to each other.

Suzy Ballantyne from the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act and James Melius, MD from the New York State Laborers Health and Safety Fund discussed the importance of renewing the Zadroga Act to ensure health coverage for those who have become sick due to their exposure on 9/11. They highlighted how crucial it was to enroll in the World Trade Center Health Program to ensure services would continue to be provided and talked about how enrollees can to stay up-to-date with the most current information.

Mary Fetchet, LCSW and Susheel Gupta, Director of the Air India Victims' Families Association and Vice-Chairperson of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal joined Boston Marathon Survivor Amy O'Neill to present on long-term needs of victims' families and survivors. "You don't always have to be strong all the time," Amy notes as she discusses the struggles she has faced in the aftermath of the tragedy. While Mary discussed the long-term commitment that VOICES has to the 9/11 families, Susheel shared his experiences after losing his mother in the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985.

Suzanne Phillips, PsyD, ABPP, CGP, FAGPA led a panel discussion, "Making Meaning, Making Sense After Trauma and Loss" with Robert H. Klein, PhD, ABPP, CGP, DLFAGPA; Madelyn Miller, PhD, LCSW, CGP; and Kathleen Hubbs Ulman, PhD, CGP, FAGPA. The panel talked about making meaning of the human response to unspeakable life events, keeping in consideration PTSD, depression, anxiety and treatments to address them. They touched on how severe illness can be a trauma and how to face the question of how we cope with "Life After the Diagnosis."

Next, Deputy Director of the Mount Sinai WTC Monitoring and Treatment Program Michael Crane, MD spoke with Director of the Queens World Trade Center Clinical Center Jacqueline Moline, MD and Medical Director of the Survivor Program at Bellevue Hospital Joan Reibman. They reviewed the history of the World Trade Center Health Program and how it was developed, as well as current updates and where the program is heading in the future.

Simultaneously in the other room, Deputy Nurse Manager at the Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health Mickie Brown, RN, HN-BC; Suzanne Phillips, PsyD, ABPP, CGP, FAGPA; Robert H. Klein, PhD, ABPP, CGP, DLFAGPA; Kathleen Hubbs Ulman, PhD, CGP, FAGPA; and Madelyn Miller, PhD, LCSW, CGP collaborated in talking about "Strategies for Restoration and Resilience." The panel demonstrated ways to expand and use strategies for coping with trauma and loss. It included a consideration and exercise in mindfulness and other strategies such as resilience building, exercise/physical engagement, creativity, networks of connection, spirituality and humor will be presented by the other panelists.

Alice Greenwald, Executive Vice President for Exhibitions, Collections & Education and Director 9/11 Memorial Museum, opened our last panel with recent updates about the museum, noting the number of people who have visited since the opening, including their special guests. Jan Ramirez, Chief Curator and VP of Collections, Cliff Chanin, VP of Education and Pubic Programs, and Amy Weisser, VP for Exhibitions also presented. Finally, Mary Fetchet, LCSW and Stephanie Landau, Program Director announced the Debut of the Next Generation of the Living Memorial Project, and described how the new site will be searchable and more user-friendly for family members to access their loved ones' dedication pages.

Thank you to all who participated!

 

 
9:00am - 9:15am
Opening Remarks
 
9:15am - 10:00am
Keynote - The Road from Shared Loss and Private Pain to Unexpected Resilience and Reasons for Hope
 
Suzanne Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP, CGP, FAGPA | Adjunct Full Professor of Clinical Psychology, Long Island University | Faculty, Suffolk Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy | Co-Chair of Community Outreach of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, Trauma/Disaster Chair Suffolk County Psychology Association.
 
10:00am - 10:15am
Break
 
10:15am - 11:15pm
Session #1: Victim Compensation Fund and Ongoing Legal Considerations of the Zadroga Law:
 
Sheila Birnbaum, JD | Special Master, September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
 
Frances Gottfried, Ph.D. | Director, New York Office, U.S. Department of Justice, September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
 
Noah Kushlefsky, JD | Kreindler & Kreindler
 
Michael Barasch, JD | Barasch, McGarry, Salzman & Penson
 
Session #2: Giving Voice, Bearing Witness, Getting Support
 
Round Table Groups Facilitators
 
Robert H. Klein, Ph.D., ABPP, CGP, DLFAGPA | Past-President & Distinguished Life Fellow of AGPA, & former Co-Chair of AGPA's Disaster Outreach Task Force | Clinical Faculty, Yale School of Medicine
 
Kathleen Hubbs Ulman, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA | Assistant Professor in Psychiatry (Psychology) Part-time at Harvard Medical School | Clinical Associate in Psychiatry (Psychology) Massachusetts General Hospital | Past President and Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association | Chair, Disaster Response Committee Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy
 
Craig Haen, Ph.D., RDT, CGP, LCAT, FAGPA | Private Practice, White Plains, NY | Adjunct Faculty, New York University & Lesley University | Co-Chair, Community Outreach, American Group Psychotherapy Association
 
Madelyn Miller, PhD, LCSW, CGP | Psychotherapist, Private Practice | Adjunct Associate Professor, NYU Silver School of Social Work | Chairperson, Disaster Trauma Committee, NASW, NYC-Chapter
 
Suzanne Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP, CGP, FAGPA | Adjunct Full Professor of Clinical Psychology, Long Island University | Faculty, Suffolk Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy | Co-Chair of Community Outreach of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, Trauma/Disaster Chair Suffolk County Psychology Association.
 
11:15am - 12:15pm
Session #1: Reauthorization of the Zadroga Act
 
Suzy Ballantyne | Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act
 
John Feal | President and Founder, FealGood Foundation
 
James Melius, MD | NYS Laborers Health and Safety Fund
 
Session #2: Identifying the Long-Term Needs of Victims' Families and Survivors
 
Susheel Gupta | Director, Air India Victims' Families Association | Vice-Chairperson, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
 
Mary Fetchet, LCSW | Founding Director, VOICES
 
Amy O'Neill MS | Massachusetts Resiliency Center, Survivor Advocacy Panel Member
 
12:15pm - 1:15pm
Lunch
 
1:15pm - 2:15pm
Panel Discussion - Making Meaning, Making Sense After Trauma and Loss
 
Moderator: Suzanne Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP, CGP, FAGPA
 
Robert H. Klein, Ph.D., ABPP, CGP, DLFAGPA
 
Kathleen Hubbs Ulman, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA
 
Madelyn Miller, PhD, LCSW, CGP
 
2:15pm - 3:15pm
Session #1: The World Trade Center Health Program
 
Jacqueline Moline, MD | Director, Queens World Trade Center Clinical Center
 
Joan Reibman, MD | Medical Director of the Survivor Program, Bellevue Hospital
 
Michael Crane, MD | Deputy Director of the Mount Sinai WTC Monitoring and Treatment Program
 
Session #2: Strategies for Restoration and Resilience
 
Mickie Brown, RN, HN-BC | Deputy Nurse Manager, Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health
 
Suzanne Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP, CGP, FAGPA
 
Robert H. Klein, Ph.D., ABPP, CGP, DLFAGPA
 
Kathleen Hubbs Ulman, Ph.D., CGP, FAGPA
 
Madelyn Miller, PhD, LCSW, CGP
 
3:15pm - 3:30pm
Break
 
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Debut of Next Generation Living Memorial Project and Update on the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
 
Mary Fetchet, LCSW | Founding Director, VOICES
 
Stephanie Landau | Project Director, Voices of September 11th
 
Alice Greenwald | Executive Vice President, Exhibitions, Collections & Education | Director of 9/11 Memorial Museum
 
Jan Ramirez | Chief Curator and V.P. of Collections | 9/11 Memorial Museum
 
Cliff Chanin | V.P., Education and Public Programs | 9/11 Memorial Museum
 
Amy Weisser | Vice President for Exhibitions | 9/11 Memorial Museum
 
4:30pm - 5:00pm
Mind-Body Exercise
 
Mickie Brown, RN, HN-BC | Deputy Nurse Manager, Mount Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health
 
Closing
 
Mary Fetchet, LCSW | Founding Director, VOICES
 
5:00pm - Closing
Visit to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
 

 
Our Thanks to: