Nurse Practitioner Spotlight: Meet Molly Jaecques

November 7-13, 2021 is Nurse Practitioners Week, as observed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the State of Missouri! The Thompson Center is lucky to have two amazing nurse practitioners in our clinic. Molly Jaecques has been with the Thompson Center for nearly four years. Read on to learn more about her!

How long have you worked for the Thompson Center?

I have worked for the Thompson Center for nearly four years.

What types of work do you do in your role as a nurse practitioner?

As a family nurse practitioner (FNP), I see patients of all ages. I focus on medical and behavioral concerns that are associated with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders.

What is your favorite thing about working at the Thompson Center?

My favorite part of working with at the Thompson Center is the compassion our team has for each family and being part of a team that advocates for each child’s success.

What got you interested in working with patients with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders?

After my nephew was diagnosed with autism and my son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, I was introduced to a healthcare specialty that I quickly became passionate about. There is much more education and advocacy available than ever before and for that I am thankful.

What is the most valuable thing you have learned in your time working at the Thompson Center?

The most valuable thing I have learned from working at the Thompson Center is how unique each individual child is. The saying goes, “if you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism.” This rings true for all people with neurodevelopmental disorders. It absolutely is a spectrum.

Nurse Practitioner Spotlight: Meet Theresa Swenson

November 7-13, 2021 is Nurse Practitioners Week, as observed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the State of Missouri! The Thompson Center is lucky to have two amazing nurse practitioners in our clinic. Theresa Swenson has been with the Thompson Center since the very beginning. Read on to learn more about her!

Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up in Warsaw, MO and now live in Columbia, MO.

Where did you go to nursing school?

I earned a BSN (Bachelor of Science in nursing) and MSN (Master of Science in nursing) from the University of Missouri.

Where did you work before you came to the Thompson Center? What did you do there?

I started my nursing career in rehabilitation nursing, providing care for patients with spinal cord injuries, amputations, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, traumatic brain injuries, and other conditions causing significant disabilities. Just before I joined the Thompson Center team, I worked for the MU School of Health Professions (SHP), where I worked on a grant-funded project providing coordination to kids with special needs. This involved home visits with families, meeting with primary care physicians, and gathering medical, community, and educational resources on a case-by-base basis. We served nine Missouri counties when I started and the program grew to cover 16 counties. This program became what is today the Family Support Program.

How long have you worked for the Thompson Center?

I worked on the care coordination project from December 2000 until 2006. The Thompson Center was established in 2005, so I have been here since before we were an organization! In January 2007, I started with Dr. Stroud and we have worked together in clinic ever since.

What types of work do you do in your role as a nurse practitioner?

I see new and established patients of all ages with developmental or behavioral concerns. I order tests and medical work-ups based on each individual patient’s needs and provide medication management. I participate in the infant-toddler clinic, spina bifida clinic, general developmental clinics, and ADEC (autism diagnostic entry clinic).

What is your favorite thing about working at the Thompson Center?

The kids and families! I love advocating for families! My coworkers are a close second. I also really appreciate the variety of providers, services, and research that we have here. It is incredible!

Welcome Stephen Sheinkopf, PhD, Executive Director

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Stephen Sheinkopf will be joining us as executive director of the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders and as the Thompson Endowed Chair in Child Health.

Dr. Sheinkopf is joining us from The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where he is a leader in psychiatry and pediatrics. He is also a staff clinical psychologist at Women & Infants Hospital and at Bradley Hospital.

At Brown, Dr. Sheinkopf is principal investigator of the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment (RICART), funded by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, and co-leads the autism research initiative as part of the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute. His primary research interests include the identification of very early signs of autism in infancy, the development of social communication abilities in young children with autism, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children exposed to drugs prenatally.

Dr. Sheinkopf has served on scientific grant review panels for Autism Speaks and the Autism Research Program through the Department of Defense, and has reviewed grants for the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Sheinkopf received his doctorate from University of Miami and completed his postdoctoral training at Brown Medical School under an NRSA fellowship.

Dr. Sheinkopf will use his extensive experience as both a clinician and researcher to help achieve the Thompson Center’s goal of providing excellent health, educational and behavioral services for individuals with autism and other developmental conditions.

Faculty Spotlight: Meet Joanna Mussey, PhD

Meet the Thompson Center’s newest faculty member, Joanna Mussey, PhD., Assistant Professor. Dr. Mussey joined us in July this year.

What attracted you to the autism field?

I started out in developmental disabilities broadly while an undergraduate and then moved more toward ASD. I saw a need and it just made sense to me.

What will be your role at the Thompson Center?

Psychologist

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Interacting with clients and their families, collaborating with vibrant colleagues and trainees, and engaging in critical thinking and problem solving in its various forms…just to name a few.

What are you most looking forward to in role at the Thompson Center?

Being able to contribute to the high quality of care and various professional practices at the Thompson Center while continuing to grow professionally.

What advice would you give someone who’s considering finishing their degree in the autism field?

There is such a need and so many different avenues available to pursue within this field. Explore what fits your interests or your niche and identify a variety of mentors or sponsors who can help you along the way.

What is your favorite kind of candy, and why?

Just about anything chocolate – because it’s chocolate

When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing?

Spending time with family and friends, dancing, practicing yoga, listening to music, watching football…oh my, the list goes on!

Learn more about Dr. Mussey’s education, training and research interests here!

Meet Fernet Benard-Mattis, Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Student

Fernet is the first international student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice- Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing. She is a registered nurse (RN) in Jamaica. After spending time as an RN in Jamaica and finishing her Master’s degree, Fernet decided to further her education and enroll in the PMHNP program at Sinclair School of Nursing. Fernet recently completed a two-week rotation at the Thompson Center.

Fernet’s objectives of her time at the Thompson Center included observing and understanding the diagnosis, assessment and treatments of patients here and learning about the different resources and services available to patients. Fernet’s next steps are working in an emergency room and completing other steps to finalize her training. She will be finished with the program in May of 2022 and hopes to work in an inpatient hospital setting.

Training Specialist Spotlight: Meet Cortney Fish

The Training Core provides trainings for a wide variety of groups including educators, BCBAs, medical providers, community agencies, and parents/caregivers. In addition to our trainings, we also do school classroom consultations, facilitate our STRIVE program for young adults with autism and work with businesses through the Autism Friendly Business Program. One of our newest projects is the Supporting the Spectrum Podcast which you can listen to on our website or the Apple Podcast App.

This month, we will met our amazing training specialists and learn a little bit more about them and why they are passionate about working with children with autism!

What’s your name?

Cortney Fish

Where did you grow up?

Columbia, MO

What is your position at the Thompson Center?

Training Core Manager

How long have you worked at the Thompson Center?

A total of 7 years

What got you interested in working with autism?

In high school I worked with a young boy with autism and saw the impact that autism had on his family. He was so creative, funny, and had the best relationship with his mom and sister. It was also difficult to see him become frustrated and have a hard time communicating and his mom wanted nothing more than to hear him talk. The complexity of autism captivated me then but it’s the wonderful families and individuals that I get to work with that inspire me now.

What is your favorite thing about working at the Thompson Center?

Every single person is so great at what they do. Working with such high performing colleagues pushes me to be my absolute best. We also know how to have a good time and Pie in the Face and our annual Halloween Costume Contest are some of my favorite memories.

Training Specialist Spotlight: Meet Brooke Barnes

This month, we will met our amazing training specialists and learn a little bit more about them and why they are passionate about working with children with autism!

What’s your name?

Brooke Barnes

Where did you grow up?

Montgomery City, MO

What is your position at the Thompson Center?

Training & Education Specialist

How long have you worked at the Thompson Center?

Since 2017

What is your role at the Thompson Center?

Early Childhood Coordinator – Training Core

What got you interested in working with autism?

My internship and coaching position with Special Olympics my senior year at Mizzou! My first day (first hour) working in the Students With Intensive Needs (SWIN) classroom at CPS solidified this.

What is your favorite thing about working at the Thompson Center?

When I am in schools doing PRT or APERS because I really miss kiddo contact!!

Training Specialist Spotlight: Meet Jaclyn Benigno

This month, we will met our amazing training specialists and learn a little bit more about them and why they are passionate about working with children with autism!

What’s your name?

Jaclyn Benigno

Where did you grow up?

St. Louis

What is your position at the Thompson Center?

Research Associate for the Training Core

How long have you worked at the Thompson Center?

I started full time 3 years ago

What is your role at the Thompson Center?

My role is a combination of training and coordination. I am the lead instructor for the STRIVE program and provide trainings for educators and parents. I also coordinate many of the TRC’s webinars and trainings and support the TIPS program as the data coordinator. I am also a Build Up Morale member and a member of the Thompson Center Inclusion Committee .

What got you interested in working with autism?

I worked with a little boy with autism at the Robert G. Combs preschool and from there I had the desire to learn more about autism. At the same time, the College of Education was starting up a masters program specifically in autism. I jumped at the chance and have been working in the field of autism ever since.

What is your favorite thing about working at the Thompson Center?

My favorite part is working with the young adults in the STRIVE program. It is awesome to see what they can accomplish in a year.

Lending a Hand

Walking through the lobby, halls and rooms of the Thompson Center clinic, it’s clear that the space was designed intentionally to create a calming yet creative environment for patients and their families. This was done through sensory friendly colors, textures and art throughout the space. One University of Missouri student is adding to this therapeutic-inducing environment through the creation of her own original artwork.

Davi stands next to her artwork, *Hand.*

Morgan Davi graduated from the Mizzou School of Health Professions with a degree in health sciences in May. During her time as a student, she worked and trained at the Thompson Center within the Applied Behavior Intervention Services (ABIS) clinic. Davi wanted to do something to help her clients as well as future Thompson Center patients that would last longer than the time she spent working and learning at the Center.

“I’ve been painting and sculpting since I was young,” Davi said. “When I finally decided to add a Fine Art minor to my studies my junior year of college, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. For my capstone project, I wanted to combine my passion for health sciences and art to fully reflect all that I had learned in my higher education.”

the unfinshed artwork before paint — *Hand* about halfway through production.

Working directly with children with autism, Davi learned recent studies show that sensory activities coupled with warm colors can help provide stress reduction as well as reinforcement of applied behavior analysis therapy. This knowledge helped inspire her artwork, which she named Hand.

“I originally came up with the idea when one of the clients I routinely worked with requested to touch an existing wall sculpture that was hanging in the therapy space,” Davi said. “I was loath to deny this request, so I started designing a textured wall piece. I researched literature on color interactions with children, color theory, sensory toys, and other interactive art pieces. I intend for this piece to be a calming, reinforcing part of the learning environment for the Thompson Center. I hope that both the clients and the faculty of the TC enjoy running their hands along the art pieces surface for many years to come.”

a picture of the finished artwork — *Hand* as a finished piece.

Davi designed and created her art to be both balanced and asymmetrical. After shaping the piece using plywood, she added hundreds of small wood pieces of many shapes and sizes to create dozens of different textures for children to explore. She then painted the work various shades of a relaxing blue before finishing with a resin to allow for regular cleaning.

Hand stands approximately 4 feet by 4 feet and will hang in the new Thompson Center ABIS clinic once the renovation of the existing space is complete. There, it will be sure to provide therapy to hundreds of children in the future.

“This piece is dedicated to the clients who have changed my life forever,” Davi said. “I will remember their names, their birthdays, and their favorite things long after I am no longer in their life. I hope that Hand enjoys a long life enchanting the children—and maybe some of the adults—of the Thompson Center.”

Psychology Technician Spotlight: Meet Courtney Hannah

One of the most important things we do at the Thompson Center is perform in-depth psychological evaluations for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Each evaluation can take hours and we would not be able to perform nearly enough without the support of our dedicated psychology technicians!

This June, we have met our amazing psych techs and learned a little bit more about them and why they are passionate about working with children with autism! We’ll finish up by learning about our senior psych tech, Courtney Hannah!

What’s your name?

Courtney Hannah

Where did you grow up?

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

What is your position at the Thompson Center?

Senior Psychology Technician

How long have you worked at the Thompson Center?

I’ve been with the TC since October of 2013. Almost 8 years!

What is your role at the Thompson Center?

My role is a combination of clinical and administrative. Clinically, I work with both our psychologists and medical providers in our autism diagnostic clinics as I provide the testing. My administrative duties include; training, supervisor, and a member of various committees.

What got you interested in working with autism?

I always knew I wanted to work with neurodiverse children. My senior year of undergrad here at Mizzou I got to work alongside children with autism. My professor, and previous TC psychologist at the time, introduced me to this role and it’s been the perfect fit since!

What is your favorite thing about working at the Thompson Center?

My favorite thing is helping families get the diagnosis they need to open the door for services for their child. I also really enjoy the team aspect and the comradery of my division!