Inaugural Diversity Retreat

Dr. Simone is a Jamaican-American podiatric physician, author, and sought-after speaker and corporate consultant in patient engagement and experience, as well as leadership training and professional development skills for health care providers. As a podiatric physician, Dr. Simone is trained in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery and preventative podiatric care, and has provided care at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Georgia since 2014. She is a dual graduate of Barry University, where she achieved both her doctorate of podiatric medicine and masters in public health, and she completed her residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In 2008, she founded her motivational speaking organization, Dr. Simone International, and has since presented at dozens of engagements, including professional medical and patient experience conferences, and on television, radio and podcasts. In 2015, Dr. Simone self-published “More than Medicine: What They Don't Teach You in Medical, MA, Nursing, or PA School” which has gained a following as a medical customer service and staff management resource. Her mantra is, "I will either see you AT the top or FROM the top. You decide."

Dr. Sherri Kacinko is a senior toxicologist at NMS Labs in Horsham, PA. She earned her PhD in toxicology from the University of Maryland – Baltimore. She is also adjunct faculty in the chemistry and forensic science departments at Arcadia University and serves as an Instructor at the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education. In her teaching roles, she lectures in pharmacology, postmortem toxicology, and human performance toxicology courses. Her current research interests include the identification and quantification of novel psychoactive substances including synthetic cannabinoids, stimulants, hallucinogens, opioids and benzodiazepines in biological fluids and their toxicological impact. Dr. Kacinko also uses data analytics to monitor drug use trends on a local and national level. Dr. Kacinko is a fellow of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) and is a member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Dr. Kacinko was presented with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Toxicology Section Irving Sunshine Award in recognition of early career research and served as the AAFS toxicology section program chair, secretary and chair.

Dr. Garber received her Bachelor‘s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Barnard College and her PhD in Biochemistry from Brandeis University. Following a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University, she joined the Physiology and Biophysics faculty at University of Alabama as a Research Instructor in 1990 and then as Associate Scientist in the Cystic Fibrosis Research Center. In 1992 she moved to the Medical School of Pennsylvania. She came to RFUMS in 1999 as a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics in the Medical School. Dr. Garber maintained an NIH funded research program focusing on ion channel physiology and cellular volume regulation for over 15 years. She joined the Department of Interprofessional Healthcare Studies in the College of Health Professions in 2005, where she became involved in curriculum, assessment and program development, and was promoted to full Professor in 2008. She served as Principal Senator of the University Faculty Senate from 2006-2008, Faculty Representative to the RFUMS Board of Trustees in 2015-2019, and received the Excellence in Service to the University Award in 2011. She continues to be very active in University committees and community and retains faculty appointments in four of the six schools at the University. Dr. Garber is committed to promoting interprofessional student and faculty involvement in biomedical research, scholarship, education and assessment.

Robyn Phillips-Pendleton is a practicing illustrator, visual storyteller, designer, and educator. She has exhibited her work in national and international exhibitions, and she is also an artist for the United States Air Force Artist Program. Robyn has created illustrations for institutions of higher education, children’s CD covers, editorial magazines, picture books, and publishing companies. She is a member of the Board of Directors of New York’s Society of Illustrators. Her research focuses on the history of illustration and the influence of published imagery on perceptions of race.

Dr. Lepscier is an artist and a healer. In her primary role at UWGB, she strives to serve and support First Nations students on campus. Crystal earned both her Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art (2005) from UW-Madison. She recently completed the UWGB First Nations Education Doctorate program, earning her Education Doctorate in May 2022. Her dissertation title is: Listening for the Canaries: Addressing Racial Battle Fatigue in First Nations Students in Higher Education.