Health Science

A pediatrician provides general medical care, monitors growth and development, and tracks and administers immunizations for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. A pediatrician diagnoses and treats illnesses, medical conditions, and injuries, and eases the lives of children with chronic conditions.

As a pediatrician, Dr. Wightman is committed to the optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, and adolescents. At her office in San Francisco, she has a wide range of responsibilities, including conducting routine well child check ups diagnosing and treating acute illnesses, injuries, and chronic conditions. She also performs a variety of procedures, administers vaccinations, and conducts screening and diagnostic tests.

Speakers: Tiffany Klein Wightman, MD FAAP

A physical therapist, sometimes called a PT, helps injured or ill people improve their movement and manage their pain as an important part of the rehabilitation, treatment, and prevention of patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.

Manisha has been a physical therapist for over 18 years. For the last 12+ years, she have worked in outpatient orthopedics. She treats a wide range of injuries and diagnoses in all different age groups. She loves what she does and loves helping people reduce their pain daily and return to their desired lifestyles. She also loves the flexibility in her career and the ability to make her own schedule.

Speaker: Manisha Shanhani

Nurses make up the biggest health care occupation in the United States holding significant roles in hospitals, clinics and private practices performing duties that include communicating between patients and doctors, caring for patients, administering medicine, and supervising nurses' aides.

Barbara Grele works on a 36-bed adult intensive care unit. She has been nursing for 30 years in a variety of positions. She currently takes care of complex, critically-ill patients with multiple ailments. She has managed infection control for the past five years, collecting and analyzing data, and educating and training staff to reduced hospital infection.

Speaker: Barbara Grele

Orthopedic doctors, also called orthopedic surgeons, are usually responsible for treating and diagnosing musculoskeletal diseases and illnesses and repairing bones. Their duties also include working with joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves to utilize their extremities and promote the healing of their patients.

As an Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Lo specializes in sports injuries, with a subspecialty in complex knee and shoulder reconstruction. He has worked with professional teams including NFL: Steelers, NHL: Penguins, semi pro soccer teams, and collegiate teams across the country.

Speaker: Dr. Marvin Lo

Pediatric dentists are dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teen years in caring for a child's teeth, gums, and mouth. They provide preventative and restorative oral health care to the pediatric population.

Dr. Yee is a pediatric dentist at Happy Healthy Teeth in Foster City. He sees patients ranging in age from newborn all the way through college. Dr. Yee also volunteers as a faculty dentist to the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. He has been a pediatric dentist for over 10 years.

Speaker: Christian P. Yee, DDS

Clinical Laboratory Science, also called Medical Laboratory Science or Medical Technology, is the health profession that provides laboratory information and services needed for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Clinical Laboratory Scientists perform a variety of laboratory tests, ensure the quality of the test results, explain the significance of laboratory tests, evaluate new methods and study the effectiveness of laboratory tests.

Steve Miller is a clinical laboratory director. His path was medical and graduate school and residency training, followed by directing a clinical laboratory and translational research in molecular diagnosis of infectious disease. Will also talk about careers in Clinical Laboratory Medicine and research careers in academics and industry.

Speaker: Steve Miller, MD PhD

A toxicologist is a scientist who has a strong understanding of many scientific disciplines, such as biology and chemistry, and typically works with chemicals and other substances to determine if they are toxic or harmful to humans and other living organisms or the environment.

Dr. Parman is a board-certified toxicologist developing medicine for many diseases. As a toxicologist, she assesses drug safety prior to human use. She has a BSc in chemistry, MSc in physical organic chemistry, and PhD in reproductive toxicology. She is an Iranian-Canadian-American and can speak Farsi. Her two daughters are Aragon graduates; One is at UC Davis studying Biology/Psychology and the other at NYU studying biology. She enjoys walking and watching old/silent movies.

Speaker: Dr. Toufan Parman

Clinical psychologists are qualified professionals who are able to provide direct services to clients needing help with mental or behavioral issues, and are experts in psychometrics (or psychological measurement). They administer and interpret cognitive and personality tests, diagnose mental illnesses, create treatment plans, and conduct psychotherapy.

Helen is a clinical psychologist in private practice and a Professor of Clinical Psychology. She has a Master's program that trains licensed therapists and mental health professionals. For over three decades, she has treated children, teens, and adults and have taught and advised thousands of students, especially those interested in psychology. She is an editor and author and has presented on many topics, including stress, trauma, reproductive mental health, dreams, synchronicity, and spirituality.

Speaker: Helen Marlo

Pediatric nurses work in doctor's offices, clinics, hospitals, surgical centers and other health care settings bringing comfort to children being treated in acute care departments, such as the neonatal unit, pediatric critical care unit and pediatric oncology ward, and to their parents.

Elisabeth Colglazier works at UCSF providing advanced practice nursing care in both the inpatient and outpatient settings to pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Speaker: Elizabeth Colglazier

A doctor of osteopathy (DO) is a fully trained and licensed physician that employs holistic practices for preventative health and healing known as osteopathic medicine.

Dr. Friedman started out in Family Practice, then went onto specializing in Osteopathic Manual Medicine where he has practiced since 1985. Blessed to have served as President of the Osteopathic Cranial Academy, he has enjoyed the lifelong learning and teaching, personal growth, family, and the integration of mind, body and spirit though the opportunity to be of service to others in their efforts to heal. He is one of only two fully licensed medical practitioners in the US ( MD and DO), a profession which has many great rewards. He is honored to be speaking.

Speaker: Melvin Robert Friedman

Speech-language pathologists, also called “speech therapists,” work with patients on a broad range of physical and cognitive communication disorders: issues with articulation, stuttering, word finding, semantics, syntax, phonics, vocalization, and swallowing.

As a SLP for SMFCSD Julie identifies, diagnoses, and treats students from age 3 to age 13 who demonstrate speech & language delays. Her passion is identifying language difference vs. a disorder for Spanish-speaking students learning English as a second language. She assesses and conducts therapy in both Spanish and English. She has been a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist for 30 years.

Speaker: Julie Urquidez

Occupational therapists treat patients who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.

Joyce and Rachel work at a county and state-funded program where they see clients from birth to 21 years of age who have a qualifying diagnosis for their occupational therapy needs in an outpatient clinic where parents/caregivers attend therapy sessions to learn new activity ideas for home to encourage their highest level of independence. The highlight of being here has been alternative group activities such a summer camp, family meetings and prom that were offered pre-covid.

Speakers: Joyce Laird and Rachel Novales

Marriage and family therapists assess, diagnose and treat mental illness and psychological distress within the context of the marriage and family systems. They may provide premarital counseling, relationship counseling, child counseling, and separation and divorce counseling.

In her private practice, Sonia has the option of seeing customers alone as couples or families. She supports patients in their efforts to express themselves, develop good coping mechanisms for dealing with pressures, and diagnose mental conditions including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, etc. She enjoys assisting people in recognizing their own strengths and behavioral patterns that affect them in their day-to-day life.

Speaker: Sonia Paz