Dance for Health Study Advisors
Jay Behel, PhD, Associate Professor & Assistant Dean, Medical College, Rush University Medical Center
Jay Behel, Ph.D. is an Associate Dean at RUSH Medical College and is course director for Humanities in Medicine. Dr. Behel is a co-director of the Rx for RJ project which focuses on bringing restorative justice practices to healthcare. He is education lead for Affirm: The RUSH Center for Gender, Sexuality and Reproductive Health. Dr. Behel is a clinical psychologist and chief of Hospital Psychology at RUSH. He completed his BA at Vanderbilt University and his PhD at Auburn University. He completed his residency and fellowship at RUSH where he has been a faculty member since 2004.
Megan Dunning PT, DPT, NCS, MS-HSM, Clinical Manager of Inpatient Physical Therapy, Rush University Medical Center
Megan Dunning is the Manager of Inpatient Physical Therapy at Rush University Medical Center. She has been at Rush for 16 years. Megan has a passion for working with neurologically impaired patients and is a Neurological Rehabilitation Clinical Specialist for the past 12 years. She has participated in research focusing on exercise for Parkinson’s Disease and co-authored articles related to TBI and Covid. She was named one of Chicago Magazines Top Physical Therapists in the area in 2015. Megan received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Slippery Rock University, Master's in Health System Management from Rush University Medical Center, and Bachelor of Science from Miami University. In her free time, Megan enjoys spending time outdoors playing sports with her husband and two sons or reading the latest murder mystery.
Dr. Elizabeth Jochum, Qualitative Consultant
Dr. Elizabeth Jochum is an Associate Professor at the RELATE Research Laboratory for Art and Technology at Aalborg University in Demark. Her research uses the visual and performing arts as catalysts for re-thinking how we design and implement robots and other assistive technologies to support health and human flourishing. From industrial robots to exoskeletons, Dr. Jochum’s work involves transdisciplinary collaboration in human-robot interaction, health, engineering, and the arts to develop creative, value-sensitive, and human-centered research to ensure the technologies we build address the real needs of people. She coordinates the ImprovAIze project that combines machine learning, dance improvisation, and wearables for artistic practice and rehabilitation. She previously coordinated the EXACT: Exoskeleton, Art and Choreographic Training project. She serves on the steering committing of Aalborg University Robotics and the Arts, Health, and Humanities center at AAU. She was named one of the top 50 Women in Robotics by Robohub in 2021.
Daniela Mitchem, MSW, LCSW, CHES®
Daniela Mitchem, MSW, LCSW, CHES®, is a clinical social worker and care coordinator for Rush University Medical Center Department of Social Work & Community Health. Daniela received a Master of Social Work degree and a BS in Community Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). At Rush, Daniela provides clinical care management, oversees the integration of social work, nursing, pharmacy, and nutrition services into 6 of the City of Chicago's senior centers, facilitates psychoeducational and support groups, and is program coordinator for the Health Legacy Program for Women, where she oversees the implementation of the community-based intervention to improve the health of women of color in the West Side of Chicago. Before coming to Rush, Daniela worked as a graduate academic counselor at UIUC and was a Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar at UIUC.
Grisel Rodríguez-Morales, MSW, LCSW, RUSH Generations Program Director, Social Work and Community Health, Program Director - Community Health Mentor, Office of Interprofessional Education, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Rush University
Grisel Rodriguez-Morales (ella /she, her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in healthcare and aging services. Since 2008, Grisel has worked extensively to support older adults and promote well-being through evidence-based practices. As the Senior Manager of Health Promotion Programs at Rush University Medical Center, Rodriguez-Morales leads a dedicated team that delivers community-based workshops aimed at improving health outcomes. In addition to their managerial role, Rodriguez-Morales is a faculty member at Rush University, where she teaches interprofessional collaboration, fostering teamwork among future healthcare professionals. Grisel Rodriguez-Morales’ commitment to holistic care and professional education underscores her passion for enhancing both individual and community health.
Luke Schalewski, Statistician
Luke Schalewski (He/Him) serves as the Executive Director for Institutional Research and Reporting in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Columbia College Chicago. Luke’s research uses survey data and quantitative methods to explain college student outcomes and writes on frameworks for assessment and evaluation. Luke holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from University of Arizona, a M.S. in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University, and B.S in Sociology from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Padraic Stanley, MSW, LCSW, Program Manager of Community Integration, Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Department of Social Work & Community Health, Rush University Medical Center
Padraic Stanley, MSW, LCSW is the program manager of community integration for the Rush Department of Social Work & Community Health. He is currently one of the National Council on Aging’s National Falls Prevention fellows, conducting mixed method research on racial disparities in falls amongst older adults. He is chair of Rush’s Immigrant Health Working Group, which is oversees Rush’s immigrant health and welcoming healthcare initiatives, as well as chair of Rush’s Center for Excellence in Aging’s Community Health Equity Core. Currently, he is an adjunct professor of social work at Loyola University Chicago, Associate Professor of Social Work for the Rush University College of Health Sciences, on the associate board for Erie Neighborhood House, and the executive board for the International Association for Social Work with Groups.
Hannah Weitzman
Hannah Weitzman (she/her) is a Program Coordinator with Rush Generations. She holds a bachelor's degree in Gerontology and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. With over seven years of experience in clinical and community settings, Hannah is committed to enhancing the well-being of the aging population. She began her career working with individuals living with Alzheimer's and dementia, which inspired her specialization in dementia care before transitioning to community-based initiatives.
Jessica Young, Associate Professor Emerita, Columbia College Chicago
Jessica Young is an Associate Professor Emerita at Columbia College Chicago and the 2020 recipient of the American Dance Therapy Association’s President’s Award and Excellence in Education Award. Her nearly 25-year career spans serving those who are homeless with severe and chronic mental illness to educating master’s students in Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) and undergraduates in Arts in Health and wellness. She has facilitated over 35 peer reviewed conference presentations nationally and internationally. Her research and publications focus on the therapeutic movement relationship; DMT as a strengths-based practice; bridging DMT and drama therapy; DMT theory, practice, and education; and wellness programming. Her clinical expertise is rooted in harm reduction, motivational interviewing, healing centered engagement, and trauma-informed care as she guides individuals, groups, and communities along their journey of health, healing, and well-being. She practices at New Prairie Counseling Center and offers clinical supervision.
