Dr. Mark Slaven is dedicated to helping others through their health journeys. Having attended the University of Pennsylvania for undergraduate studies, majoring in Biological Basis of Behavior, and later attending the University of Pittsburgh for Medical School, he is well-equipped across a wide range of areas. Dr. Slaven also completed a psychiatric residency at Wright State University/Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and served in the Air Force at Griffiss Air Force Base in July 1995. Dr. Salven’s dedication in the office is unmatched, and he values the relationships he builds as he assists people with their health.

Being ethically-driven is crucial to Kathy Wilmot’s work as a Physical Therapist. From the first clinic service, she asks individuals “who do you come to therapy for?” She works to make them realize that therapy is for them, not their family or staff, and believes that too often individuals with disabilities are underestimated. Letting people experience the satisfaction that comes from hard work being paid off is critical to her work, and she finds that the sense of pride and self-worth that comes from that accomplishment is the best thing about her job.

Outside of the disability community, Kathy believes that all people have the ability to find purpose, value, and something in which they excel. She holds this philosophy as a self-proclaimed fast-pitch softball junkie and coach. When she’s not participating in sports, she enjoys time spent with her husband of 22 years, three children, and two pooches.

Being part of a great clinic team and connecting with individuals with disabilities is crucial to Kimberly Maykish. As a Physical Therapist, she believes in a very functional approach to exercise, helping people do as much as they can for themselves. She understands that each person needs a balance of knowledge and encouragement to reach wellness goals. Her methodology lies in discovering what each wants to achieve, taking into consideration likes and dislikes, respecting opinions, and then explaining the plan and asking the individuals to participate.

To Kim, it is important that people never feel as though they are “less than.” As a first-generation American, she loves giving back. She has used her hobbies of crocheting, knitting, and weaving to sew and distribute more than 1,550 masks since the start of the pandemic.

At work and in his personal life, Eric Yarah relishes in “creating happiness” for others by establishing one-on-one connections. As a Physical Therapist, he feels a strong bond with his clients, helping them overcome the adversity of life and aging throughout his tenure. He designs personalized treatment plans that provide attainable goals based on each client’s neurological or orthopedic limitations and concerns. By incorporating fun and joy into PT interventions, Eric stimulates motivation, effort, and skill development for individuals with disabilities.

Eric enjoys the friendly, family atmosphere of the clinic, and has developed many meaningful relationships in the last decade of working. Outside of work, he spends time with his twin teens, Colden and Annaliese. He is an outdoor enthusiast who loves mountain biking and hiking in the Adirondacks, and has completed the 46 highest peaks in New York.

Maintaining a calm, friendly demeanor is Hank Terchowitz’s approach to working with individuals with developmental disabilities. As a Physical Therapy Assistant, he believes this brings out the best in his clients. By treating people with dignity, he is able to provide them with confidence in their abilities, while also celebrating what they once thought was impossible. His main goal is that clients leave the clinic a more independent person than when they first sought care, and hopes that the entire healthcare community realizes what a crucial population those with disabilities encompass.

When Hank isn’t providing physical therapy, he can be found doing mechanical work, or partaking in his own sort of musical therapy as an enthusiastic guitar player and Dave Matthews Band fanatic.

The ability to collaborate with the clinic team, no matter the discipline, is what John Camilleri finds to be most important in his role as an Occupational Therapist. This team approach allows each clinic to provide the most comprehensive care possible. With his work at The Arc Madison Cortland clinic, he has discovered his niche in working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. John finds success in treating people with respect and compassion, focusing on their strengths to optimize mobility and function. He also believes that, in the future, this aging population will have an increased need for therapy services.

John was born on the island-nation of Malta in southern Europe before growing up in New York City. Now in upstate, he feels privileged to work with a great group of colleagues and a variety of individuals. When he’s not working, he loves attending rock/heavy metal concerts and maintaining physical fitness.

Supporting the disability population in overcoming physical, cognitive, and sensory challenges is what motivates Jennifer Bailey as an Occupational Therapist. To help maximize each client’s functioning, she analyzes the activities he/she would like to be more independent in. She begins by listening to a person’s goals, both verbally and non-verbally, establishing a plan to get there, and then works with them every step of the way. Her advice for building fine motor, sensory, strength, and cognitive abilities is to be kind, consistent, and always hold onto hope.

Jennifer appreciates The Arc Madison Cortland services not only for the people she supports, but also for her youngest son who has an Autism diagnosis and developmental delay. As a highly-caffeinated mother of four, she loves spending outdoor time with family, visiting the Adirondacks, and dabbling in photography.

Seeing the smiles on her clients’ faces, and laughing with them along with the way, is what Sherry Komnick loves best about being an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She feels a sense of accomplishment in her work by demonstrating respect and treating individuals with disabilities as equals. She consistently tries to stay ahead of the curve by learning new strategies and techniques. This provides clients with increased independence and the tools to be successful in their therapy, and more so in their everyday lives.

Before her work with The Arc Madison Cortland clinics, she worked for several years at the Herkimer ARC. Beyond therapy, she loves cooking and watching her twin teen boys play sports.

Communication is a fundamental skill that we all take for granted, but is the foundation of Kim Bush’s career as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She helps individuals with disabilities effectively communicate by the method that works best for each person. She finds that patience and relationship-building are the most important tools she has in supporting those who struggle with communication in their everyday lives. The use of telehealth during the pandemic has also been an amazing asset for Kim, as she has been able to be creative in conducting therapy, while also maintaining meaningful connections.

Kim finds much reward in her career, having established real relationships with clients and staff of all of The Arc Madison Cortland’s Article 16 clinics throughout the last 18 years. Along with her husband and two children, Evelyn and Maren, she also enjoys playtime with her new Golden Retriever puppy.

Using music and games during therapy sessions, Patricia Ehlinger has sought unique ways to motivate her clients. As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, she finds it important to be creative and think outside the box when trying to maintain the strength and skills individuals possess, while working to boost movement and function. Though each day comes with a variety of challenges, she has built a good rapport among the clinic, nursing, and program staff, which has helped her brainstorm ideas for positioning techniques and ways to treat individuals with developmental disabilities.

Prior to joining The Arc Madison Cortland team, Patricia found success working at Upstate Cerebral Palsy for 30 years. Beyond her meaningful work, she loves family time, sunshine, traveling, and concerts, and boasts a memorable meet & greet with musician Bruce Hornsby.

Faith was inspired to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant by her desire to help people achieve their goals, regardless of the disabilities they may face. She finds the most rewarding part of her work to be building strong therapeutic relationships and supporting individuals as they grow in independence and confidence. Faith brings warmth and encouragement to every session, creating an environment where individuals feel seen, supported, and motivated.

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Outside of work, Faith enjoys cooking and baking, and loves sharing meals with others. Faith is thankful for the unwavering support of her parents throughout her life. She actively volunteers at her church’s monthly food and clothing giveaways—registering participants, packing food, and organizing clothing for those in need.

Megan Guerrera’s passion for mental health began early in life, inspired by her parents, both of whom served in law enforcement and helped her understand the mental health challenges faced within communities. Wanting to be a part of the solution, Megan pursued a career focused on compassion and advocacy. She earned her undergraduate degree from Le Moyne College and her master’s degree in nursing from Binghamton University. Megan is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with experience in inpatient acute psychiatry, addiction treatment, community mental health, and developmental disabilities.

Megan works closely with individuals to develop personalized treatment plans aligned with their goals, needs, and preferences. She believes mental health is the foundation of human functioning and vital to achieving optimal well-being, connection, and resilience. Megan is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to  support individuals and their health journeys

Kelly Davis' career goal was to help people improve their health and feel their best, which led her to become a registered dietitian. She believes nutrition is a powerful foundation for overall wellness and enjoys translating the science behind food and health into practical, everyday guidance. Kelly’s approach centers on listening closely and recognizing that each person’s relationship with food and health is unique. She focuses on creating realistic strategies that feel sustainable.

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Kelly finds the most rewarding part of her work to be seeing individuals reach their goals and develop an overall healthier mindset around nutrition. She supports clients by emphasizing progress over perfection, celebrating small wins, and offering compassionate encouragement through challenges. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys spending time with her children and fiancé, gardening, exercising, reading, and traveling. Kelly is also a proud 46er, having completed her final Adirondack High Peak in 2023.

Maureen Robinson was inspired to pursue a career in mental health after her own counseling experience, which showed her the powerful impact this work can have during difficult times. In her work, Maureen focuses on building trust and rapport with the individuals she serves, approaching each person with patience and kindness while helping them understand the consequences of their actions in a supportive, nonjudgmental way.

Maureen finds the most rewarding part of her work to be seeing individuals make progress and grow healthier over time. She uses a variety of therapeutic approaches, tailoring strategies such as role-playing and repetition to each individual’s level of understanding. Outside of work, Maureen enjoys swimming, gardening, and traveling. She loves spending time with her sister or with her three dogs, Bumble, Marley, and Milo. Maureen is also active in her community and volunteers with S/NAP, helping care for kittens and cats at the shelter.

Tom Murphy’s approach as a social worker has been inspired by many factors, including his grandmother’s displays of empathy, family matters, and, most importantly, his desire to help people who are struggling. The most important aspect of being a social worker for Tom is building trust with those he helps. Building trust is the foundation for helping people succeed, which is always Tom’s top priority, whether it's at work, with family, in social life, or in self-acceptance. It doesn’t stop there, Tom believes in encouraging people to do their best using constructive criticism and honest feedback.

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Motivated to choose a career that mattered and helped people, Tom continues everyday making new strides towards that goal. Tom takes his family as seriously as his work. When out of the office, he spends his time with his wife, three children, their spouses, and six grandchildren. While that keeps him busy, he always finds time to be active.

Erica Silkowski developed a passion for supporting individuals with disabilities early in life, influenced by family and community. Her grandmother worked as a residential nurse for the NYS DDSO, and her mother worked for Madison Oneida BOCES, which allowed Erica to grow up around those who supported others. In high school, she volunteered with her local Special Olympics chapter and became a certified coach. This was a major experience that led her to her career helping those with I/DD.

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Erica joined The Arc Madison Cortland in 2020 as a Behavior Specialist and was later promoted to Behavior Plan Coordinator. In her current role, she oversees assessments and the development, implementation, and monitoring of Behavior Support Plans and Psychotropic Medication Monitoring Plans for individuals across both counties. Outside of work, Erica enjoys spending time with her husband, Jonathan, their twin daughters, Amara and Evelyn, and their labradoodle, Zinfandel. Her evenings and weekends are filled with family activities, kids' sports, and plenty of iced coffee.