Neuromodulation Showdown: Jeopardy for Apps
Part of Neuromodulation Across the Continuum: An APP Course in Pain & Neurosurgical Care
Details
- Date
- Friday, January 22, 2027
- Time
- 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- Session type
- Pre-Conference Session
- Schedule
- See this day
About
Developed in collaboration with the North American Neuromodulation Society, this full-day immersive course is designed for Advanced Practice Providers in pain management and neurosurgery seeking practical, up-to-date training in neuromodulation. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of contemporary neuromodulation therapies. Through lectures, case-based learning, and interactive discussion, APPs will strengthen skills in patient selection, preoperative optimization, basic programming, postoperative management, and device troubleshooting. Emphasis is placed on evidence-informed practice, real-world clinical decision-making, and navigating rapidly evolving neuromodulation technologies within multidisciplinary pain care.
Presenters
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Casey Grillo, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Practitioner
The Spine & Pain Institute of NY · Manhattan, New York
Casey Grillo is a Nurse Practitioner and Lead Advanced Practice Provider at The Spine & Pain Institute of New York, where she has been a member of the pain management team for over 13 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Seton Hall University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Wagner College.
Casey is actively involved in advancing the field of pain medicine through her roles as faculty and course director for multiple national conferences, including the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience and the New York and New Jersey Pain Medicine Congress. She currently serves as Chair of the NANS APP Planning Committee.
In addition, Casey has made significant scholarly contributions to the field. She is the editor of the textbook Pain Management for the Advanced Practice Provider and the author of numerous peer-reviewed publications. She served as lead author of the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience Guidelines for Advanced Practice Providers in Interventional Spine and Pain Management Practice, a landmark publication supporting the evolving role of APPs in pain medicine.
Her professional interests include advancing the role of APPs in neuromodulation, leadership, and education, and promoting evidence-based practice in pain management.
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Marie Zambelli, MSN FNP-C
Nurse Practitioner, Interventional Pain Management
Southwest Florida Pain Center · Venice, Florida
Marie Zambelli, APRN FNP-C is a certified family nurse practitioner in Venice, Florida. She applies a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate and treat her patients to support their health and wellness. She has many years of experience in interventional pain management, orthopedics, and rheumatology.
Marie earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing in Illinois. She then proceeded to earn her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.
She has served as an educator for multiple companies to aide APP’s in patient selection and procedure education.
She continues to serve on multiple committees and societies to include NANS APP committee, ASPN, FSIPP, WIPM, and Course director for FSIPP and WIPM
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Brandon Johnson is a Physician Assistant working at Endeavor Health in the Chicago metropolitan area and in collaboration with Dr. David Dickerson to treat complex pain patients in both inpatient hospital and outpatient clinic settings. After graduating from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine Physician Assistant program, he worked for a short period in a hospital-based neurology practice specializing in neuromuscular disorders before moving over to critical care and pain medicine, where he has been for the last 3 years.
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Blake Parente is a Physician Assistant (PA) at Duke University Medical Center specializing in functional neurosurgery and treating high impact pain. For almost 15 years, Parente has worked on expanding pain modulation and functional ablative procedures across a variety of new neurological indications and is excited to be collaborating on multiple projects involving interdisciplinary care and spinal cord injury. Parente holds a Master of Health Sciences from the Duke University Physician Assistant Program and a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Smith College. They have also completed a Certificate in Health Professions Education & Teaching Program and a Health Equity Leadership Certificate.
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Adult-geriatric nurse practitioner with 7+ years experience in interventional spine and chronic pain management in Rochester, New York. Expertise in targeted drug delivery for the treatment of cancer related pain, non-cancer related pain and spasticity. Specializes in the management of dorsal column, dorsal root and peripheral nerve stimulators. Former adjunct professor and clinical instructor at St. John Fisher College School of Nursing. Prior experience in neuro-critical care and neuro-rehabilitation; maintains certification as Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse. Founding member of the NANS APP Committee with prior roles as membership co-chair and education co-chair; currently serves on the scientific planning committee.
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Morteza Rabii is a nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience treating spine, joint, and chronic pain. He earned his doctorate in nursing practice from the University of Kansas and has practiced in academic orthopedic and private practice interventional pain management settings. His expertise includes fluoroscopic- and ultrasound-guided joint injections, pain pump management, and patient identification and selection for a variety of neuromodulation and minimally invasive spine procedures. He is passionate about advancing APP education and bridging the gap between surgical and interventional spine and pain care. He and his wife have three children, and enjoy running, hiking, and travel.
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Keeley Divita Whittlesey is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in Interventional Pain Management at The Orthopaedic Institute in Gainesville, Florida. She works closely with Dr. Ajay Antony to provide exceptional care for patients living with chronic pain conditions.
Dedicated to delivering comprehensive, evidence-based care, Keeley has worked tirelessly to develop extensive expertise in the full spectrum of pain management treatments, including neuromodulation and minimally invasive surgical interventions.
She is passionate about educating the next generation of advanced practice providers, remembering how little exposure she had to the field upon graduating with her master's degree. She is committed to helping students gain the knowledge and confidence needed to excel in pain management.
In addition to mentoring students, Keeley is devoted to advancing the profession by sharing her expertise with fellow practitioners through active engagement in professional societies and educational initiatives.
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Ruth S. Bochat, FNP-BC, RNFA
Nurse Practitioner
New York Brain Spine and Joint · Port Jefferson Station, New York
Ruth Bochat, MSN, FNP-C, RNFA is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse First Assistant specializing in interventional spine, pain management, and neurosurgery. She serves as the Lead Nurse Practitioner at New York Brain Spine & Joint and Eastern Suffolk Spine and Pain LLC, where she provides comprehensive patient care across the clinic, ambulatory surgery center, and operating room, with expertise in minimally invasive spine procedures and perioperative management.
Ruth is an Advanced Practice Provider consultant, educator, and speaker, dedicated to advancing APP education and improving patient outcomes. She is actively involved in educational initiatives and research focused on spine and pain medicine -
Collin Duffy is Chief PA at Groth Pain and Spine, where he leads a team of 22 APPs on Long Island. He obtained his PA degree from King's College in 2022, where he served as President of the Pre-PA Society. He is a member of the NANS APP Subcommittee, as well as Founding Executive Board Member of the Pain Medicine Academy of Advanced Practice Providers (PMAAPP). He has authored textbook chapters, contributed to best practice guidelines, and lectured nationally on a number of topics in pain management including neuromodulation, opioid management, documentation, and APP leadership. Collin is passionate about continuing education and enjoys networking with PAs, NPs, and Physicians from across the US. When he is not treating chronic pain, you can find him on the golf course or watching the New York Mets.
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Raquel has always been passionate about medicine and helping others. Her interest in medicine developed in high school when she was a student athletic trainer.
Raquel completed her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon and then earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Southern California University of Health Sciences in Whittier, California.
After college, Raquel worked as an athletic trainer at Auburn University. She was part of the staff that helped the women’s soccer team reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. This experience taught her the importance of teamwork and collaboration in providing patient care.
Raquel decided to become a physician assistant because she wanted to have a greater impact on patient care. She enjoys working with patients to develop treatment plans that help them manage their pain and assist them in returning to the hobbies and activities they enjoy.
When Raquel is not educating and caring for patients, she enjoys skiing, baking, and supporting the Oregon State Beavers.