The IPRC Steering Committee is comprised of 11 leaders from IPRC member organizations, each serving 3 year terms.  The Committee meets monthly with the Director to provide leadership for the organization as a whole, support operations, and ensure growth and development of the IPRC.  These leaders provide oversight for the projects and initiatives taken on by the collaborative and its working committees and are responsible for strategic planning, defining benefits of membership, and allocation of resources. The Committee is intentionally diverse and includes members from broad geographical and clinical backgrounds.

IPRC is privileged to have the following individuals serving on the Steering Committee for the 2024-2025 fiscal year:

Susannah Kidwell, MS, CCC-SLP, Chairperson
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Susannah Kidwell is the Director of Rehabilitation Services at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where she oversees Acute Care Rehab, Inpatient Rehab Unit, Day Rehabilitation and the Center for Advanced Technology and Robotic Rehabilitation.  She has a clinical background as a Speech Language Pathologist and is most passionate about coordination of care and inter-professional healthcare delivery.  Susannah accepted a leadership position on the IPRC Steering Committee in 2017 after nearly a decade of involvement within the organization. Susannah also sits on the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Commission for the state of Georgia and in her spare time, enjoys gardening and the North Georgia Mountains.

Christian Niedzwecki, DO, Vice Chairperson
Texas Children’s Hospital

Dr. Christian Niedzwecki is a Pediatric Physiatrist and is the Medical Director of the Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas.  He is also an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine.  Christian joined the IPRC steering Committee in 2016 and is highly interested in research and outcomes related to the efficacy of pediatric rehabilitation. He has a passion for excellence in patient care. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 daughters.

Jackie Bultman
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital

Jackie Bultman is the Director of inpatient rehab services for the Pediatric, Adult Spinal Cord Injury, Oncology and Medically Complex Programs at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she has worked for over 30 years. Jackie began her career as a clinical social worker, and now serves as an organizational leader providing oversight for the inpatient pediatric specialty program and several adult specialty programs. Jackie has been involved with IPRC for several years and previously served as a co-chair of the Outcomes Committee; she joined the IPRC Steering Committee in 2020.  Jackie also serves as a program surveyor for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). When not in the office, Jackie enjoys spending time with family, her amazing book club, painting on canvas and tending her flower gardens.

Linda Fieback, PT, DPT, MA, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatrics
Blythedale Children’s Hospital

Linda Fieback is the Director of Physical Therapy and Site Coordinator of Clinical Education at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, where she has worked for 40 years. She has a special interest in educating future clinicians and has served as a senior lecturer at Mercy College’s Physical Therapy program and a lab instructor for the Physical Therapy programs at Columbia University, New York Medical College, and Long Island University. She is currently completing her Transitional DPT program at the College of Saint Scholastica. In her free time, she likes to enjoy all the benefits of living in NYC, travel, jazz music, and being outside at the beach or the mountains.

Sue Harlow, OTD, OTRL
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Sue Harlow is the Program Coordinator for Rehabilitation at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.  Sue has a strong clinical background in Occupational Therapy and spent 34 years as a treating therapist, supervisor, and manager in the “adult world.”  After receiving her clinical doctorate, she was a professor at Xavier University for 5 years in the OT program. Sue made the transition to Pediatrics when she joined Cincinnati Children’s and never looked back!  In addition to her role on the IPRC Steering Committee, Sue also enjoys being a CARF Surveyor.  In her free time, Sue enjoys traveling, cooking, photography, and experiencing new places.

Cindy Iske, MS, OTR/L
Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Cindy Iske is the Rehabilitation Coordinator at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.  She has a clinical background in Occupational Therapy and has 30 plus years of experience working in the pediatric inpatient rehabilitation setting in various roles.  Cindy also serves as a program surveyor for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Cindy has been highly involved in the IPRC for several years and joined the IPRC Steering Committee in 2020.  When not in the office, she enjoys sports, the outdoors, traveling and spending time with her two children.

Anne Ruecktenwald, PT, DPT
Children’s National Rehabilitation and Specialized Care

Anne Ruecktenwald joined the IRPC Steering Committee in 2016 after a long tenure as chair of the Best Practices & Clinical Innovation Committee.   She is the Director of Clinical Programs at Children’s National Rehabilitation and Specialized Care in Washington, DC where she oversees PT, OT, Speech, Psychology, Feeding, and multiple clinics.  She has over 30 years of experience in pediatrics as a physical therapist, manager, and program director.  When not at the hospital, Anne enjoys kayaking on the Chesapeake Bay and cycling on the Maryland Eastern Shore.

Lyn Sapp, MN RN CRRN

Seattle Children’s Hospital

Lyn Sapp is a Nursing Practice Specialist for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Washington. The Rehab unit has been her home base since 1985, with additional experiences in outpatient, home care, and school nursing.  After obtaining her Masters in Nursing, Lyn participated in the growth and development of the inpatient unit as a manger, educator and nurse specialist.  A post-master’s certificate in pediatrics has led to further experiences in quality improvement and staff education. As a member of the Association of Rehabilitation Nursing, she has experienced enrichment through certification, presenting, learning, publishing and networking.

In her free time, Lyn enjoys her mini farm and has been a 4-H leader in rabbits, poultry, sheep and alpacas. Further enjoyment is with her family as a newer grandma along with gardening and kayaking.

Jeff Stec, MS, CCC-SLP
Alexis Verzal Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital @ Madonna

Jeff Stec is the Program Manager for Pediatrics at the Alexis Verzal’s Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital, part of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln and Omaha, NE and has been a Speech Language Pathologist for over 20 years.  Jeff joined the IPRC Steering Committee in 2013 and worked closely with the Outcomes Committee for two years.  Jeff has served as vice chairperson of the steering committee, chairperson, and continues to serve following his leadership terms.  Leisure interests for Jeff include hot yoga, cycling, woodworking and gardening.

Linda Waddell, Family Representative
Children’s Specialized Hospital

Linda Waddell joined the IPRC Steering Committee in 2022 and serves in the role of Family Representative; she provides perspective and guides the team from a family member’s point of view.  Linda Waddell became an expert in the experience of pediatric rehabilitation through caring for her daughter with medical complications. Hired by Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH) in 2008, Linda uses her real life experiences as she provides support and builds relationships with other families with children who are served by CSH. Linda also collaborates and partners with CSH leadership, clinical and non-clinical staff, and is a valued member on several key hospital committees.

Linda is motivated to contribute to the work of the IPRC in this role as she knows this work will have a positive impact on patients and families who receive pediatric rehabilitation.

Steering Committee Structure

Effective July 1, 2013, 11 Steering Committee members will be selected from IPRC member organizations. At least one Steering Committee member will be from a Pennsylvania RCPA member organization.

• Beginning July 1, 2014, all Steering Committee members will be elected to 3 year terms. Each year an election of three members will take place prior to July 1, with rotating (not permanent) seats, and one seat designated to RCPA PA members.
• Steering members will be elected by the full IPRC membership.
• Efforts will be made to support geographically and/or programmatically diverse representation on the Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee has an executive body with a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson. Each position has a two-year term. After a two-year term, the Chair will step down and the Vice Chair will transition to Chair. The past chair will remain on the Steering Committee for the term of the current Chair (2 years).

• Steering Committee members may serve multiple terms.

If your organization is interested in having a member serve on the Steering Committee, please contact IPRC.