In this episode of On Balance Dr. Berger spends time with Jadd Martinez of Amergis to learn more about staffing shortages across education and beyond those that we hear about in the headlines.

Jadd Martinez joined Amergis Educational Staffing in 2003 and has spent the majority of his career in educational staffing. With a focus on consultation and collaboration, Jadd helped Amergis expand from a handful of markets with a singular offering, to a widely diversified, nationwide leader in the K-12 staffing industry. Jadd has a passion for education, and with a young daughter approaching school age, he'll be spending much more time in the classroom!

Rachel Byrne, Executive Director of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF), joins host Dr. Rod Berger to learn more about CP and the educational opportunities to impact individuals, families, educators, and organizations driving CPF's mission.

More than 17 million people globally are living with Cerebral Palsy (CP), making it the most common lifelong physical disability. Yet, it has been historically overlooked and underfunded. Few people are aware of the impact access to early detection can have on patient lives.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Ireland, backed by $12.5 million from notable donors, including John and Patrick Collison, Rachel is combining the worlds of health and tech. CPF will collaborate with universities and healthcare institutions to pilot and implement crucial research areas, paving the way for nationwide advancements in CP care.

In this episode Dr. Berger and Rachel look at:

The critical role of early intervention in improving outcomes for people with brain injuries like CP.

Steps she's taking to increase awareness and support for CP public policy, research, and investments on a global scale.

The Foundation's approach to investing in research to inform implementation.

Rachel Byrne is the Executive Director at the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. She has been working in the field of pediatric rehabilitation and cerebral palsy research for over a decade. Rachel has a background in physical therapy, with a particular interest in neuroplasticity and motor learning. Her early career as a clinician delivering physical therapy services in schools, hospitals and private practice is underpinned by her research interests focused on knowledge translation and the impact on a person’s ability to participate in the community across the lifespan.

At the Foundation, she has continued her research interest in evidence-based practice, knowledge translation, early detection and interventions across the lifespan and population studies for cerebral palsy. Rachel was instrumental in developing the Just Say Hi inclusion curriculum which is now being taught nationally. In the last 12 years she has given multiple presentations at international conferences and managed large multisite research projects.

Check out the latest episode of On Balance as Dr. Rod Berger takes a deep dive into higher education through the lens of award-winning journalist Karin Klein and her latest book, Rethinking College - A Guide To Thriving Without A Degree.

"A valuable reassessment of America's educational system." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

What if you didn't have to go to college?

You may have heard that a college degree is the only path to success. But many college graduates end up mired in debt and underemployed, working jobs that don't even require a degree. The good news? Many promising career options exist for those who don't want to or can't attend college.

In Rethinking College, award-winning journalist Karin Klein sets out a new path for our country's students and their families. Klein examines why the traditional college-for-all model has been overhyped and is growing less relevant, then shares practical advice and real-world examples of exactly how others have succeeded without a four-year degree.

Discover many alternative paths, including white-collar apprenticeships, certificate programs, entrepreneurship, creative careers, residential public-service work, and more.

Klein will guide you step-by-step toward a broad range of fulfilling and well-paid careers that don't require a degree—ranging from pilots, costume designers, influencers, writers, computer programmers, corporate headhunters, film editors, and so many more. The breadth of possibilities is wider than you think!

Rethinking College is perfect for:

• Those who are unsure of their next education or career steps.
• Those looking to make a job pivot.
• Parents seeking guidance for their child.
• School counselors who want to offer their students more and better options.