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Dr. Zackowski is the Senior Director, Patient Management, Care and Rehabilitation Research at the National MS Society. She manages the Society’s research portfolio focused on clinical and rehabilitation care, as well as development of the Society’s Wellness Initiative. In addition, Dr. Zackowski serves on the scientific leadership team of the Progressive MS Alliance. Dr. Zackowski received her Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis with an emphasis on neuroscience and motor control and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. At Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Dr. Zackowski headed a laboratory for 15 years that investigated the mechanisms that underlie sensorimotor impairments and disability resulting from damage to the central nervous system. She remains on faculty as Adjunct Associate Professor in the Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Neurology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Zackowski is also an Occupational Therapist with 25 years of clinical experience in adult rehabilitation, having an MS practice for over 15 years in treating individuals with multiple sclerosis at the Johns Hopkins MS Center.

Daryl Kucera is the founder and director of MSforward. His life’s passion is providing exercise opportunities for people living with physiological challenges. Daryl earned his BSAS degree in Fitness Science; he is a Certified Master Personal Trainer and a Certified Youth Sports Instructor. ​ Among his many achievements, Daryl has co-authored four university-sponsored research papers and is published in the internationally acclaimed journal, NeuroRehabilitation. In 2010, he received the Robert M. Herndon Award for Outstanding Article in the International Journal of MS Care and he is credited with establishing the only medically recognized post-physical therapy exercise program for people with MS. ​ “Guiding others with disabilities toward the best quality of life possible through physical exercise, emotional support and laughter is the greatest blessing I can imagine. I now understand that MS is a gift I received from above that allows me to give to others. I can think of no other way to give back for all of the blessings I have received than to grow and develop MSForward to benefit and serve as many physiologically challenged people as possible.” -Daryl

Peiting works at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Originally from New Zealand, Peiting received her Bachelor degree in Physiotherapy from University of Otago (NZ) in 2004 and then her doctorate in Physical Therapy from Boston University in 2008. After treating a diverse clinical background of patients, both nationally and internationally, for more than 7 years she decided to become a board certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist in 2013. Shortly thereafter, she became passionate about movement dysfunctions, motor learning and the challenge of working with adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis; thus, leading to her Schroth certification. She started collaborating with Dr. Paul Sponseller and Kristen Venuti, CRNP, at Johns Hopkins in hopes of providing a more comprehensive team approach in serving families and children with scoliosis through the Schroth method of treatment.