2025 GBS|CIDP Foundation International Coffee Chats

Join us for a Coffee Chat designed for individuals living with GBS, CIDP, MMN, and related conditions, as we explore how physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) can make a meaningful difference in your daily life.

Our expert hosts — Maria Harris, PT, DPT, Advanced Clinician at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, and Kathleen (Liebsch) Rocca, MS, OTR/L, Inpatient Occupational Therapist at Bryn Mawr Rehab — will share practical strategies for: improving mobility, strength, and function, incorporating PT and OT exercises into your daily routine, using adaptive devices to increase independence and safety, and making small, sustainable changes to support long-term wellness.

Who should attend? 

This Coffee Chat is ideal for patients diagnosed with GBS, CIDP, MMN, or related conditions, as well as family members and caregivers who are supporting a loved one in recovery. If you’re looking to enhance your quality of life with manageable, at-home strategies, this session is for you.

Why Join? 

By attending, you’ll gain valuable insights into how therapy can support both your physical and emotional healing. You’ll have the chance to ask questions, hear directly from experts, and discover tools and techniques that can easily be adapted into your lifestyle. Most importantly, you’ll connect with a supportive community in a relaxed, informal setting.

Get to Know the Hosts:

Maria Harris, DPT, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with over a decade of experience in neurorehabilitation at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital. She specializes in treating neurological conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, GBS, CIDP, MS, and Parkinson’s disease. As Advanced Clinician on the hospital’s stroke unit, she leads evidence-based interventions and is certified in advanced rehab technologies like BalanceWear, Bioness Vector, and FES systems.

Kathleen (Liebsch) Rocca, MS, OTR/L, is an Occupational Therapist with 6 years of experience in neurorehabilitation at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital. She specializes in spinal cord injury and complex neurological disorders including GBS, CIDP, MS, and Parkinson’s disease. Kathleen serves as an inpatient therapist on the spinal cord injury unit and Assistant Coordinator of the Spinal Cord Injury Clinic, where she integrates evidence-based practices and advanced technologies such as FES and WPS.