The Matthew J. Taylor Institute (MJTI) Advisory Board

 

The Institute is gathering an advisory board of therapists, scholars, researchers, and educators to formalize their many years as advisors, mentors and colleagues to Matthew J. Taylor, PT, PhD. Their many years of loving care and active support are responsible for any small success Matthew has experienced to date. 

As we define their role and invite them to participate formally we will tell you more here and in our newsletter about how they have influenced the Institute.

 

 

Jennifer Collins Taylor, MSW

Jennifer is co-owner of MyRehab, LLC, the parent company of MJTI. She and Matthew married in 1980 and have raised three children in addition to their many family business ventures. Jennifer is a thought leader in death education and end of life support. Besides her end of life MSW, she is also a recorded musician, award-winning author and yoga therapist. Her entrepreneurial business, Living Life, Dying Death is a sister company to MJTI. In addition to her shared vision of health, Jennifer will also be offering course work for the Institute and is a part of every decision made in strategic planning and implementation.

 

 

 

Alfonso Montuori, PhD

Dr. Montuori  was Matthew's doctoral advisor and dissertation chair at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Alfonso is the author of several books and numerous articles on creativity and improvisation, complexity, and education as well as a jazz saxophonist. Matthew attributes much of the design of MJTI to his time studying with Dr. Montuori. Alfonso consults with organizations and individuals on creativity and professional and personal development to include Procter & Gamble, Network Appliance, Pacific Bell, Stentor Group (Canada), Kaiser Permanente, Omnitel-Olivetti (Italy), U.S. Department of Labor, 3Com, Progressive Insurance, and others.. His extensive credits and many papers can be found here. 

 

 

 

Staffan Elgelid, PT, PhD, GCFT

Dr. Eleglid has been a close friend, mentor and colleague of Matthew's for over a decade. The two have collaborated on a number of creative projects to include the first major CAM presentation at the APTA National Conference in 2009. Staffan (Stah-fen) is a Swedish born PT with board level experience on the Feldenkrais Guild of North America, as well as long time advisor to the International Association of Yoga Therapists. His career spans many creative iterations from olympic level sports medicine, private practice, supporting performing artists and numerous international presentations. Dr. Elgelid's passion for creativity includes his work in health and wellness, as well love of music, art and clinical innovation. His current CV is here. 

 

 

 

Richard Miller, PhD

Richard Miller, PhD, author of Yoga Nidra: A Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing, is a psychologist and contemporary teacher of nondualism whose teachings emphasize spiritual awakening and psychological integration. Richard is the founding president and CEO of the Integrative Restoration Institute, co-founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapy, a founding board member of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology, and a senior advisor to the Baumann Institute, dedicated to understanding the impact of pure Awareness on well-being. Richard serves as a consultant researching the Yoga Nidra protocol that he’s developed (Integrative Restoration – iRest) with soldiers, veterans, students, kids, the homeless, and people experiencing issues such as PTSD, substance abuse, sleep disorders, and chronic pain. Richard has been a teacher and friend of Matthew's for many years and continues to model creativity in health care through his Institute. For information please visit www.irest.us.

 

 Mary Lou Galantino, PT, PhD, MSCE

Dr. Galantino is a professor at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Adjunct Research Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA, where she was an NIH NCCAM fellow from 2003-2005.  Mary Lou "twisted" Matthew's arm to write his first professional paper in 1997, wrote his recommendation for his doctoral application, and has been a fast friend and collaborator on numerous creative projects since. She is known for her innovative work in integrative therapies for people living with HIV, cancer and chronic diseases, with numerous research publications and is exploring the impact of yoga on various diseases.  Her recent grant funding addressed the benefit of yoga to improve cognition for patients undergoing chemotherapy.  In the 80's she founded L.I.F.E. Physical Therapy in Houston Texas, dedicated to people living with chronic diseases particularly the then emerging AIDS epidemic.  Dr. Galantino is has been the Research Chair of the APTA's Oncology Section. More details are here. 

 

 

  

Jerry Gillon, PT, ATC, OCS

Jerry is a trusted friend of Matthew's for over a decade. Jerry and his wife Joan, both PT's, were early adapters bringing "Yoga Therapy Into Rehabilitation" to their private practice at Linn County Physical Therapy in Cedar Rapids, IA in the late 1990's. Jerry and Matthew have worked on numerous projects along with Staffan, to include the Future of PT series at the AZ APTA annual meeting in 2006. Jerry will scoff at his "pedigree" but as father, business owner and gardner/wood worker and hiker, he gets the ecological view and lives it. When everyone else is floating their grand theories and ideas, Jerry will quietly ask, "What about...?" and we all have to pause and consider his keen, practical insight into the situation. Jerry's quiet genius is in his wisdom and "old soul" caring about his colleagues and his profession. Jerry's moral compass and solid character bring the board focus and real world grounding from the heartland. Jerry and Joan's clinic is here.

 

 Charles Trull, LCSW, PhD

Dr. Trull is a medical social worker at the US Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton, CA where he focuses on trauma recovery and geriatric care. As a doctoral classmate of Matthew's, the two spent many years together learning, causing "trouble" in the classrooms, and literally wrote their dissertations together (separate disserations) in the northern woods of Arizona. Charlie is a gifted teacher and together with his wife Anu, he has explored many avenues of healing through ancient traditions, to include his extensive shamanic training from his Native American ancestory. Matthew depends on Charlie as a spiritual brother and trusted friend, having each supported the other through challenging periods of life. 

 

 

 

 Matthew Sanford, MA

Matthew Sanford is a public speaker, healthcare pioneer, award‐winning author, and nationally recognized yoga teacher who has inspired and enhanced the lives of thousands. He is a close friend and collaborator with "the other Matt" as he and Taylor refer to one another. His life story is one of innovation and creativity. The two have undertaken two very important research projects summarized here. Sanford's experiences as a consumer of rehabilitation services are captured in his book, Waking: A memoir of frauma and transcendence. He and Taylor bring together the best of the consumer and provider perspectives of what needs to change and how the mind-body relatiohship is the key to the next evolution of health not only in healthcare, but every institution from schools to government. You can learn more about Matthew and his important non-profit  here.