Committee on Health advances nominees to new Board of Rehabilitative Therapies

Councilmember Christina Henderson, chair of the Committee on Health, at-large, opened a June 16, 2025 additional meeting and moved draft reports and nominations in block, advancing seven nominees to the newly created Board of Rehabilitative Therapies. The committee voted by voice and approved the nominations unanimously.

The appointments implement DC Law 25-191, the Health Occupations Revision General Amendment Act of 2024, which consolidates the former boards of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and speech-language pathology into a single Board of Rehabilitative Therapies. Under the law the new board is to have 11 members and is scheduled to begin on July 19, 2025, or when a majority of the seats are filled, whichever comes first.

The committee advanced the following nominees and terms as presented by the chair:

- PR 26-193: Bernadine Evans, nominated as a physical therapist for a two-year term. Evans previously served on the board of physical therapy, is a clinical assistant professor of radiation therapy at Howard University, holds a doctor of physical therapy from Syracuse University, and previously directed restorative and rehabilitative services at Ashbury Methodist Village. The transcript identifies her as a Ward 4 resident.

- PR 26-194: Angela Grice, nominated as a speech-language pathologist for a three-year term. Grice is the owner of Dialogue Group, an adjunct clinical professor at Howard University, and holds a master's and doctorate in speech-language pathology from Howard University; her work focuses on traumatic brain injury and service delivery for culturally and linguistically diverse populations. The transcript identifies her as a Ward 4 resident.

- PR 26-199: Jillian Ray, nominated as an occupational therapist for a two-year term. Ray is founder of Sublime Kids LLC and a part-time faculty member at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health; she holds a doctor of occupational therapy from Temple University and was described as a Ward 3 resident.

- PR 26-192: Charles Barnes, nominated as a recreational therapist for a two-year term. Barnes previously served on the board of occupational therapy and was described as having over four decades of experience in therapeutic recreation serving seniors and vulnerable populations; the transcript lists him as a Ward 1 resident.

- PR 26-195: Nicholas Kaylor, nominated as a physical therapist for a three-year term. Kaylor previously served on the board of physical therapy and serves as lead physical therapist and medical-surgical rehabilitation supervisor at George Washington University Hospital; the transcript lists him as a Ward 5 resident.

- PR 26-197: Amalu Mejikunidumi, nominated as an occupational therapist for a three-year term. Mejikunidumi previously served on the board of occupational therapy and is CEO of Triumph Therapeutics, which provides outpatient therapy services; the transcript lists him as a Ward 5 resident.

- PR 26-198: Rayon Hagona Worthy, nominated as a physical therapist for a two-year term. Hagona Worthy previously served on the board of physical therapy, works in home care for ASAP DC, founded JAW Therapy, and is a contracted physical therapist for the Department of Corrections; the transcript lists her as a Ward 7 resident.

Chair Christina Henderson opened the floor for discussion and, with no substantive discussion recorded, moved the draft reports and prints in block "for leave with leave for staff to make any technical changes." Henderson then called for the voice vote: "All in favor, please say aye." Committee members responded and Henderson said, "Let the record reflect, that the ayes have it, and it passes unanimously." The committee did not record any dissenting votes or abstentions in the transcript.

The committee noted that the first three nominees had appeared before the committee in a June 2, 2025 roundtable. The committee adjourned at 1:06 p.m. and announced its next meeting for June 23, 2025 to mark up the FY26 Committee on Health budget.