Dr. Victor Pedro Dr. Victor Pedro is a multi-lingual Board Certified practicing Chiropractic Neurologist who specialized in the treatment of Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorders... learn more Dr. Perry N. Mandanis Perry Mandanis, M.D. combines his experience in healthcare administration and behavioral health to distinguish himself as an award-winning educator, physician, and effective organizational consultant... learn more Maria B. de Lourdes Serpa, Ed.D Maria de Lourdes Serpa, Ed.D is a Professor at the Lesley University School of Education. Dr. Serpa is Program Director for the graduate Special Needs Teacher Education Program... learn more Dr. Odete Amarelo Dr. Odete Amarelo, Program Director, has been the Parent Community Liaison for the Fall River Public School System Magnet Schools of Choice Program for five years, and has more than a decade of classroom teaching experience... learn more Barbra Benzi Brickle Barbra Benzi Brickle, RN, MSN, CPNP is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who comes to us with more than 15 years of experience working with children and their families... learn more Lorraine Pedro Lorraine Pedro, LICSW, is a Psychotherapist specializing in children and families. She holds a Master Degree in Clinical Social Work from Simmons College, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Regis College... learn more Dr. Victor Pedro Vpedrodc@cs.com Dr. Victor Pedro is a multi-lingual Board Certified practicing Chiropractic Neurologist who specialized in the treatment of Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorders. He is the President and Director of the Infinite Potential Program in Cranston, Rhode Island. Dr. Pedro has pioneered the development of a scientific research-based therapy called Cortical Integrative Therapy (CIT®), which has been implemented at his clinic for several years and historically in the public school system with students diagnosed with ADHD and learning disabilities. Dr. Pedro graduated in 1981 from the University of Vermont and in 1985 he received his doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine from New York Chiropractic College. His postdoctoral studies focused on Neurology with a Residency at N.Y.C.C. In 1987 and in 1992, he received his Diplomate Degree from the American College of Chiropractic Neurology followed by a Fellowship Award by The Carrick Institute. His interest in learning difficulties lead him to specialize in Learning Disabilities at the Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies from which he received a certificate in the Treatment of Learning Disabilities in 2001. He is the recipient of several awards including the QiEn es QiEn in Medical Care and in 1988 a Citation from the State of Rhode Island for his care and dedication to the people of Rhode Island. In addition to a successful practice, Dr. Pedro has lectured extensively in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and has also served as an Associate Professor at the University of Bridgeport Chiropractic College. Dr. Pedro is a member of several professional organizations including The American Chiropractic Association, the Rhode Island Chiropractic Society since 1986 and the Portuguese American Physicians Health Association (PAPHA). Dr. Pedro's ongoing research is focused primarily on the use and effectiveness of CIT® with school-age students diagnosed with Attention Deficit disorders and Learning Disabilities. He is the principal investigator of a research team that completed the Kuss Study at a public school in Massachusetts. His work was incorporated into the 2003 Fall River, Massachusetts Strategic Improvement Plan. The Kuss Study is a historic first and was submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Education for further implantation. Dr. Pedro and his wife are the parents of four young children. The family lives in Rhode Island. return to top Dr. Perry N. Mandanis Perry Mandanis, M.D. combines his experience in healthcare administration and behavioral health to distinguish himself as an award-winning educator, physician, and effective organizational consultant. His inspiring presentations move his knowledge of human behavior, adult education, and group dynamics from the couch to the boardroom to engender collaborative behaviors in work teams that achieve lasting bottom line results. Perry earned his BA degree from Wake Forest University and his MD degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. After completing residencies in Pediatrics at MUSC, General Psychiatry at Brown University School of Medicine, and Child and Family Psychiatry at Brown, he pursued a career in hospital administration to become the Physician Executive of the Providence VA Medical Center. There he produced highly efficient health care delivery systems through the advancement of management technologies, quality inpatient and outpatient services, and adult learning and professional staff development programs. While with the federal government, he graduated from the prestigious Leadership VA program and served on the faculty of the Health Care Leadership Institute, coaching and training future career executives in healthcare. He then moved into the private sector to become the Chief Operating Officer of GBA Health Network Systems while continuing to serve on the InterQual Physician Advisory Board and the McKesson Medical Product Advisory Board. He is the recipient of the Disabled American Veterans of Rhode Island Outstanding Physician of the Year award and the Brown University Psychiatry Award for Teaching Excellence. He remains active in his community as a volunteer member of the Human Rights Board for Gateways to Change. return to top Maria B. de Lourdes Serpa, Ed.D Maria de Lourdes Serpa, Ed.D is a Professor at the Lesley University School of Education. Dr. Serpa is Program Director for the graduate Special Needs Teacher Education Program. Her expertise is in literacy, bi-literacy, non-discriminatory assessment, and learning disabilities. Her major areas of specialization focus on learning disabilities, reading, and assessment. Dr. Serpa is also Director of the Language Minority Assessment Project at Lesley University. return to top Dr. Odete Amarelo Dr. Odete Amarelo, Program Director, has been the Parent Community Liaison for the Fall River Public Schools Magnet Schools of Choice Program for five years, and has more than a decade of classroom teaching experience. Dr. Amarelo holds a Ph.D. in Literacy Learning. Her accomplished career includes distinctions such as recognition on the "Wall of Teaching Tolerance," and "An Immigrant Making a Difference," recognition by the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and "Terrific Teachers Making a Difference Award." Dr. Amarelo has published family and children's newsletters and articles, including "BackPack," a family newsletter in four languages. Her accomplishments have led her to be an invited presenter by organizations such as the Massachusetts Department of Education Symposium, the Massachusetts Association for Bilingual Education, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Lesley College, III Congresso de Comunidades Açoreanas, and the Education Collaborative for Greater Boston. She is a member of the Portuguese American Historical Foundation of Fall River, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Adult Literacy Resource Institute, and the Massachusetts Association for Bilingual Education among others. She is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. return to top Barbra Benzi Brickle Barbra Benzi Brickle, RN, MSN, CPNP is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who comes to us with more than 15 years of experience working with children and their families. She has spent the majority of her career caring for critically ill children at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York and Hasbro Children's and Woman and Infants Hospitals in Rhode Island. She received a bachelor's degree in nursing from Seton Hall University in 1988, a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner certification at New York Hospital/Cornell Medical School in 1991 and a master's degree in primary care pediatrics from Northeastern University in 1996. She is a member of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Her most recent position was that of program coordinator for the Department of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at Hasbro Children's Hospital. There she served as the liaison for families, the intensive care unit, and the operating room. She is involved in the North Kingstown School Department as a lecturer on health issues and has lectured for many professional groups. Barbra lives in North Kingstown with her husband, Max, and their four children. return to top Lorraine Pedro Lorraine Pedro, LICSW, is a Psychotherapist specializing in children and families. She holds a Master Degree in Clinical Social Work from Simmons College and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Regis College. She is a member of Psi Chi (National Honor Society in Psychology) and Phi Theta Kappa (National Honor Society). Lorraine has worked as a trauma therapist with abused children and their families as well as a crisis counselor for families in crisis. Lorraine has been with the Infinite Potential Program since its inception and she is available to all families involved in the program for support and guidance. return to top   Home  .  Profiles  .  Patient Forms  .  Patient FAQ  .  Directions  .  Contact ©2009 Infinite Potential Program.