Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors consists of members that have been apart of the spinal cord injury and disorder community for a number of years. Each board member brings a unique perspective to the table.
Hover over each picture to learn more about these dedicated individuals.
Ryan DeRoche
In 2011, Ryan had a mountain bike accident in Girona, Spain. He injured his spine at the C4 vertebrae. When he returned to the United States after doing his acute rehab in Barcelona, Spain. After a med flight to the states, he spent his time in the Inpatient Rehab at Spaulding in Boston. While there he met a few mentors from the SCIboston and they showed him they didn't let their injury stop them from having amazing lives. Since his accident Ryan has become an advocate for spinal cord injury. He began mentoring with the SCIboston in 2014, and is also a mentor/alumni of Empower Spinal Cord Injury. He became a board member of the SCIboston in 2017 and has put his experience in logistics, event planning, and management to good use. In 2019 Ryan took the position of Digital Media Coordinator at the SCIboston, focusing on web design, social media and marketing for the organization. Ryan guest lecturers on disabilities and assistive technology at local universities. He uses his personal experiences to help future engineers, designers, and therapists have a better understanding of being a wheelchair user in an inaccessible world.
Chris Johnson
Christopher Johnson is a Boston-based real estate broker and Boston EMS dispatcher. He sustained a T12 spinal cord injury from a gunshot wound in 2006. Since then, he has become a passionate advocate for people with SCIs. He became a SCIBoston Peer Mentor in 2013 and later joined the Board in 2021. In his free time, he enjoys playing wheelchair basketball, traveling, fishing, and four-wheeling.
Kristen McCosh
Kristen has been an active member of the disability community for over thirty years. She sustained a C5/6 spinal cord injury in a diving accident as a high school freshman in 1983. Since that time, Kristen has been involved in disability issues in both her personal life and her professional career, having worked as a peer mentor, community organizer, service provider, and public servant. She is currently the City of Boston Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.
Chris Diehl, PT, MHP
Chris is currently the Director of Outpatient Operations for the south region. He oversees 13 sites from Boston to Cape Cod. He has worked for the Partners Healthcare System for 24 years, 4 years at Massachusetts General Hospital as an inpatient therapist and 20 years for SRN. During his 20 years at SRN, Mr. Diehl has held both clinical and administrative positions. His positions ranged from Ortho/Trauma PT Supervisor to Ortho Trauma Program Director to the Director of the Physical Therapy Department and Program Director of the Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury and Ortho/Trauma Programs for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University, and a Master’s degree in Health Management from Northeastern University as well. Mr. Diehl is on the board of SCIboston, which is part of the United Spinal Association.
Dave Estrada
Dave was paralyzed in 1995 after being struck by a car while riding his motorcycle. He has been involved with SCIboston from the time an Early Intervention peer mentor from SCIboston came into his hospital room. Dave has been a certified peer mentor since 1997 and served as SCIboston’s Executive Director from 2005 to 2013. He has logged hundreds of hours visiting newly injured patients and their family members. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a Juris Doctorate degree from Northeastern University. Dave was an athlete prior to his injury and once injured, began wheelchair racing. From 1997-2000, he completed eleven marathons in the wheelchair division.
Kirby Wright, LRC, CRC, CCM
Kirby’s involvement with SCIboston began during her tenure as a Case Manager with Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, where she worked from 2011 to 2021. Over a decade, she developed a deep passion for supporting individuals affected by spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions. Holding a Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling, along with licensure and certification as a Case Manager, Kirby's expertise in this field laid a strong foundation for her subsequent roles.
In 2021, Kirby joined Brigham and Women’s Hospital as a founding member of the Complex Care Team, serving as the Inpatient Care Transition Program Manager. This role offered her valuable insights into the patient experience within the acute hospital setting and highlighted opportunities for improving healthcare delivery. She recognized the critical need to prioritize the needs of individuals with disabilities while guiding transformative changes in healthcare services.
Driven by a passion for advancing healthcare operations, Kirby is currently pursuing an MBA at the Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst, with an expected graduation in December 2024. In June 2023, she transitioned to the role of Administrative Manager for the Mass General Brigham Home Hospital program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In this capacity, she is instrumental in developing the nation’s largest and most established home hospital program, which aims to enhance patient care and optimize resources by providing high-quality, patient-centered care in a home setting. Kirby envisions this model as a vital support for individuals with spinal cord injuries or disorders, ensuring they receive excellent care while maintaining a high quality of life in the comfort of their own homes.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Kirby is close to achieving her World Marathon Majors goal. She has completed five of the six major marathons (Boston, Chicago, Berlin, New York, and London) and aims to run the Tokyo Marathon, her final race, in 2026.
Doug Frey
Doug suffered a spinal cord injury in 2012 due to an epidural abscess. He has been involved with SCIboston as a peer/mentor since 2015. He spent his career with investment management firms helping corporations and other institutions provide retirement plans to their employees. He has a degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Since 2016, Doug has served as the President of the Board of Directors.
Abby Swaine
In an eerie reprise of her first career as a case worker on the spinal/head injury floor of a rehab hospital in Louisiana, Abby re-entered the world of SCI in 2019 when her 24-year-old son suffered a T4 injury in a skiing accident. Inspired, educated, and supported by SCIboston volunteers she met at Spaulding, she resolved to give back to the Chapter. Abby joined the Board in 2021, and serves as a family Peer Mentor and an Advocate with the Chapter. Determined to improve the visibility, inclusion, and freedom of wheelchair users in the Boston area and beyond, Abby also participates on the disability and pedestrian committees in Brookline where she and her family have lived for thirty years. Abby focuses her advocacy on making transportation easy and streetscapes friendly for wheelchair users, building on her decades-long second career and extracurricular involvement in environmentally sustainable transportation and public works. She holds a BA from Carleton College, a MA in clinical psychology from U of Michigan, and an SM in Public Health from Harvard.
Robert Winston
Robert grew up in southern California where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Science (Microbiology) from UC Santa Barbara and attending medical school at Touro University in northern California before moving to Boston for residency. He completed his residency training in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital / Harvard Medical School and then completed a fellowship in Spinal Cord Injury Medicine at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital / Harvard Medical School / VA Boston. Robert is married with two children and enjoys working on old cars. His professional interests include spinal cord injury, brain injury, patient and staff education, as well as patient advocacy.
Tom Parlon, MBA
Tom was introduced to SCI when one of his co-workers had a motorcycle accident in 1995. He helped organize a fundraiser for his co-worker and has been supportive of SCIboston ever since. Tom became a board member of SCIboston in 2013, has an MBA from Northeastern University and works as an investment adviser. He is married with two children and enjoys coaching youth hockey. Tom was captain of Northeastern University's Division 1 hockey team in 1995.
Jane Wierbicky
Jane Wierbicky, RN, BSN, is a Nurse Information Specialist with the United Spinal Association Resource Center. Jane provides guidance and information to individuals with spinal cord injury, their family members, and healthcare professionals, helping them navigate available resources to address their specific concerns. For over 25 years Jane has worked exclusively in the field of spinal cord injury/dysfunction. Prior to joining the United Spinal Association, she served in various positions with the New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center, including staff nurse, patient educator, and research coordinator. Jane has a special interest in addressing issues related to access to healthcare for people with spinal cord injury/disorders.