Jane Saiers, HTR, PhD, AAS

Jane Saiers, HTR, PhD (Psychology and Neuroscience), AAS (Sustainable Agriculture) and her husband Darin grow certified organic vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, and herbs and keep chickens and goats at their farm in Hillsborough, North Carolina. They welcome people of all ages to the farm for educational and wellness programs and to visit the farm store. They believe that everyone can be healthier and happier by spending daily time — be it minutes or hours — with plants and animals. Jane will moderate and will kick off the session by defining EBT and discussing its role in relation to other frameworks for guiding therapeutic horticultural practice.

Derrick Stowell, PhD, HTR, CTRS
Education and horticultural Therapy Program Administrator
University of Tennessee Gardens

Derrick Stowell, PhD, HTR, CTRS is the Education and Horticultural Therapy Program Administrator for the University of Tennessee Gardens. His research interests focus on the use of horticulture as therapy. He has over 20 years of experience in fundraising and program development. Derrick is responsible for developing University of Tennessee Gardens horticultural therapy program. Derrick served on the Board of Directors for the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) from 2016–2018 and was recently appointed President of the Board. He will discuss EBP in relation to his horticultural therapy program serving veterans with mental illness and will consider the role of partnerships in helping EBP to flourish in horticultural therapy.

Matthew J. Wichrowski, MSW, HTR
Clinical Assistant Professor
Rusk Rehabilitation NYU-Langone Medical Center

Matthew J. Wichrowski, MSW, HTR has been practicing horticultural therapy at Rusk Rehabilitation NYU-Langone Medical Center for 25 years and is currently Clinical Assistant Professor. He teaches in the Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program at New York Botanical Garden, presents regularly at national and international conferences, and has won many awards for his work. Matt is also Editor-in-Chief of AHTA's Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture. His research interests center around the effects of nature on human health and wellness and his work has been published in a variety of media, including textbooks, journals, and magazines. He will discuss EBP in relation to his research with horticultural therapy for participants undergoing cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and will consider the current status and future of research supporting EBP in horticultural therapy.