Employee Highlight: Gabriel Mazur, Ph.D., Passionate About NeuroRestorative’s Registered Behavioral Technician Program
Dr. Mazur received his undergrad degree in psychology from the University of Florida. After taking a
course in an intro to Behavior Analysis, he knew within a few weeks that it would become his passion – applying the science of behavior to enact socially significant change. His initial appeal was the use of quantitative analysis to design effective treatments and help individuals on their rehabilitation journeys.
Dr. Mazur then went on to receive his Ph.D. from Arizona State, learning about treating severe maladaptive behaviors, smoking cessation, pharmacological effects of nicotine on impulsivity, substance abuse, chronic stress, and the perception of time, which he draws upon in his daily work today. After graduating, he went on to work in the neurobehavioral field and never looked back. Dr. Mazur joined NeuroRestorative in 2016 as a Program Director in Sarasota, FL, and currently serves as the Clinical Director for our NeuroRestorative Clearwater, FL, program. He is also a doctorate level Behavior Analyst and oversees the Advanced Behavior Services program that enables life skills trainers to become Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT).
“What motivates me most in my role as Clinical Director is seeing the functional improvements in individuals and being actively involved in the growth of our team members in the Advanced Behavior Services Program,” said Dr. Mazur. “NeuroRestorative has developed highly competent rehab teams across the country to help these children who need access to a certain level and setting of care.”
The Clearwater Pediatric Academy employs a therapy team that includes: certified teachers, behavior analysts, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, counselors, life skill trainers, and recreational therapists. Our focus is to maximize the independence of our individuals through promoting social and communication skills, and teaching individuals functional replacement behaviors to reduce challenging behaviors. We assist by creating an individual care plan and providing wrap-around therapy in the home, school, and community settings. Our students use a variety of methods to effectively communicate and we look to enhance these skills to help them find a positive way of showing their feelings and communicating their needs.
The RBT course is offered to our Life Skills Trainers as an educational opportunity. It is a 40-hour course of online ABA modules, followed by in-person competency training and testing with one of our Board Certified Behavioral Analysts. After completion, team members can register and take the national RBT exam to become fully certified. This is an excellent opportunity for our team members to advance their careers within NeuroRestorative.