BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Carol A.L. Penn, D.O., M.A., CD (DONA), RYT, LCCE, FACCE
Dr. Penn completed her medical studies at UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine. She has been practicing yoga for 30 years. Dr. Penn is also a childbirth educator and doula specializing in non pharmacological pain management in labor and birth; breast feeding and labor support; a yoga instructor specializing in prenatal yoga and yoga that supports the mind, body, and spirit of childbearing women and their families throughout the life cycle.
Dr. Penn is a long time birth advocate and volunteer with Lamaze International. During her tenure, Dr. Penn has been the recipient of the Lamaze International President’s award twice as well as chairing the Lamaze International community outreach programs. Dr. Penn has also served on the Executive committee as secretary-treasurer for the last 4 years. Volunteering with the Lamaze international board of Directors for over twelve years, Dr. Penn remains passionate and committed to diversity within the organization as well as to reaching out to provide access for all women to the highest quality childbirth education available. [www.lamaze.org]
As a National Health Core Scholar, Dr. Penn will be participating in health care delivery and training opportunities in serving our poor and working class citizens in underserved communities. She has been a nationally funded researcher in End of Life and Palliative Care Medicine.
She is currently doing volunteer work at Children’s Specialized Hospital in Toms River, NJ learning more about the spectrum of austistic disorders. She is also teaching yoga and presenting workshops on understanding the chakra system.
Dr. Penn comes from a rich background in dance education and performance, earning a B.S. in Dance Education from New York University and an M.A. in Humanities from New York University for her thesis: Emergence on the Wings of a Whisper: Dance as a Performing Art for the Blind and Visually Impaired.”
Having trained as a professional dance artist with the world famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she is a certified and tenured educator, K-12 in Fine Arts and an award winning choreographer for her work with her Washington, D.C. based company Pennvisions and the New Visions Dance Theater (1985-1994). A true Renaissance Soul, Dr. Penn’s blossoming flower continues to unfold before her as she shares her vision of peace, love, light, and healing for all.
Speaking Engagements and Presentations
Presenter: International Association of Black Yoga Teachers, 7th Annual Summit and Retreat, August 2-6, 2006 Providence Zen Center Cumberland, Rhode Island. Prenatal and Postpartum Yoga as Preparation for Passionate, Purposeful Parenting.”
Presenter: DONA International. Denver, Colorado. “The Moon Series: Essential Yoga Postures for Childbearing.” July, 2006
Choreographer: May 14, 2006. Debut performance of the Core of Fire Dance Ensemble, presenting “Core of Fire”, choreographed by Marcia Freeman and Carol Penn at the Unitarian Meeting House, Lincroft, NJ.
Choreographer: June 18, 2006. Debut performance of “Prayer Cycle”, performed by the Core of Fire Dance Ensemble at the Unitarian Meeting House, in Lincroft, NJ.
Choreographer: May 21, “Core of Fire” presented by the Core of Fire Dance Ensemble at Unity by The Shore, Neptune, NJ.
Facilitator and Presenter: Lamaze International Post Conference Community Outreach Workshop; Austin, Texas, 2005.
Workshop Presenter: “Greeting the Sun;” Lamaze International 2005 Conference, Austin, Texas.
Workshop Presenter: “Sunrise Yoga : Inner Strength and Inner Calm;” Lamaze International 2004 Conference, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Workshop Presenter: “Making Waves for Birth: Eight Essential Yoga Postures for Doulas and Childbirth Educators to Teach their Clients;” Lamaze International 2004 Conference, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Workshop Speaker: “The Power of Imagination and Co-Creating Your Highest Good or Imagination and Your True Self” presented at Unity Be the Shore, Rev. Steven Newby, Pastor, September 11, 2005
Speaker, “Celebrating Freedom, Creating A Personal Plan for Independence” at Unity By the Shore, Neptune, NJ. Joanne Murphy, Interim Minister, July 3, 2005
*Dance Ministry Presentation at Pilgrim Baptist Church, Red Bank, New Jersey, Terrence K. Porter, Pastor,
Celebrating Black History Month In the Black Church Through Music and Song. [James Weldon Johnson, “The Creation” recited by Rev. Dr. Donald Warner] February 6, 2005
*Dance Ministry Presentation at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County, Lincroft, New Jersey, Rev. Kathleen Hepler, Pastor.[Rev Dr. Donald Warner, Guest Poet] January 16, 2005
Speaker, Kwanzaa Celebration at Unity By the Shore, Neptune, NJ. Rev. B.J. Stannard, Pastor. December 17, 2004
Committee Chair and Presenter for Lamaze International’s First Annual Post Conference Community Workshop, Memorial Hospital, Pembroke Pines, FL, September 13, 2004
“Making Waves for Birth: Eight Essential Yoga Postures for Doulas and Childbirth Educators to Teach Their Clients”, presented for the Lamaze International Conference, “Making Waves for Normal Birth”, September 11, 2004
“Sunrise Yoga: Inner Strength and Inner Calm”, presented for the Lamaze International Conference, “Making Waves for Normal Birth”, September 10, 2004
*Dance Ministry Presentation at the Unity by the Shore Church, Neptune, NJ. Rev. B.J. Stannard per the Sound for Music Concert, July, 2004
*Dance Ministry Presentation at the Unity by the Shore Church, Neptune, NJ. Rev. B.J. Stannard, May 2004
*Dance Ministry Presentation:”Memorial Day Service for Peace” at the Universalist Unitarian Meeting House, Lincroft, NJ. Rev. Kathleen Hepler, May 30, 2004
Body, Mind, and Spirit: “Yoga as Health and Lifestyle” Presented for UMDNJ/SOM’s High School Scholars Program, Nov 6, 2003
*Dance Performance; “Everything Must Change” presented at “Spiritual Harmony A Gift From Within” by Communications Solutions Distinctive Retreats, September 12, 13, 2003
*Dance Ministry Presentation at the Unity by the Shore Church, Neptune, NJ, Rev. B.J.Stannard, April, 2003
*Dance Ministry presentation at Calvary Baptist Church, Red Bank, NJ, DR. D.C. Northington, May 2003
“Dancing Through Your Inner Rooms: Accessing Your Inner Power with Dance and Creative Movement” Nurturing Your Powers Within, a Retreat for Mind, Body, Spirit presented by Communication Solutions, September 20,21,2002
“The Benefits of Yoga”. Beating Stress and Chronic Pain in a Post 9/11 World, the Mind Body Connection hosted by Dr. Ian Smith, Medical/Health Reporter for WNBC-TV. Presented by the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Department of Rehabilitation at NYU Medical Center and the National Institute for Electromedical Information . October 2002
*Dance Ministry presentation at the Universalist Unitarian Meeting House, Lincroft, NJ, Rev. Kathleen Hepler, October 27, 2002
*Dance Ministry presentation at the Unity by the Shore Church, Rev. B.J. Stannard, November 24, 2002
“Alternative Careers in Health Care: Doulas and Childbirth Educators” Presented for UMDNJ/SOM’s High School Scholar’s Program, April 2002
*Dance Ministry presentation at the Universalist Unitarian Meeting House, Lincroft, NJ, Rev. Kathleen Hepler, December 2003
“The Birthing From Within Philosophy of Childbirth Education, Some New Ideas to Try” Presented at the first annual Childbirth Education Conference at Jersey Shore University Hospital. 2002
*Dance Performance; “Duets:An Evening of Jazz Improvisation/Dance/Celluloid”Presented by Synapse Studios, Windows Have Eyes Productions, November 30, 2001
“Moving to the Peak”, co presented with Marcia Freeman, MFA. Presented at the Lamaze International 1998 annual conference, Journey to the Peak: The Triumphs and Challenges of Birth, Denver, Colorado, October 2-4, 1998.
Research Paper Presentation; “In Search of the Postpartum: Redefining the Postpartum Experience for the American Woman Within a Social, Cultural, and Historical Context. ‘Presented at the Lamaze International Conference, Journey to the Peak: The Triumphs and Challenges of Birth, Denver, Colorado, October 2, 1998.
Professional Meetings Attended and Continuing Education for 2003-2009
September 22, 23,25 2005 Hilton Austin. Austin, Texas, Lamaze International Board of Directors Meeting.
September 8, 9,12 2004 Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Lamaze International Board of Directors Meeting.
March 24-27, 2005 Student National Medical Association 40th Annual Medical Education Conference, “Show Me Success: Transforming Healthcare through Prevention, Intervention, and Education,” St. Louis, Missouri
March 25, 2005 Represented UMDNJ/SOM as a third year medical student on a panel discussion:“What Is Osteopathic Medicine” at the SNMA Annual Medical Conference in St. Louis.
March 5-7, 2004 - Lamaze International Board of Directors Meeting, Washington,DC
September 8-12, 2004 - [CME] Lamaze International Board of Directors Meeting, And International Conference, “Making Waves for Normal Birth,” Ft. Lauderdale, FL
March 4-6, 2005 - Lamaze International Board of Directors Meeting, Washington, DC
March 2004 - AOA Annual Convocation at the Broadmoor. Colorado.
January 16, 17, 18 2004 Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa. Fort Lauderdale , Florida - Lamaze International Strategic Planning Meeting
October 11, 2003 - Continuing Medical Education [CME]; OMT in Geriatrics, New Orleans, Louisiana.
October 12-15, 2003 - American Osteopathic Association [AOA] 2003 Annual Convention and Scientific Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana.
September 30, October 1 and 5, 2003 - Board of Directors Meeting, Lamaze International, Albuquerque, NM
October 2-October 5 - [CME]; Lamaze International 2003 Annual Conference: Lifting Childbirth Education to New Levels
October 10-October 15, 2003 - [CME] AOA Annual Conference and Scientific Seminar: Getting Back to the Basics”, New Orleans, LA
October 23-October 26, 2003 - National health Service Corps-New Scholars Conference, Enhancing Your Scholarship Today: Maximizing Your Service Tomorrow