Kessler Foundation’s two-day conference on brain injury to be held from Sep. 27-28

Sep 13 2012

A two-day conference, "Brain Injury: From Research to Rebuilding Lives", will be held on September 27th and 28th at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange, NJ. This conference will explore advances in care and research and strategies for overcoming barriers to recovery. Day One is for medical professionals; Day Two is for individuals with brain injury and their families. The conference is sponsored by Kessler Foundation and funded by the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System (NNJTBIS).

"A traumatic brain injury changes someone's life forever," said Nancy Chiaravalloti, Ph.D., director of NNJTBIS. "Even when the visible injuries heal, the mental, social, and psychological imprints remain. Through this conference, we can all learn new ways to better the lives of individuals with brain injury." Dr. Chiaravalloti is also director of Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Research at Kessler Foundation. She has a faculty appointment at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.

Richard Pimentel, one of the founding fathers of the Americans with Disabilities Act and an expert on employment for people with disabilities, will serve as the keynote speaker on both days. Dr. Chiaravalloti will provide an update on TBI research at Kessler Foundation. A panel featuring individuals with brain injury and family members, moderated by Kessler's TBI support group director, Betty Collins, will discuss coping with the after effects of brain injury.

On Professional Day, September 27, starting at 8:00 a.m., Steven Benvenesti, Esq. a partner of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, PC who represents people with disabling injuries, will discuss the lifelong impact on a brain injury professional. David Scarisbrick, Ph.D., vice president of Clinical Services at the Progressive Health of PA, Inc., will address sexuality issues after TBI. Continuing education credits are available through Kessler Institute to qualifying nurses, occupational therapists and social workers.

On Consumer Day, September 28, beginning at 8:30 a.m., Michael Greenwald, Ed.M., will host his popular audience participation session-- Mike-at-the-Mike- for which he chooses a thought-provoking topic about living with brain injury, fields questions from the audience and presents them to an expert panel along with his own insights as a TBI survivor.

"Brain Injury: From Research to Rebuilding Lives" is a free conference, but space is limited and registration is required.

Source: Kessler Foundation