BrainTrust Canada is hosting its 21st annual brain injury conference—the Pushor Mitchell Okanagan Conference on Brain Injury on June 12 and 13, 2014 at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna.
It will be an interactive learning experience for professionals, caregivers and individuals living with brain injury, that will promote best practices and present current research finding and foster opportunities for new connections amongst the participants.
This conference will be of particular interest to people working in clinical, legal or academic settings—such as physicians, lawyers, rehabilitation practitioners, educators and counsellors. This year’s theme is Living Well: The Importance of Community Rehabilitation After Brain Injury. A variety of speakers include local writer and professional speaker Fred Sarkari who will share his personal story of brain injury; as well as:
• Dr. Carolyn Lemsky from the Community Head Injury Resource Centre in Toronto, on the topic of substance abuse after brain injury;
• Dr. Max Cynader, director of the Brain Research Centre, Vancouver, on the topic of enhancing the plasticity of the brain which refers to the brain’s ability to re-wire and create new pathways for learning;
• Dr. Grace Hopp, psychologist from Port Coquitlam on the topic of psychological and cognitive functioning post-injury; and
• Dr. Ronald Manley, psychologist from Vancouver on the topic of trauma informed care.
“Brain injury is an unheralded epidemic in our society,” says Dr. Max Cynader, director of the Brain Research Centre and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at the University of British Columbia.
“We need new approaches to protect the brain from trauma and to enhance its recovery following injury,” he says. Dr. Cynader will be speaking at the conference on Friday June 13 at 9:30 a.m. about research being done at the Centre to enhance brain plasticity and what everyone can do themselves to enhance the plasticity of their own brains.
The conference is open to the public, with options for single day rates for the Thursday June 12th or Friday June 13th. For more information visit www.braintrustcanada.com “events” “Pushor Mitchell Conference on Brain Injury” or by calling (250) 762-3233 local 115.
BrainTrust Canada is a progressive community rehabilitation organization dedicated to maximizing independence for individuals with brain injury and also to reduce preventable brain injuries through education and prevention.
