2010 Annual Conference - Keynote Presentations

Presentations and Downloads

Both Thursday and Friday sessions of the 25th Annual Conference for Professionals in Brain Injury will feature Keynote Addresses in the morning, as well as a closing Keynote Address on Friday afternoon.

Thursday Keynote Address: What Women Want

Elisabeth Sherwin, Ph.D., was born in the United States and raised in Israel. Her interest in brain injury evolved from her work with veterans at an Israeli Defense Force program while in college. In graduate school, Sherwin was mentored by Dr. Greg O’Shanick, MD, which later led to a scholarship in the area of adjustment to traumatic brain injury. Sherwin’s work focuses on college students and women living with TBI. In 2002, she chaired the Brain Injury Association of America’s Annual Conference in Minneapolis. In 2005, Sherwin was a guest editor of Brain Injury Professional: The official publication of the North American Brain Injury Society, that focused on women and TBI.

Elisabeth Sherwin is the first-day keynote speaker for the 25th Annual Conference for Professionals in Brain Injury: Celebrating the Journey. Dr. Sherwin’s presentation will describe some of the major differences between how men and women with TBI are treated. Sherwin states, "Inherent in the concept of respect is the notion that all – men and women – are equally valued. This value should translate into equal treatment, but for a long time this has not been the case for women who are living with TBI." The purpose of this lecture is to clarify the implications of this unequal treatment and highlight areas where this can be inexpensively corrected.

Friday Keynote Address: Sexuality & Traumatic Brain Injury: Finding the Comfort Zone

Tina Trudel, Ph.D.is President/COO of Lakeview Neurorehabilitation Centers and Specialty Hospital, a national leader in brain injury rehabilitation and neurobehavioral treatment for civilians and service members. Dr. Trudel provides oversight of Lakeview's hospital, residential, special education and community-integrated programs nationwide. Dr. Trudel is the Principal Investigator/Site Director of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center at Virginia NeuroCare and a clinical and research consultant to the Mentor ABI Network. She chairs the Brain Injury Long Term Issues Task Force of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Ethics Committee of the Brain Injury Association of America, is a board member of the North American Brain Injury Society, a founding board member of the Blast Injury Institute, and a reviewer for the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Dr. Trudel is presently an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She has numerous publications and presentations in the areas of brain injury, rehabilitation, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuropsychology, aging and neurobehavioral treatment. Dr. Trudel was the recipient of the Brain Injury Association of America's 2008 Founder's Award for her work and advocacy in the field of brain injury rehabilitation.

Dr. Tina Trudel is the second-day keynote speaker. Dr. Trudel's presentation addresses the common changes in sexual functioning and sexual satisfaction following traumatic brain injury (TBI). These changes can result in decreased quality of life for persons with TBI, and have a negative impact upon couples' relationships and sense of self. In this session, scientific literature review, clinical guidelines and case examples will be used to engage participants regarding how to increase the comfort level in discussing sexuality with persons with TBI and their family members, how to deal with sexuality issues on rehabilitation units and in post-acute programs and how to explore and access sexual therapies, options and aides.

Friday Plenary Session: Survival is Only the Beginning

Susan Howry has been providing services to survivors since the mid 1990s. In 2000, she developed services through her own corporation which continues to thrive today. Her “can do” approach to improving the lives of others has provided many a safe and comfortable home while they regain as much independence as possible. Her aneurysm in 2008 was an unbelievable event. Susan is very thankful for her full recovery and understands that not all fare as well. Survival is only the beginning. Susan and her daughter Randi will provide for us a personal perspective on brain injury survival and recovery. After a ruptured brain aneurysm left her clinging to life Susan regained her life and is here to share with us a unique story of being a care provider then needing the very care she provides.

Presentations and Downloads