The NABIS Seventh Annual Conference on Brain Injury

The North American Brain Injury Society is pleased to announce that the Seventh Annual NABIS Conference on Brain Injury will be held at the Austin Downtown Hilton Hotel in Austin, Texas. This year NABIS will be holding a full-day Pediatric Symposium on Brain Injury on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, with the full Conference taking place from Thursday, October 15, through Saturday, October 17, 2009.

Attorneys seeking information on the 22nd Annual Conference on Legal Issues in Brain Injury should click here.

OVERVIEW

The NABIS Annual Brain Injury Conference is the largest annual gathering of North American professionals working in the field of brain injury. Attendees are comprised of basic scientists, rehabilitation physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, neuropsychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, recreational therapists, social workers, nurses, case managers, legal professionals, advocates and all others working in the field of brain injury. The 2009 conference will focus on three concurrent education tracks covering the following topic areas:

• Medical-Clinical Best Practices
• Research/Science
• Life Long Living & Working

In all, over 55 of the leading experts from North America will present the latest advances in the science, rehabilitation and treatment of traumatic brain injury!

To download a pdf of the preliminary program, click here. 

LOCATION

The Hilton Austin hotel is located in downtown Austin, Texas, the live music capitol of world. The Hilton Austin is one block from Austin's famous Sixth Street nightlife and a short stroll to the entertainment, shopping and dining in the Warehouse Entertainment District and 2nd Street District. The Hilton's downtown location is also convenient to many attractions such as the Capitol Building, Bob Bullock Texas Historical Museum and the LBJ Presidential Library and is only seven miles from Austin Bergstrom International Airport. To book at room at the special conference rate of $199.00, please call 1-800-236-1592, and reference the "North American Brain Injury Conference", or to book on-line, click-here.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

THE DEADLINE HAS PAST AND THE ABSTRACT CENTER IS NOW CLOSED.  NABIS received a significant increase in submissions this year -- thank you to all those who sent in their research.  The peer-review grading has begun and submitters will be notified in due course of the committee's decisions.

All accepted abstracts from the meeting will be published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.
NABIS values presentations that highlight current and best practices,including information that compliments the Conference's topic tracks of: (Research/Science, Medical/Clinical and Life-Long Living); as well as innovative approaches to brain injury assessment, treatment, intervention, rehabilitation, and policy initiatives.

Abstract submissions are divided into poster presentations and oral presentations. There will be two (2) $250.00 cash awards for the top scoring poster presentations and for the top scoring oral presentations. Abstracts will be reviewed by a panel of three (3) reviewers.

Please note that this abstract submission form is used for both scientific and non-scientific papers. For non-scientific papers, please use the Objectives section to describe the objectives of the presentation; the Method section to describe the process or concept being presented or reviewed; and the Results section to describe the actual or intended effect of the concept or process being presented. You may request either an oral or poster presentation format.

The abstract review process consists of the following:

1. The reviewers will independently evaluate each abstract on overall merit and composition. Each abstract will be scored by each judge on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being excellent.
2. Up to 36 of the top scoring abstracts who request an oral presentation format will be afforded a 15 minute oral presentation during the conference proceedings. Those so selected will be asked to commit to the conference ahead of time so that we may publish their presentation time in the conference materials. This allows interested conference participants to plan their time accordingly.
3. Remaining abstracts that pass peer review will be given the opportunity to present their information via poster(s) during a guided poster tour presentation within conference proceedings.
4. On-site judging of both poster and oral presentations will be based on overall merit and presentation.
5. The two (2) poster presentations and the one (1) oral presentation with the highest scores will be awarded the cash prizes during the conference.

CHARLES W HAYNES FELLOWSHIP

Thanks to a generous grant from the Seaton Foundation, NABIS has established the Charles W. Haynes Fellowship. The fellowship recognizes promising new professionals that best promote the NABIS mission of advancing brain injury services and treatment through clinical, research and/or policy initiatives.  Fellowship recipients will receive a cash award of $1,250, free registration at this year’s NABIS general conference, will be formally recognized to the full body of the conference, and will present their work at specially recognized sessions during the general conference.  For more information, click here.

PEDIATRIC PRE-CONFERENCE SYMPOSIUM

This pre-conference symposia will present a plan for comprehensive, integrative, accessible, culturally sensitive, long-term and child/family centered circle of care for children, adolescents and young adults with ABI. This plan, created by the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation with a panel of national experts that included families and family advocacy organizations, physicians, allied health care professionals, educators and researchers was developed in January, 2009. Their goal was to recognize all of the important work that has been completed by other agencies and organizations while creating a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care universally accessible for all individuals and their families regardless of where they live needs to be developed.  To read more on this pre-conference symposium and/or to register, click here.

CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

Roberta DePompei, PhD, Pediatric Symposium Co-Chair
Chas Haynes, JD
Harvey Jacobs, PhD, Conference Chair
Debra McMorrow, PhD
Margaret Roberts
Ronald Savage, EdD, Pediatric Symposium Co-Chair
James Malec, PhD
Jim Schraa, PsyD
David Seaton
Robert Voogt, PhD, NABIS Chairman
Mariusz Ziejewski, PhD

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION CREDITS

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the North American Brain Injury Society. The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston designates this educational activity for a maximum of TBA AMA PRA Category 1 Creditst^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the acitivity. 

NABIS has also applied and expects to offer credit for the following: CCM, CRC, CLE as well as credit from other certifying bodies. NABIS staff will provide certificates of attendance and assist attendees seeking credit hours from other organizations.

EXHIBITING AND SUPPORT INFORMATION

NABIS offers a variety of exhibit and support options for companies wishing to market their services to our conference attendees.  Don't miss this opportunity to meet face-to-face with the decision makers  who are shaping the field of brain injury.  To download a prospectus, click here.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

To register on-line, click here.

To book a room at the reduced conference rate click here.

Conference Fees

Pediatric Symposium (October 14)

$65.00 - Pediatric Symposium, if staying for full conference
$95.00 - Pediatric Sysposium only

Seventh Annual Conference on Brain Injury (October 15-17)

One Attendee

$390.00 - NABIS Member Rate
$480.00 - Non-NABIS Member Rate
$435.00 - NABIS Member Rate with Pre-Conference Workshop Fee
$525.00 - Non-NABIS Member Rate with Pre-Conference Workshop Fee
$325.00 - Accepted Abstract Submissions and Trainees with Pre-Conference Workshop Fee
$280.00 - Accepted Abstract Submissions and Trainees

Two Attendees

$720.00 - NABIS Member Rate - Two Attendees
$810.00 - Non-NABIS Member Rate - Two Attendees
$80.00 Optional Pre-Conference Workshop Fee

Questions? Email us at conference@nabis.org!

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM and CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

Confirmed speakers as of June 16, 2009

Irwin Altman, PhD, MBA
Mary Catherine Ann, RPN
Michael Bee, Esq.
Erin Bigler, PhD
Neil Brooks, PhD
Michael Brooks, PhD, JD
Mary Carlile, MD
Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD
Nancy Childs, MD
Micky Collins, PhD
Al Condelucci, PhD
D. Nathan Cope, MD
Roberta DePompei, PhD
Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, MD, PhD
William Ditto, MSW
Jeanne Dise-Lewis PhD
Patrick Donohue, Esq.
Michael Doyle, Esq.
Steven Flanagan, MD
Nancy Fox, BAAS, LNFA
Gerry Gioia, PhD
Ann Glang, PhD
Brian D.Greenwald, MD
James Kelly, MD
Harvey Levin, PhD
Jaime Levine, DO
Deborah M. Little, PhD
Christine M.MacDonell
James F. Malec, PhD
Brent Masel, MD
Thomas F. Murphy
Dawn Neumann, PhD
Barbara O’Connell, MBA
Gregory J. O’Shanick, MD
Raymond Rempel, MA
Ronald Ruff, PhD
Angelle Sander, PhD
Ronald Savage, EdD
Jim Schraa, PhD
David Seaton
Bruce Stern, Esq.
Joseph Tepas, MD
Tina M. Trudell, PhD
Professor Jean-Luc Truelle
Robert VanBoven, MD
Barry Willer, PhD
Janet Williams, PhD
Rodger Wood, PhD
Jason Young, MSW, CBIS
Mariusz Ziejewski, PhD
Barbra Zupan, PhD

The scientific program can be downloaded by clicking here.