The Sixth Annual Conference on Brain Injury

The Sixth Annual Conference on Brain Injury, October 2-4, 2008
New Orleans Convention Center Marriott Hotel
New Orleans, Louisiana

The North American Brain Injury Society is pleased to announce that the Sixth Annual NABIS Conference on Brain Injury will be held at the New Orleans Convention Center Marriott Hotel on October 2 - 4, 2008

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, social workers, nurses, case managers, legal professionals, advocates and all others working in the field of brain injury. The 2008 conference will focus on four concurrent education tracks covering the following topic areas:

• Medical-Clinical Best Practices
• Research/Science
• Life Long Living & Working
• Legal Issues in Brain Injury

In all, over 50 of the leading experts from North America will present the latest advances in the science, rehabilitation and treatment of traumatic brain injury.

BLAST INJURY INSTITUTE

Building on the success of last year's Blast Injury Institute sessions, NABIS is again planning a comprehensive series of educational offerings that will specifically address the unique challenges presented by wartime brain injury caused by blast. Brain injury professionals working in the military or VA settings are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions.

LOCATION

The New Orleans Convention Center Marriott is located at the edge of the historic French Quarter and features 1,329 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites complemented by a sparkling Concierge Lounge. Guests are positioned steps from the world famous Bourbon Street. Discover the bridge between business and pleasure at the esteemed Marriott New Orleans Hotel in the French Quarter! NABIS has negotiated a reduced rate of only $165.00 per night for attendees to the conference. To book your room, click here. If you prefer, you may book your room by calling 1-800-Marriott and referencing the “North America Brain Injury Society” block.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

NOTE: The deadline for submitting an abstract for consideration has now past. Those wishing to submit a late-breaking abstract should email: conference@nabis.org.

NABIS is pleased to announce that accepted abstracts from the meeting will be published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 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 a $500.00 cash award for the top scoring oral presentation. Abstracts will be reviewed by a panel of three (3) internal reviewers and three (3) external reviewers.

The abstract review process consists of the following:

• The internal reviewers will provide a comprehensive review of the abstracts that will be judged on scientific merit and composition. Each abstract will be scored by each judge on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being excellent.
• Up to 36 of the top scoring abstracts scores will be chosen for a 15 minute oral presentation during the conference proceedings. Those abstracts selected for oral presentation will be asked to commit to the conference ahead of time so that we may publish their presentation time in the conference materials, so that those individuals interested in attending the presentation can plan accordingly.
• All remaining abstracts will given the opportunity to present their poster(s) during a guided poster tour presentation during the conference proceedings.
• On-site judging of both poster and oral presentations, by the internal and external reviewers, will be based on scientific merit and presentation.
• Those two (2) poster presentations and the one (1) oral presentation with the highest scores will be awarded the cash prizes during the conference.

NABIS values sessions that present current and best practices, including information that compliments the Conference's topic tracks (Research/Science, Medical/Clinical and Life-Long Living) as well as innovative approaches to brain injury assessment, treatment, intervention and rehabilitation.

To submit an abstract via our on-line system, click here.

CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

Simon Forgette, Esq.
Chas Haynes, JD
Harvey Jacobs, PhD
Kenneth Kolpan, Esq.
Debra McMorrow, PhD
Margaret Roberts
Ronald Savage, EdD
David Seaton
William Singer, MD
Bruce Stern, Esq
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 14.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Click here to register online
To register by mail or fax click here
To book a room at the reduced conference rate click here.

Conference Fee

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2008

7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Registration Opens

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Pre-Conference Workshops

I. Interactional Dynamics, Behavior and ABI
Harvey E. Jacobs, PhD
Marty McMorrow, MS

II. The Acute Concussion Evaluation (ACE) & CDC Physician's Toolkit: Improving Early Identification, Diagnosis & Management of Mild TBI/ Concussion
Gerard A. Gioia, PhD

III. Legal 101: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Brain Injury Litigation
Kenneth Kolpan, Esq.
Simon Forgette, Esq.

IV. Historical Experience and Practical Considerations in Designing and Conducting Traumatic Brain Injury Outcome Studies: Considerations for Collecting Clinically Useful Data from OIF/OEF Patients
Jim Schraa, PsyD
Wayne Gordon, PhD
Gayle Whiteneck, PhD

11:30 a.m. - Noon
Exhibits Open

Noon - 1:20 p.m.
NABIS Awards Lunch

1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Plenary Session
Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury
Brigadier General Lorie Sutton, MD
Director, Defense Center of Excellence (invited)

2:15 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Plenary Session
Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury: The Next Five Years
John D. Corrigan, PhD

3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Break With Exhibitors

3:30p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Plenary Session
Brain Injury and Life Outcomes: The Hidden Issues
Debra Braunling-McMorrow, PhD

4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Plenary Session
State of the Art Neuroimaging
Elizabeth Wilde, PhD

5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Plenary Session
Top Scoring Paper Presenters

EVENING ON OWN

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2008

7:30 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
Registration Open

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors/Posters

8:30 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Research/Science Track
The Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4) for Outpatient Brain Injury Evaluation and Rehabilitation Planning
James F. Malec, PhD

Life Long Living & Working Track
Unidentified TBI: The Importance of Screening to Find Those Who "Get Lost" and Those "Not Found"
Wayne A. Gordon, Ph.D., ABPP

Medical-Clinical Best Practices Track
Treatment for Substance Abuse and Traumatic Brain Injury
John D. Corrigan, PhD

9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
TOP SCORING PAPERS

10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Research/Science Track
Mild TBI in Youth: Neuropsychological Assessment and Management
Gerard A Gioia, PhD

Life Long Living & Working Track
Litigation as a System Change Strategy for Promoting Community Integration for Persons with Brain Injuries in Nursing Facilities
Steven Schwartz, Esq.

Medical-Clinical Best Practices Track
Blast Induced Neurotrauma: Shellshock or Something Else?
Ibolja Cernak, MD, PhD

Challenges for the Development of a Helmet
Mounted System for Measurement of TBI in Military Blast and Sports
Steve Pruitt

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Research/Science Track
Public Policy Barriers to Accessing TBI Rehabilitation: Civilian and Military Issues. (In the end all politics are local. What you can do now.)
Jim Schraa, PsyD

Life Long Living & Working Track
Rural Issues in TBI Rehabilitation and Supports
Brick Johnstone, PhD, ABPP

Medical-Clinical Best Practices Track
TBI and Psychiatric Illness: Methods for Improving Treatment and Detection of Dual Diagnoses
Lynley Ebeling, PhD

12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
ENJOY the cuisine of New Orleans! Visit the exhibitors upon your return for a classic New Orleans Praline before the next sessions start!

2:00 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Special Panel Sessions

Research/Science Track
TBI Model Systems of Care: Contributions to the Rehabilitation Field
Tamra Busnick, PhD Moderator
Flora Hammond, MD
James F. Malec, PhD

Life Long Living & Working Track
TBI and Violence
Marlena Wald, MPH, Moderator

Medical-Clinical Best Practices Track
Blast Injuries
Mariusz Ziejewski, PhD, Moderator
Jim Schraa, PsyD, Robert Voogt, PhD
Legislative and Funding: Some Updates
Debra Braunling-McMorrow, PhD
SubThreshold Exercise for the Treatment of Post Concussion Syndrome
Barry Willer, PhD

3:30 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Research/Science Track
Medication Management of Irritability and Aggression due to TBI
Flora Hammond, MD

Life Long Living & Working Track
Issues Involved in Life Long Living for Individuals with Brain Injury
David Seaton

Medical-Clinical Best Practices Track
Predicting the Needs of Children with TBI - A Longitudinal Approach
Ronald Savage, EdD

4:30 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Research/Science Track
Regulatory and Autoregulatory Physiological Dysfunction as a Primary Characteristic of Post Concussion Syndrome: Implications for Treatment
Barry Willer, PhD

Life Long Living & Working Track
Innovations in Long-Term Supports
Janet Williams, PhD

Medical-Clinical Best Practices Track
The Neural Basis of TBI: A Review
Robert VanBoeven, MD, DDS

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Big Easy Bash with Exhibitors and Posters Supported by NRLC and Robert Voogt & Associates

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2008

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors/Posters

8:30 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Research/Science Track
PDAs amd Smartphones Support People with Cognitive and Social Challenges
Roberta DePompei, PhD

Life Long Living & Working Track
Measuring What Matters in Persons in Supported Living
William Bauman, MS, CRC

Medical-Clinical Best Practices Track
Diagnostic Similarities and Differentiation Involving PTSD and ABI
Nadia Webb, PsyD

9:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
TOP SCORING PAPERS

11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Research/Science Track
Slow to Recovery Children in Low Response States Following Acquired Brain Injury
Peter D. Patrick, PhD

Life Long Living & Working Track
TBI in Nursing Homes
Sara Karon, PhD

Medical-Clinical Best Practices Track
Head Cases: A Closer Look Into the Lives of Brain Injury Survivors
Michael P. Mason

12:30 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions

Research/Science Track
Association Between Fatigue, Severity of Injury, Duration Since Injury, and Underlying Factors
Tamara Bushnick, PhD

Life Long Living & Working Track
Residential Treatment for Adults with Higher Cognitive Functioning
Robert Voogt, PhD
Hector Gutierrez
Howard Katz, MD

Medical-Clinical Best Practices Track
Using Functional Outcomes for Program Evaluation
Sue Bartlett, LCSW, CRC
Michelle Radloff, BA

1:20 p.m. Conference Adjourns

Confirmed invited speakers (to date):

Susan Bartlett, LCSW
William Bauman, MS
Kathy Bell, MD
Tamara Bushnick, PhD
Ibolja Cernak, MD, PhD
John Corrigan, PhD
Roberta DePompei, PhD
Lynley Ebeling, PhD
Simon Forgette, Esq.
Gerry Gioia, PhD
Wayne Gordon, PhD
Hector Gutierrez, CBIT
Flora Hammond, MD
Grant Iverson, PhD
Harvey Jacobs, PhD
Brick Johnstone, PhD
Howard Katz, MD
Kenneth Kolpan, Esq.
Marty McMorrow, MS
Debra McMorrow, PhD
Jim Malec, PhD
Michael P. Mason
Michelle Radloff, BA
Peter Patrick, PhD
Steve Pruitt
Jim Schraa, PsyD
Steven Schwartz, Esq.
Ronald Savage, EdD
William Singer, MD
David Seaton
Bruce Stern, Esq.
Robert VanBoeven, MD, DDS
Robert Voogt, PhD
Marlena Wald, MLS, MPH
Nadia Webb, PsyD
Elizabeth Wilde, PhD
Janet Williams, PhD
Barry Willer, PhD
Mariusz Ziejewski, PhD