TBI Model Systems Wins Telly Award

Relationships After Traumatic Brain Injury, a video produced by the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC), was awarded a Bronze Telly Award for outstanding achievement in the category of Internet Online Video: Education. The 12-minute video shows the impact of traumatic brain injury on a couple’s relationship and how the couple worked with researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Center to improve their relationship. The video was produced as part of the Hot Topics module series. View the video here.

TBI Model System Co-Sponsors Conference

Virginia Commonwealth University Traumatic Brain Injury Model System and Brain Injury Services co–sponsored the 37th Annual Conference, Rehabilitation of the Adult and Child with Brain Injury: Practical Solutions to Real World Problems held May 1st -3rd in Williamsburg, Virginia. This conference highlighted traumatic brain injury model systems research and clinical programs, and included internationally renowned speakers and attracted more than 150 participants. Neil Brooks, a visionary brain injury researcher and clinician presented the keynote Rosenthal Memorial Lecture. Presentations addressed a wide variety of topics including executive function disorders, sports concussion, cognitive support technologies, behavior management, neuropsychological assessment, community-based treatment, and family intervention. Planning for the 2014 conference is now underway and the planning committee requests suggestions relating to speakers and topics. Visit the conference website for more information.

Creativity in Caregiving

On August 18, 2012, Thomas ("TC") Maslin was robbed and brutally assaulted while walking home in his Washington, DC neighborhood. His attack left him in a coma, fighting a severe traumatic brain injury that has required multiple surgeries. In the nearly nine months following his injury, TC, his wife, Abby, and son, Jack, have worked tirelessly as a team to help recover TC's severely impaired language and physical abilities. Using her expertise as a teacher and former therapist, Abby shares some of the wisdom that has helped guide her husband's recovery and put their family on a path to healing. Learn more about the  principles that helped this couple move forward here.

Resource Highlight: Couples Relationships After Traumatic Brain Injury

The MSKTC is pleased to announce our new factsheet Couples Relationships After Traumatic Brain Injury. After traumatic brain injury (TBI), many couples find that their relationship with each other changes dramatically. Learn more about couples' relationships after a TBI by accessing the factsheet here.

Resource Highlight: Hot Topic Module: Relationships after TBI

The MSKTC is pleased to announce our new Hot Topic Module: Relationships after Traumatic Brain Injury. This hot topics series consists of a suite of resources to help individuals with traumatic brain injury and their partners enjoy meaningful and fulfilling relationships. It includes videos featuring Hugh and Rosemary Rawlins share how they worked with TBI Model System researchers to address challenges they faced after Hugh experienced a TBI. Access the Hot Topics Module here.

Model Systems Researchers Presented at the 15th Annual Conference of the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology and Division 22 of the American Psychological Association

Dr. Denise Fyffe from Northern New Jersey Spinal Cord Injury System and Dr. Anthony Lequerica from Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System gave a presentation at the 15th Annual Conference of the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology and Division 22 of the American Psychological Association held last month, February 21st- 24th in Jacksonville Florida. The presentation was entitled, Clinical and research perspectives on cultural issues in rehabilitation. In this presentation, they highlighted some of the work that has been done through the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems looking at health disparities and cultural issues associated with rehabilitation outcomes. View the conference schedule for more information.

Work of the TBIMS will be displayed at Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill

The month of March marks Brain Injury Awareness Month. On Wednesday, March 13, 2013 the MSKTC will be attending the Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. There will be a Brain Injury Awareness Fair from 10:00 am- 2:00 pm located on the 1st Floor Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building. During this event staff from MSKTC will display and highlight the work of the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems and the TBI Data Center.