Top names at head injury conference
An upcoming conference organised by the Hawke’s Bay Brain Injury Association (BIA) is attracting some top names.
World-renowned brain researcher Professor Barry Willer has teamed up with Dr Ewan Kennedy, Dr Stephen Kara, Professor Ciaran Bolger and Dr Danielle Salmon to discuss the latest research at next month’s Concussion — A Changing Culture conference.
BIA manager Dairne Withers says the aim of the conference is to provide world class education and information on the treatment and management of concussion.
“We need to have the discussion around how the culture of concussion management and reporting it is changing and how we continue to move forward.”
Dairne says through BIA’s ongoing support and education in the community, it became apparent there was demand for concussion education for those working in this field.
“We are fortunate enough to have an ongoing relationship with Professor Barry Willer, and so he agreed to team up with us to meet this demand while he was in New Zealand this year. He has supported us to secure this amazing line up of presenters,” Dairne says.
Barry is the patron of the Brain Injury NZ Brain Injury and has a PhD in Psychology from York University in Toronto, Canada. He is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine. During this time he has become an internationally renowned researcher on traumatic brain injury. More recently his research focus has been on concussion and along with his research partner, has demonstrated that a primary characteristic of sports related concussion is exercise intolerance.
Their research has been instrumental in producing assessments and diagnosis based on evidence of autonomic nervous system imbalance.
They have also demonstrated that exercise based treatment is the most efficacious means to assist in recovery. Barry has written three books and published more than 150 peer-reviewed research articles.
BIA has also developed a relationship with Dr Danielle Salmon, from NZ Rugby, through supporting her current research project in Hawke’s Bay.
“We are so excited to have her involved in this event.”
Danielle is currently the Research Officer for NZ Rugby. In this role she is conducting the injury surveillance for NZ Super Rugby teams, coordinating RugbySmart’s concussion awareness, education and management strategy and is the research coordinator for Active Concussion Rehabilitation study being conducted with Super Rugby during the 2018 sponsored by the NFL players association. She completed her PhD at the University of Otago and is a member of the South Island Brain Injury Research Group.
The conference is open to anyone working in, or who has an interest in, the field of brain injury. Dairne says education and training of this kind leads to better practice and outcomes for those who have experienced an injury.
“With this conference being advertised nationally, the aim is to improve outcomes for those in Hawke’s Bay and across New Zealand.
■ BIS Conference, Napier Conference Centre, Marine Parade, Napier, Friday, November 23, 8.30am-5pm and Saturday, November 24, 8.30am-4pm. For more information email liaison@braininjuryhb.co.nz or phone 878 6875 ext.2. For registration visit www.braininjuryhb.org.nz