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Professionals, Meet Our Making Headway Afternoon Speakers and Register Today!
Join us at the Making Headway Conference March 28 and have the opportunity to hear from informative, must-see speakers. This year’s afternoon session is focused on topics to assist professionals (the morning session is focused on topics to assist persons with brain injury, families, and caregivers).
Nathan D. Zasler, MD, DABPM&R, FACRM, BIM, CBIST
Session: Concussive Brain Injury: What Every Clinician Should Know to Improve Outcomes and Avoid Symptom Persistence
This lecture will provide an overview of the of concussion with an emphasis on understanding differential diagnosis and pathoetiology of post-concussive symptoms. Limitations of current nomenclature, assessment strategies and understanding of persistent post-concussive symptoms will be emphasized along with discussion of newest assessment guidelines. Evidence-based risk factors for persistent impairment will also be explored. Longer term outcome including return to work will be reviewed in addition to interventions to minimize persistence of post-concussive symptomatology.
Dr. Zasler is the Founder, CEO & and Medical Director of Concussion Care Centre of Virginia and the Founder and current Medical Director of Tree of Life in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Zasler is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), has a fellowship trained in brain injury rehabilitation, and is subspecialty certified in Brain Injury Medicine. He is an affiliate professor in the VCU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Richmond, VA, and a visiting professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. He is the Emeritus Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA). He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and authored over 60 book chapters. Dr. Zasler has published and lectured extensively on TBI-related neuromedical issues and has edited 8 textbooks, including “Brain Injury Medicine: Principals and Practice,” now in its third edition. He is chief editor of two international peer-reviewed journals: “Brain Injury” and “NeuroRehabilitation,” as well as chief editor of “Brain Injury Professional”. He serves on a number of professional boards and as a consultant to healthcare and biotech companies. Dr. Zasler serves as a reviewer for over 20 international peer-reviewed journals. He is active in local, national, and international organizations dealing with acquired brain injury and neurodisability, serving in numerous roles. He has received numerous scientific awards, repeatedly recognized by “Best Doctors,” and numerous community patient awards for his clinical services. Dr. Zasler is an advocate, educator, clinical researcher, inventor, entrepreneur, and busy practicing clinician involved with community-based neurorehabilitation, chronic post-trauma pain management, and health care consultation, both clinical and medicolegal.
Dana Larson, M.S. OTR/L, MPA, CBIST
Session: Tree of Life
Tree of Life, located in Richmond, Virginia, joined Collage Rehabilitation Partners in 2022. This program has been nationally known for its clinical expertise, providing Complex and Active Neurorehabilitation and Supported Living Services for over 30 years since Dr. Nathan Zasler founded it. Complex and Active Neurorehabilitation Programs are focused on comprehensive medical intervention, rehabilitation, and cognitive retraining, designed with the individual patient in mind. Intentional treatment engages patients immediately on the day of admission. Our goal is to move patients toward critical elements of success – self-awareness and medical and cognitive stability – and ultimately a discharge home. Our Supported Living System is designed to maintain health, medical, and behavioral stability. Varying levels of support are available and may be adjusted over time as complexities and challenges related to injury may arise. Our campus environment is supportive, safe, and comfortable, promoting socialization, leisure, and vocational and avocational activities. We also have a home within walking distance of our campus for individuals ready for a more independent living environment. Community outings are a big part of our therapeutic programming. Specialized and experienced treatment teams work together and are focused on creating long-term solutions that restore maximum function, decrease the likelihood of long-term complications, and set a clear path toward independence.
Dana Larson is the Virginia State Director for Collage Rehabilitation, based at the Tree of Life location in Richmond. His program specializes in post-acute residential rehabilitation, whether for short-term transitional stays, intermediate-length recovery, rehabilitative stays, or long-term residential support for people with acquired brain injuries. Dana initially came to Tree of Life as an entry-level OT in 2015 and most recently progressed to his leadership role as a product of Tree of Life’s integration into the Collage Rehabilitation Partnership.Dana is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. In 2021, he earned his Master of Public Administration from Villanova University. Outside of Tree of Life, Dana is involved with several other Brain Injury Community programs, including Camp Bruce McCoy, a summer camp for Survivors of ABI where he found his calling as a clinician and caregiver. In his free time, Dana is a woodworking enthusiast, enjoys DIY home improvement, and is immersed in the life of having twin toddler sons. Dana’s certified therapy dog, Jupiter, is a mainstay of the Tree of Life clinical team.
Brie Kilmartin
Session: Post Traumatic Amnesia: Improving the Rehabilitation Experience
This presentation will describe an interdisciplinary initiative to adopt an evidence-informed PTA
Protocol (Hart et al., 2020) for our program, leading to implementation on the brain injury unit
at our 114-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital. We will highlight effective knowledge
translation strategies, discuss barriers and facilitators to implementation and share preliminary
data demonstrating its effects on patient participation and agitation during post traumatic
amnesia. After the 30 minute lecture, there will be a 30 minute tour of SAI gym.
Brianna “Brie” Kilmartin is a seasoned Recreation Therapist specializing in Brain Injury care. With over 15 years of experience, Brie has dedicated her career to improving the quality of life for people with behavioral and cognitive impairments. She graduated from Old Dominion University and has undergone extensive de-escalation, behavior management, and developmental impairments training. Brie serves as the Therapy Manager for Brain Injury Services at Sheltering Arms Institute. She helped found the Virginia State Therapeutic Recreation Association and served various roles on the board until 2022.