Good Shepherd Rehabilitation to Host 2nd Annual Regional Brain Injury Conference

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Good Shepherd Rehabilitation will host the second-annual Mind Your Brain Foundation Lehigh Valley, a free conference for individuals with brain injury, their families, caregivers and health-care professionals to connect to resources and information that can help on the journey to recovery and clinical practice.

Nearly 3 million Americans sustain traumatic brain injuries in the United States every year, according to the Brain Injury Association of America.

Hosted by Good Shepherd in partnership with Mind Your Brain Foundation, this free, day-long program will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 at DeSales University’s University Center, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley, PA 18034.

Mind Your Brain Lehigh Valley will feature two keynote speakers and a handful of other experts, along with vendors, educational materials and networking opportunities.

Registration is required and can be completed at goodshepherdrehab.org/myb.

“As a leading regional health-care network that specializes in brain injury rehabilitation, Good Shepherd is honored to partner with Mind Your Brain Foundation to once again bring this special event to the Lehigh Valley. It’s an opportunity for people with brain injury, their care partners and providers to get together, share resources, and learn about new supports, programs and interventions that promote increased independence for individuals living with brain injury,” said Stephanie A. Kolakowsky-Hayner, PhD, CBIST, FACRM, director of research and clinical outcomes at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation and an event organizer. “In addition to lectures and interactive presentations by some of the leading researchers and clinicians in the brain injury field, there will be networking opportunities and vendors available throughout the free, day-long event.”

The conference will cover a variety of brain injury topics, including:

• The neuroscience of music and how it can be used in neurorehabilitation
• Yoga and mindfulness
• A survivor’s story
• Nutrition and brain injury recovery
• Lessons and community building for caregivers or care partners
• Navigating brain injury fatigue
• How assistive technology can reduce caregiver burden

Keynote speakers are Brian Harris, co-founder and CEO of MedRhythms, and Megan Cauley, a LoveYourBrain Level 2 certified yoga and mindfulness teacher.

Other scheduled speakers are:

• Emily Brong (person with lived brain injury experience), Beth Winter (caregiver) and Tamie Sturgis (nurse)
• Jennifer M. Doane of Advantage Nutrition & Wellness, LLC
• Mary G. Brownsberger, former director of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation’s Psychology Group
• Tracie Bearden, a brain injury educator and patient advocate
• Allison Cole and Lyndsey McGrevy, occupational therapists and assistive technology experts with Good Shepherd Rehabilitation

For a full agenda, visit goodshepherdrehab.org/myb.

About Good Shepherd Rehabilitation

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation, an independent, not-for-profit rehabilitation network with more than 60 locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is committed to transforming the lives of people of all ages and abilities through curiosity, creativity, expertise and innovation. Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation specializes in treatment of spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, major multi-trauma, pulmonary disease, respiratory failure, musculoskeletal/orthopedics and complex pediatric conditions. Good Shepherd Rehabilitation also partners with Penn Medicine to provide rehabilitation and specialty services in the greater Philadelphia area and New Jersey through Good Shepherd Penn Partners. Info: goodshepherdrehab.org

About Mind Your Brain Foundation

Mind Your Brain Foundation works to fill the gap in TBI post-acute/rehabilitation care by conducting dynamic, regional, patient-centric conferences that include presentations, interactive discussions, cognitive workshops and resource sharing by a variety of clinical experts, research authorities and TBI survivors. Info: mindyourbrainfoundation.org