Good Shepherd Rehabilitation To Host Regional Brain Injury Conference on Sept. 9

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (Aug. 23, 2023) — Next month, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation will host the first-ever offering of Mind Your Brain Lehigh Valley, a free conference for individuals with brain injury, their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals to connect to resources and information that can help on the journey to recovery and clinical practice. 

This dynamic, day-long program will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 at DeSales University’s University Center, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley, PA 18034. It will feature motivational and expert speakers, along with vendors, educational materials and networking opportunities. Good Shepherd is partnering with Mind Your Brain Foundation in Philadelphia on the conference.

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

“Mind Your Brain Lehigh Valley is an opportunity for attendees of all backgrounds to connect with others who have been affected by a brain injury in some form or another — whether you’re a survivor, a family member, a friend or a healthcare professional who treats brain injuries. The day will be dedicated to sharing experiences, insights, research and other education,” said Emily Lyter, PT, DPT, administrative director of Good Shepherd Learns, Creates and Research at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation. “As leading experts in brain injury rehabilitation in the region, Good Shepherd is honored to partner with Mind Your Brain to bring this special event to the Lehigh Valley for the first time.”

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

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

• The power of positivity
• Invisible disabilities
• Visual deficits after brain injury
• Relationships after traumatic brain injury
• Vestibular and balance rehabilitation after brain injury

Guest speakers for the day include motivational and educational speaker James Durham, who has been helping others achieve success through techniques he developed in overcoming a severe traumatic brain injury, as well as Jennifer Lynn Robinson, Esq., a professional speaker with expertise in resilience, leadership, workplace relations, strategic networking and communications.

Other speakers are:

• Kaitlin Fiedler, PsyD, a clinical neuropsychologist at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation and clinical supervisor and training director (Topic: invisible disability)
• Jenna Sopp, MS, OTR/L, ITOT, an outpatient occupational therapist and supervisor at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation (Topic: visual deficits after brain injury)
• Stephanie Kolakowsky-Hayner, PhD, CBIST, FAACRM, director of research and clinical outcomes at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation (Topic: relationships and sexuality after brain injury)
• Kelley Limbauan, PT, DPT, NCS, and Julia Vandenberg, PT, DPT, who are both outpatient physical therapists at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation (Topic: vestibular and balance 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 helping patients of all ages and abilities on their rehabilitation journey. Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Good Shepherd 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 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