May 14, 2025
The Palace at Somerset Park, Somerset, NJ
Save the Date! May 14,2025
Enhancing Understanding Across the Brain Injury Spectrum
The Annual Seminar offers an educational and networking opportunity for professionals to gain knowledge of the latest research, best practices and effective strategies for working with individuals affected by brain injury. The knowledge level of the audience varies, including both new and experienced professionals.
The Seminar is a full day conference consisting of a keynote presentation followed by three workshop blocks with three presentations in each block. Lunch will be served and organization exhibitors and student poster presentations will also be included.
Student Poster Proposal Request
The Annual Professional Seminar offers an educational and networking opportunity for professionals to gain knowledge of the latest research, best practices and effective strategies for working with individuals affected by brain injury.
We invite you to submit a poster proposal. Posters typically focus on research, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and public health issues related to individuals affected by brain injury. All accepted posters will be displayed at this year’s Annual Professional Seminar. We’re looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
Kristy B. Arbogast, Ph.D
Keynote Address
“Opportunities for Reducing the Effects of Concussion Across the Prevention Spectrum”
Kristy B. Arbogast, Ph.D.
The presentation will discuss the spectrum of prevention on concussion – from primary prevention through protective equipment, secondary prevention through accurate and timely diagnosis and tertiary prevention through effective treatments. Various mechanisms of injury will be highlighted including sports-related injuries as well as those injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes. Existing inequities across various sociodemographic groups will be discussed, including strategies to mitigate those disparities.
Kristy Arbogast, PhD, is the Scientific Director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Co-Director of the Minds Matter Concussion Frontier Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the R. Anderson Pew Endowed Chair and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania. As a bioengineer, her research focuses on injury biomechanics and the effectiveness of safety products concentrating on the protection of youth in motor vehicle crashes and pediatric concussion. Dr. Arbogast’s concussion research focuses on the use of head impact sensors to understand the biomechanics and bioengineering technology for objective measures of diagnosis and monitoring. She has established rigorous methods of data collection and processing to quantify repetitive head impacts across multiple sports in male and female youth, leading a consensus conference on the topic, from which best practices have been published. In parallel work, she serves a leadership role on the NFL Engineering Committee, interpreting multiple data streams for mitigation of head injuries through improved equipment, rules of the game and playing technique. Dr. Arbogast is funded by NIH, CDC and DOD to study objective measures of neurofunction in concussed youth and strategies for optimizing concussion care.
Award Nominations
Each year the Alliance recognizes outstanding individuals for their dedication to our mission through their professional contributions, personal achievements, strength of character, and relentless work to support our constituency.
Mimi Goldman, who was pivotal in the development of the Council for the Head-Injured Community (CHIC, now known as VOICES), passed away in 1997. She was the first person with a brain injury to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey. Mimi served as a role model for the brain injury community, sharing her talents and experiences on numerous committees and events, and always with a characteristic smile.
The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey established the Miriam (Mimi) Goldman Positive Achievement Award in the spring of 1997 to commemorate Mimi Goldman. This award is presented each year to an individual with a brain injury to honor his or her accomplishments.
Trooper Christopher S. Scales was a front-line partner in the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey’s brain injury prevention efforts. Trooper Scales was struck and killed on December 3, 2002 while conducting a seatbelt enforcement detail on the New Jersey Turnpike.
The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey honored State Trooper Christopher Scales posthumously in May 2003 by introducing the Trooper Christopher Scales Memorial Award. This award is presented each year to a member of the law enforcement community who has demonstrated exemplary efforts in promoting public safety and brain injury prevention.
The Jill Schulman Community Pillar Award recognizes individuals, employed in the brain injury field, who significantly contribute to the quality of life for people with brain injury and their caregivers and promote brain health through their volunteer service and support of the mission of the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey. The Award was renamed to honor Jill Schulman who passed away in May of 2011. During her 21 year tenure with the Alliance, Jill’s contributions, character, and unending passion embodied the spirit in which the Community Pillar Award was established.
The Irene Parisi Humanitarian Award was established in 2012. The award recognizes individuals who embody the ethics of kindness and benevolence in accepting people for who they are and working to abolish biased social views and prejudices.
The James and Sarah Brady award is presented to an individual or group for public service based on an outstanding record of contributions that further the goals of the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey through work at the federal, state, or local level.
The Founders Award is presented to recognize individuals or groups who have rendered exceptional volunteer services that benefit persons with brain injury and their families.
Joanna Boyd was a friend, colleague, and advocate for the brain injury community from the beginning of her employment with the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey in 2002 until her passing in 2020.
For decades she demonstrated extraordinary service in the areas of concussion awareness, pediatric brain injury, and self-advocacy, while balancing work with the selfless care of a child with brain injury.
For those impacted by brain injury, Joanna was someone you wanted on your side. Her knowledge – extensive. Her dedication – unparalleled. Her friendship and compassion – unlimited.
Joanna worked tirelessly to illuminate key issues affecting people and families impacted by brain injury and worked to improve the courageous lives of all; particularly youth with brain injury.
This award is given to a BIANJ staff member or volunteer whose contributions reflect the service, compassion, and spirit of Joanna Boyd’s commitment to the brain injury community.
Past Seminars
2024: Bridging the Disparity Gap: Improving Equity in Brain Injury Care and Prevention
2023: Uncovering the Invisible: Uncovering the Silent Epidemic of Brain Injury
2022: Building Community and Enhancing Quality of Life After Brain Injury
2021: Exploring and Navigating the Scope and Diversity of Brain Injury
2020: A 2020 Perspective: Improving TBI Outcomes in the Next Decade
2019: Moving Forward in Brain Injury: Evidence in Action
2018: Exploring Diverse Issues in Brain Injury
2017: Making New Connections Following Brain Injury
2016: Achieving Meaningful Outcomes