The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey offers comprehensive webinars on a variety of topics designed to provide you with valuable information, strategies and resources that can assist you. All webinars are free and open to the public.
If there is a webinar that you are unable to attend, you will be able to view the presentation within two weeks of the live broadcast. Click here to visit the Webinar Archive.
The Role of Medical Nutrition Therapy Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Friday, April 17, 2020
1:00 PM
Presented by: Wynnifred Hoodis, MS, RDN, Clinical Faculty Preceptor, Dietetic Internship, Foods and Nutrition, College of Saint Elizabeth
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Nutrition plays a role in the promotion of healing following traumatic brain injury. This webinar will address what therapeutic measures involving nutrition are recommended in current research to attenuate secondary injury cascades following traumatic brain injury. The discussion will include the role of macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids in brain health and how to incorporate “brain healthy” foods and supplements in a food plan.
Wynnifred Mercado Hoodis, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and clinical faculty member at the College of Saint Elizabeth. Wynnifred is a clinical preceptor to students in their hospital rotation as part of their dietetic internship graduate level program. Wynnifred has worked in acute care clinical practice at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, which is home to the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute and has been ranked as one of the Top 100 hospitals in the Healthgrades 2019 Report to the Nation. Wynnifred also has many years experience working with bariatric surgical patients at Garden State Bariatric Clinic in Short Hills, NJ. Wynnifred has a BA in Science from the University of Texas in Austin, BS in Human Environmental Science with emphasis on Nutritional Science from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Master of Science Nutrition from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ.
Exploring Executive Dysfunction in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
Monday, September 23, 2019
12:00PM
Presented by: Hilary Murphy, PhD, Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health
Hilary Murphy Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and formally trained pediatric neuropsychologist with a specialization in the assessment of neurodevelopmental and neuro-medical disorders. In addition, she is a NJ certified school psychologist and her training provides her with expertise in collaborating with educators and families to develop comprehensive educational and treatment programs. Her areas of expertise include Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), specific learning disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), concussion, epilepsy, stroke, and developmental disabilities.
Executive functioning encompasses a myriad of higher order cognitive skills required for goal-directed activity. This network of abilities is frequently disrupted by Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), resulting in deficits in adaptive, academic, and social domains. This workshop will focus on identifying individual facets of executive functioning as well as how these deficits may manifest in daily life. In addition, appropriate assessment techniques and available treatment protocols will be reviewed.
Topics Discussed:
- Impact of TBI on cognitive functions in pediatric populations with an emphasis on attention and executive control.
- Discussing the skills encompassed by the term “executive functioning” as well as the contribution these abilities have on all areas of life.
- Reviewing strategies for managing these deficits socially and academically.
Executive Dysfunction in Pediatric TBI
Domestic Violence and the Role of the Healthcare Provider: Assessment and Intervention Strategies
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
11:00 AM
Presented by: Elaine Hewins, CSW, DVS, Program Coordinator, Domestic Violence Education and Awareness, Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health
Elaine Hewins, CSW, is a NJ Domestic Violence Specialist with 30 years of experience in the field of domestic violence.
At Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, she coordinates and presents programs to address DV, such as “Domestic Violence & the Role of the Healthcare Provider: Assessment and Intervention Strategies” seminars for healthcare providers, which has educated over 2,500 providers in three states. Elaine has co-authored a White Paper on this topic, and presented at the 2015 and 2017 National Conferences on Health & Domestic Violence. In 2016, Elaine and the RWJUH Domestic Violence Education & Awareness Program implemented the NO MÁS Violencia Initiative to address DV/SV in Latino communities. Since 2016, the program’s focus has also been working with youth on teen dating violence prevention.
NJCEDV-GTS-Update-Sept-2018.docx
7-Wheel – Medical Power and Control
8-Wheel – Advocacy Empowerment
Brain Injury Alliance pa-helps-screening-tool
Routine Screening Questions Table 3
Brain Aneurysm: Awareness Can Save Your Life
Thursday, September 5, 2019
4:00 PM
Presented by:
Dr. Gaurav Gupta and Lamyra Clarke-White
Dr. Gaurav Gupta currently serves as Director of Endovascular and Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He is also the Director of Rutgers- Neurological disorders in Pregnancy Program and the Director of New Jersey Brain Aneurysm and AVM program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. He is also Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Rutgers RWJ medical school. Dr. Gupta did his general surgery training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. He then completed his Neurosurgery residency at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School. He was appointed Chief Resident at the same institution, where he then completed his fellowship in Endovascular Neurosurgery. He is an academic neurosurgeon with many invited book- chapters and scientific papers in National and International Journals both in basic neuroscience and in clinical neurosurgery. He is also the recipient of the prestigious American Heart Association (AHA)/ American Stroke Association ‘young investigator of the year award’ for his work on transplantation of neural stem cells and neural progenitor cells in brain for stroke and his research was awarded Top 10 research advances in the world by American Heart Association/American Stroke Association in 2001.
Lamyra Clarke-White is an Assistant Vice President of Program Management at MetLife Insurance Company Lamyra holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science / Business Management and an MBA in Marketing/ International Business from Seton Hall University. In 2012 Lamyra suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage leaving her hospitalized and temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. This life changing event has made Lamyra passionate about raising awareness and being an advocate to know there is life afterwards. She is an active member in her church, professional, and community based organizations. In addition to Trustee on the Brain Injury Alliance New Jersey Board, she is a member of Abyssinian Baptist Church (Newark, NJ), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Raritan Valley Chapter (NJ), Links Inc., National Association of Parliamentarians, and National Pan-Hellenic Council of Essex County. Lamyra is a recipient of the Black Achievers in Industry Award, and New Jersey’s 100 Influential People. Lamyra received an honorable discharge as a sergeant from the United States Army Reserves.
Topics include:
– Definitions, signs and symptoms of brain aneurysm
– Screening and treatment options
– Updates on the latest research
– A personal account of aneurysm through the recovery process
Persuasion: A Cornerstone to Effective Advocacy
Thursday, June 6, 2019
11:00 AM
Presented by: Tom Grady, MPA, DTM, Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey
Participants will learn to define persuasive messaging, to know where and when persuasion can and should be used, and how to structure a persuasive message.
Mr. Grady currently serves as Director of Advocacy & Public Affairs for the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey and has done so since October 2002. The mission of the Alliance is to support and advocate for individuals affected by brain injury and raise public awareness through education and prevention.
One of his roles as Director is to serve as staff liaison to the Council for the Head Injured Community, one of the Alliance’s advocacy committees whose mission to champion and publicize the advocacy, rights, and needs of people who have survived a brain injury. In this capacity, Tom assists with preparing and implementing Council meetings plus address follow-up activities. He assists with defining the needs of the council; providing counsel on how to advocate; implementing the group’s signature event at the Alliance’s annual seminar, Mike-at-the-Mike; defining independent activities for members; and raising awareness of the Council through social events and other activities.
Additional roles as Director include being chair of the Alliance’s Advocacy & Public Affairs Committee and of the United States Brain Injury Alliance’s Public Policy Committee. He is also a member of the Kessler Foundation’s Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System advisory board. He previously served on Moss Rehabilitation’s TBIMS advisory board from 2012-2014.
Learning Travel Skills to Lead to Independent Mobility in the Community
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Presented by: Melody Bundy, Research Coordinator, New Jersey Travel Independence Program, Rutgers University & Louis Hoffman, Research Coordinator, New Jersey Travel Independence Program, Rutgers University
Melody Bundy and Louis Hoffman are co-program managers with a collective over 20 years of experience in travel training. Most of their research initiatives target improving access to transportation for disadvantaged populations, including people with disabilities and older adults. Recent examples of their transportation-equity focused projects include a pilot project funded by the Henry H. Kessler Foundation, Travel Instruction and Traumatic Brain Injury. The project focused on the development and refining of a comprehensive public transportation orientation that included small group and one-on-one travel instruction to facilitate the employment of NJ adults living with traumatic brain injury. Most of Ms. Bundy’s work includes training individuals to use public transportation to become independent travelers. She has experience as a trainer with community organizations and high school transition students, and her professional strengths focus on program/curriculum development and implementation. She received her Master of Public Administration degree in Non-Profit Management from Capella University and Bachelor degree in Economics from Seton Hall University. Mr. Hoffman currently manages multiple projects including a new multi-county mobility management program and leads targeted projects with schools and human service agencies. Throughout his tenure, he has created customized local guides using public transit. Mr. Hoffman is a graduate of the School of Social Work at Rutgers University with a concentration in Nonprofit and Public Management as well as an area of emphasis in aging. He was a recipient of a 2012-13 Fellowship in Aging.
Course Objectives:
- – Planning trips–schedules, maps, help over the phone and online
- – Accessible features on NJ Transit buses, trains and light rail vehicles
- – Reduced fares for older riders and people with disabilities
- – Benefits of training through NJTIP at Rutgers University
- – Additional transportation resources and local transit options
NJTIP tech sheet and Trans Alternatives
