2019 Joyce Massey TBI Summit Sparks Meaningful Dialogue for Advancements in Treatment
MCIRCC’s third Joyce Massey TBI Summit brought together leading traumatic brain injury (TBI) experts from across the United States and the UK to present their current research, discuss the future of the field, and identify important barriers to improving patient outcomes.
Presenters at the Summit initiated conversation around key topics that are crucial in the development of TBI research. A mix of mentors and mentees led discussions that shared the experience of senior researchers with the passion of newer scientists in the field.
Two keynote speakers grabbed the attention of the group with their distinct and powerful presentations.
David Menon MD, PhD, FRCP, FRCA, FFICM, FMedSci, Head of the Division of Anaesthesia at the University of Cambridge began the day with a comparison of TBI treatment to Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted with a powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Menon added themes throughout his presentation that built upon the idea of TBI care being a “one size fits none” approach, similar to when pottery breaks the solution to re-build will never be identical from one pot to the next but each end result is still uniquely beautiful. He humanized TBI care, emphasizing the importance of patients and/or their families needing to determine the degree of “acceptable” disability and that often the best result is the least-worst choice versus best option.
After lunch, MCIRCC Executive Director Kevin Ward, MD participated in a fireside chat with the Summit’s second keynote speaker, Dave Woodruff. Dave is the Midwest Director of Sales & Marketing for Entrepreneur Media and the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. During the fireside chat, Dave told the story of the traumatic brain injury that his brother, ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff, suffered while covering the war in Iraq in 2006. He spoke about Bob’s treatment, the intense media coverage of the incident, and the Woodruff family’s experiences both in and out of the hospital.
In particular, Dave highlighted how family members can never be fully prepared for the profound impact a TBI will have on a loved one—including their initial treatment, the amount of rehabilitation involved, and the many unknowns that accompany their long-term outcomes. His insight reminded Summit attendees of how important the bedside presence of clinicians and caregivers can be in helping the injured through such a difficult process.
With the intention of igniting conversation and debate, nine key opinion leaders from across the United States participated in a panel discussion, sharing their views on the future of TBI treatment.
Mentees who presented in the morning included:
- John Burke, MD, PhD - University of California San Francisco
- Jeffrey Brennan - Baylor College of Medicine
- Brandon Foreman, MD, FACNS, FNCS - University of Cincinnati
- Jacob R. Joseph, MD - University of Pittsburgh
- Ramani Balu, MD, PhD - Penn Medicine
- Shaun Carlson, PhD - University of Pittsburgh
- Jacob Dunkerson - University of Kentucky
- Brian Edlow, MD - Massachusetts General Hospital
Key opinion leaders who presented and participated in a panel discussion include:
This TBI Summit was made possible through the generous gift from the Joyce and Don Massey Family Foundation. Their vision for improving the treatment and care of TBI patients continues to motivate researchers across the globe. In conjunction with the Schwabauer Family’s Accelerator Award, research teams will be able to put innovative ideas into motion during the 2020 Massey TBI Grand Challenge. Here, researchers will compete for a chance to develop translational research that addresses many of the concerns highlighted at the Summit.
Thank you to everyone who attended and participated!
