2023 FLIBI Conference Schedule
1pm-1:20pm EST: A Brief Introduction to Careers in Brain Injury
Alissa Totman, MD, MPH
1:20pm-2:05pm EST: Exploring Medical Specialties in Brain Injury: Physcian Panel Panel
Bei Zhang, MD
Adam Barron, MD
Xiaoran Zhang, MD
2:05pm-2:15pm EST: Break
2:15pm-2:45pm EST: A Vision for Brain Injury Advocacy: Community Member Panel
Craig Phillips, MRC BA
Brett Bullington
2:45pm-3:30pm EST: The Role of Allied Health Professionals in Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Provider Panel
Regan Harrel, PT
Kelly Porter, DPT, OT
Robert Masterson, CC-SLP
3:30pm-3:50pm EST: Combining Brain Injury Research & Clinical Practice as a Physician-Scientist
Nick Race, MD, PhD
3:50pm-4pm EST: Break
Breakout Rooms:
4pm-5pm EST: Mentoring Sessions
Meet Our Speakers!
Alissa Totman, MD, MPH
Speaker
Alissa Totman, MD, MPH is an Instructor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Harvard Medical School. She received her MD from the Stanford School of Medicine, completed her residency in PM&R at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and completed her fellowship in Brain Injury Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Her clinical focus is on optimizing functional outcomes through early multidisciplinary rehabilitation in the acute care setting. She is also invested in educating the next generation of leaders in Brain Injury through her role as Executive Director of Synapse National.
Robert Masterson, CCC-SLP
Allied Health Professional Panel, Mentor
Robert Masterson is a staff speech language pathologist with over 25 years of experience at UPMC Mercy Rehab Institute. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of speech, language, cognitive and swallowing disorders in patients with. stroke, brain injuries, and other neurological impairments. He helps patients improve communication, cognitive and swallowing function by improve speech and swallowing physiology and facilitating neuroplastic recovery though exercise and compensation.
Regan Harrell, DPT
Allied Health Professional Panel, Mentor
Regan Harrell is a neurologic physical therapist, currently working as an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh in the Department of Physical Therapy. She obtained her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Duquesne University in 2015 and completed a neurological physical therapy residency at UPMC. Her clinical career has been spent working with those who have experienced an acquired brain injury in the inpatient rehabilitation and acute care settings. She is also a board certified neurologic clinical specialist. In addition, she is in the process of getting her PhD in rehabilitation sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research interests include investigating balance and dizziness in relation to traumatic brain injury and improvement treatment for these neurological conditions.
Kelly Porter, OT
Allied Health Professional Panel, Mentor
Kelly Porter is an occupational therapist based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the UPMC Mercy Inpatient Rehab. She earned her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh in 2018 and has 5 years of experience working as an occupational therapist, primarily in inpatient rehab and acute care. She has been specializing in working with individuals with traumatic and acquired brain injury for about two years. Her career goal is to learn all that she can about neurological disease and treatment in order to provide the best care for her clients.
Xiaoran Zhang, MD, MS
Physician Panelist
Xiaoran (Zel) Zhang earned his MD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and joined the University of Pittsburgh Neurological Surgery residency program in June of 2016 after graduating. He obtained a combined BS/MS degree from the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at UCLA. During medical school, he was selected to participate in the Clinical Scientist Training Program and was awarded a master’s level certificate in clinical research. He was also awarded The Theodore Kurze Senior Prize for excellence in Neurological Surgery and Clinical Neurosciences in 2016.
Bei Zhang, MD
Physician Panelist
Bei Zhang, MD, MSc, is the Assistant Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Zhang graduated from UTHealth’s PM&R Residency Program, and then completed a fellowship in Brain Injury Medicine at Harvard Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Her research and clinical interests focus on functional recovery from various types of brain injuries and neuromodulation.
Adam Barron, MD
Physician Panelist, Mentor
Adam Barron, MD, is a Neurocritical Care Attending at Cleveland Clinic. He earned his MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin, completed his Neurology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and completed a fellowship in Neurocritical Care at the University of California San Francisco. His research and clinical interests include simulation-based education and quality improvement.
Nick Race, MD, PhD
Physician Scientist Speaker, Mentor
Nick Race is a physician-scientist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with clinical and scientific interests focused on acquired brain injuries. He earned his MD at the Indiana University School of Medicine and PhD at Purdue University Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. Academically, he conducts preclinical translational neuropharmacology research focused on improving cognitive and affective dysfunction after TBI. He also serves on the leadership team for Neuro Vigor Therapeutics, an early stage drug development company focused on neuroprotective strategies that reduce neuroinflammation. He will soon begin his Brain Injury Medicine fellowship at UPMC.
Susana Stoica, PhD
Physician Scientist Speaker, Mentor
Susana Stoica earned a PhD in computer engineering in the field of computers built with brain-cell-like circuits. Her work as a computer engineer came to a halt when, in 2000, she sustained a brain injury after two slip-and-falls on ice on the same day. After her accident, she felt her life had stopped. After years of intensive work, using her previous experience of helping brain-injured people, Susana was able to slowly get rid of her physical and emotional pain, regain her memories, and became functional again. On the way, she learned many lessons about healing, which she shared in her books, in the hopes of helping others. In January this year, Susana released her 10th book related to emotional and physical healing. The book was an Amazon Bestseller and a #1 New Release in Alternative Medicine Reference. At an age when others are long retired, in addition to writing, Susana continues helping people through her distance healing. More information about Susana and her healing practices can be found on her website: https://healingbraininjury.com/contact/.
Craig Phillips, MRC, BA
Advocacy Session
My name is Craig J. Phillips. I have a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Kentucky. On February 6, 2007 I created Second Chance to Live to encourage a holistic (body, soul, spirit, mind and emotions) approach to an ongoing brain injury recovery process. My interest is to not only encourage a holistic and ongoing recovery process in individuals living with brain injuries, but also to impact how professionals and providers approach their care of/to individuals living with brain injuries. That is why I am grateful to be able to present. For more Information, click on my: Biographical Information for Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Brett Bullington
Advocacy Session
Brett Bullington currently works with entrepreneurs to build their business and reach their goals. In 2012, he suffered severe brain trauma in a bicycle accident. Prior to his accident, Brett was a long-time Silicon Valley advisor, board member, and angel investor for Outfit 7 Ltd. and Carolina For Kibera, a non-profit charitable organization that aims to catalyze positive change in Kibera, Kenya. Learn more about Brett Bullington through this article: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/stanford-health-care-now/2018/brett-bicyclist-traumatic-brain-injury.html.