BRAIN INJURY OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES 2011 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
VIENNA, VA – March 3, 2011 – At its February 25, 2011, meeting, the Brain Injury Association of America’s (BIAA) board approved its slate of officers for 2011.
Chair: Gregory J. O’Shanick, M.D.
Greg O'Shanick will serve as chair after serving as chair-elect from 2008 to 2010 and as BIAA’s National Medical Director for the past 14 years. Over the past 30 years, he has treated more than 11,000 patients with brain injuries while serving on the faculties of three different medical schools and in private practice. Since 1991, Dr. O'Shanick has been the president and medical director of the Center for Neurorehabilitation Services in Richmond, Va. He holds board certification in four medical subspecialties (Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry, Neurorehabilitation, Psychosomatic Medicine and General Psychiatry) and has published three books, 12 academic textbook chapters, and more than 70 peer-reviewed publications. He has presented at national and international medical conferences and has served as an advisor to numerous federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department Defense, National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Chair-elect: James S. Misko, Psy.D.
Jim Misko will serve as chair-elect after serving as chair of the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists since 2009. He is co-owner and president of CORE Health Care and has specialized in neuropsychology for the past 15 years. Dr. Misko received his doctorate from the Florida Institute of Technology in 1988 and is licensed as a clinical psychologist. He has committed his time and energy to helping improve the quality of life for people who have survived traumatic brain injuries and other neurological disorders. Dr. Misko lectures nationally to raise awareness of brain injury. The Brain Injury Association of Texas awarded him the 2003 Professional Contribution of the Year.
Vice Chair for Finances & Records: James F. Humphreys, Esq.
Jim Humphreys will serve as vice chair for Finances and Records, a position that functions as BIAA’s treasurer, a role that he has held since 2008. Mr. Humphreys is a licensed attorney in West Virginia and Washington, D.C. His practice areas include personal injury; litigation and appeals; and Federal Employer’s Liability Act. He earned his JD from George Washington University. He also holds a MPA from Princeton, an MA from The Ohio State University, and a BA from West Virginia University. Mr. Humphreys was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1982 and previously served on the staff of Senators John Glenn and Don Reigle. He is a member of the board of the George Washington University Law School and has served in advisory roles for the BIA of West Virginia.
Vice Chair for Program Outcomes: Virginia (Ginny) Lazzara, RN, BSN, CRRN, CBIST
Ginny Lazzara will serve as vice chair for Program Outcomes after serving as chair of the State Affiliate Assembly from 2008 to 2009 and taking a leadership role in BIAA’s strategic planning. Ms. Lazzara is a graduate of St. Xavier University. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field of brain injury rehabilitation. Formerly director of Extended Services and coordinator of the Brain Injury Program at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, Ginny currently is a Brain Injury Rehabilitation Nurse Consultant with the Nolan Law Group and continues to facilitate the Brain Injury Support Group at Schwab. She has held numerous volunteer roles for the past 15 years. She currently serves as chairperson of the State Affiliate Assembly, board chairperson for the Brain Injury Association of Illinois and chairperson of the Illinois Governor’s Council on Brain and Spinal Cord Injury.
About Brain Injury Association of America
The Brain Injury Association of America is the voice of brain injury. Through advocacy, education and research, BIAA and its nationwide network of more than 40 chartered state affiliates bring help, hope and healing to the millions of Americans who have a lifelong disability because of brain injury, as well as their families and the professionals who serve them. For more information: BIAA website.
About Brain Injuries
An estimated 1.7 million children and adults in the U.S. sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and another 795,000 individuals sustain an acquired brain injury (ABI) from non-traumatic causes each year. Today, more than 3.1 million children and adults in the U.S. live with a lifelong disability as a result of TBI and 6.4 million have a disability due to stroke. For more information about brain injuries and the Brain Injury Association of America, visit http://www.biausa.org/.
The Brain Injury Association of Illinois provides information and resources to individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury, as well as to families, professionals and other members in the community. The BIA of Illinois also provides educational programs, injury prevention, public awareness, summer camp program, advocacy and support programs. For additional information, call (800)699-6443 or e-mail info@biail.org. Visit the website, www.biail.org for more information. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIAofIL and Twitter, www.twitter.com/BrainInjuryAssn.
