Members and supporters of the Brain Injury Association of Illinois have been very active with legislative advocacy activities during the month of March. This is especially important since March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. Members have called and e-mailed their Illinois state legislators to ask them to support current legislation addressing concussion education and prevention. Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) introduced House Bill 200, and Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) introduced Senate Bill 150. Both men are working hard so that the legislation passes both the House and Senate, and then on to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. Thank you to all our members and supporteres who made those important calls and sent messages to their legislators. This has been a bi-partisan effort, and many legislators are in agreement that this is a vital issue that needs to be addressed.
Written testimony was provided on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of Illinois during the Senate Committee hearing. Statements were submitted by BIA of Illinois Board members Hunter Hillenmeyer and Mary Kay Reed, Honorary Board member Dr. James Young, BIA Executive Director Philicia Deckard, Dr. Elizabeth Pieroth, and Dr. Patrick Walsh of Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.
On March 11th, a press conference was held by Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senator Kwame Raoul at Solder Field, along with Chicago Bears executives and players, NFL executives, and representatives from the Illinois High School Athletic Association, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Brain Injury Association of Illinois. The press release can be read below:
(Chicago - March 11, 2011) - With Soldier Field in Chicago as the backdrop today, Illinois House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) team up with 1985 Super Bowl Champs Richard Dent, Otis Wilson and Kurt Becker as well as NFL executives, the Illinois High School Association, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital to push legislation through the Senate that tackles the vital issue of concussion education.
“The sports community has really stepped up to the plate to help us bring awareness to this vitally important issue of concussion education,” said Cross. “With Sen. Raoul’s help and leadership in the Senate we will make concussion education a requirement for our student athletes and their parents.”
“I truly appreciate Leader Cross’s unwavering devotion to raising the profile of concussion education,” said Raoul. “From little league football to the NFL, and all levels and types of sports, we must do what we can in state government to make sure that girls and boys, men and women better protect themselves from potentially life-altering head injuries.
The legislation aims to require all school boards, including the Chicago Board of Education, to adopt a policy regarding student athlete concussions and head injuries including:
- Requires the policy to be in compliance with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the IHSA.
- Requires that information on the school board’s concussion and head injury policy be a part of any agreement, contract, code, or other written instrument that a school district requires a student athlete and his or her parents or guardians to sign before participating in practice or interscholastic competition.
- Requires the IHSA to make available to all school districts, including elementary school districts, education materials, such as visual presentations and other written materials that describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries.
After the bill passes the House and the Senate, it will head to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Many current and former professional athletes, top NFL executives, medical professionals, high school representatives and other interested associations are supporting this effort:
"To help protect all NFL players from the dangers of brain and other injuries, I recently joined the Brain Injury Association of Illinois' Board of Directors to help extend our reach beyond the 1,800 players in NFL locker rooms. The standard set by our league inevitably affects policy at other levels. The advances in diagnosis and treatment of concussions means future generations of athletes will enjoy better long-term health and fewer short-term risks as a result. HB 200 and SB 150 are important legislation that will make the future safer for young athletes all across our state.
- - Hunter Hillenmeyer, an eight year veteran with the Chicago Bears, also served on the NFL Players Association's TBI Committee and Player Safety and Welfare Committee, Brain Injury Association of Illinois Board Member
About the Brain Injury Association of Illinois
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.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Brain Injury Association of America Announces 2011 Executive Committee
The Brain Injury Association of Illinois Illinois America America
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.
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.
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