Keynote Speakers

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Sexuality After Acquired Brain Injury

Sexual function is an issue that seldom gets addressed by clinicians and people with acquired brain injuries. This presentation, geared to the multidisciplinary audience, will outline the neurobiological, psychological and social aspects of sexuality after brain injury, the most common problems it presents with and the different approaches to deal with them.

Objectives:

1. After this presentation the audience should be able to understand the interaction between neurobiology, psychology and social forces after a brain injury when it comes to sexual function
2. To reflect on the changes in clinical practice needed in order to assess and treat issues related to sexual function after brain injury
3. Learn communication strategies to comfortably assess the sexual function of people after brain injury and their significant others

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About Dr. Abe Snaiderman, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Snaiderman is an Assistant Professor in both the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is the founding directory of the Neuropsychiatry Clinic at the University Health Network – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Brain and Spinal Cord Program where he has worked for the past 27 years. He has been involved in the field of physical and neurologic trauma for many years.

As a clinician teacher he has been involved in training medical students, residents, fellows and ancillary health professionals as well as the general public for more than 25 years.

He is a member of the Exam Board and an examiner in Psychiatry for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and winner of the Ivan Silver Award for Excellence in Mental Health Education given by the University of Toronto.

He is the vice chair of the board of directors of Community Head Injury Services and a member of several advisory boards for acquired brain injury organizations, initiatives and programs.

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FOOD & MOOD: Exploring the Science of Nutrition and Mental Health

This talk will discuss the cutting-edge research that links nutrition with mental health. The science of how diet influences anxiety and depression will be illustrated. And finally, information regarding how to use food to promote mental health will be shared.

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About Dr. Mary "Sco" Scourboutakos, BSc, MD, PhD

Mary Sco. is a “double-doctor” devoted to nutrition and disease prevention. Mary holds a BSc, PhD (in Nutritional Sciences) and MD from the University of Toronto. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at Women’s College Hospital. Her research has been published in prestigious medical journals and helped informed policy debates at Queen’s Park and Toronto’s City Hall. She has appeared on CBC, CTV, CP24 and TVO.

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Music Therapy to Address Rehabilitation and Psychosocial Goals Following an ABI: Why It Matters and How It Works

Most people use music for entertainment or relaxation.  Some may play an instrument for fun or as a creative outlet. However, because of its neural distribution and engagement, music and its elements can also provide powerful and unique neural stimuli for the rehabilitation of non-musical behaviours following an ABI. Goal areas include speech, motor, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Furthermore, the inherent expressive qualities of music provide opportunity to address a wide range of psychosocial goals including self-expression and affirmation or the reduction of anxiety or depression.

This presentation will discuss the impact of music on non-musical behaviours and the use of Neurologic Music Therapy ® to address functional rehabilitation goals.  It will also explore the use of music to address psychosocial goals and to support emotional healing. 

Case study examples will be included. A music background is not required to participate in music therapy.

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About Dr. Cheryl Jones, PhD, MTA

Dr. Cheryl Jones earned her PhD in Music and Health Sciences at the University of Toronto and her Master of Music Therapy, with a focus on Music-centered Psychotherapy, from Wilfrid Laurier University.  She has taught in the music therapy departments of 3 universities: Wilfrid Laurier University, Concordia University, and the University of Miami and is a regular guest lecturer at universities and conferences. She is a member of the Music and Health Research Institute (Ottawa University) and the Conrad Institute of Music Therapy Research (Wilfrid Laurier University) and currently serves on the advisory council for the Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy.  Her research interests include music-based cognitive rehabilitation and the use of Therapeutic Music Training to address cognitive and psychosocial goals, including improved sense-of-self, following ABI.

Dr. Jones currently maintains a full-time clinical practice, in-person in the Ottawa area, and virtually.  In addition to being an accredited music therapist, she is also a registered psychotherapist.

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How to Take Your Power Back After Winning the Bad Luck Lottery

In the summer of 2020, Kimberley Black was violently attacked by a stranger while out for a walk in her neighbourhood. Following her attack, Kimberley was diagnosed with global brain damage and placed in a week-long coma while awaiting reconstructive jaw surgery. The healing support she received in the months that followed, by health care professionals, her husband, and the community, enabled her to make the cognitive recovery needed to defend her master’s thesis shortly after returning home. Kimberley is determined to use her experience to raise awareness about the causes of gender-based violence, to share what the research says about how to develop resilience, and to inspire victimized women to take their power back.

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About Kimberley Black,

Kimberley Black is a public speaker and advocate, helping others build resilience while promoting an end to gender-based violence through her #bpositive message.