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Hundreds of Spinal Cord Injury and Disease Health Care Professionals Attend Paralyzed Veterans 5th Annual Summit & EXPO
[September 01, 2015]

Hundreds of Spinal Cord Injury and Disease Health Care Professionals Attend Paralyzed Veterans 5th Annual Summit & EXPO


Beginning today, Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) will host more than 700 health care professionals at its 2015 Summit + EXPO September 1-3, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida. The annual Summit brings together hundreds of doctors, nurses, occupational, recreational and physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists and researchers to learn about the latest scientific achievements, treatments and therapies in spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) health care. David Shulkin, Undersecretary for Health for the Department of Veterans Affairs, will give the keynote address on Wednesday.

"Paralyzed Veterans is dedicated to providing support for educational programs that contribute to the care of individuals living with SCI/D, MS, ALS and TBI. That's why we invest so much in clinical research and education initiatives like this Summit; to work to improve this type of specialty health care," said Lana McKenzie, associate executive director of Medical Services and Health Policy for Paralyzed Veterans of America, and chairman of the PVA Summit Task Force.

"We are very proud to host the Summit for the fifth year in a row so that health care professionals and researchers in these fields can come together and share best practices that they can take home and immediately put to use to improve the care of an SCI/D, MS, ALS or TBI patient," said McKenzie.

This year's Summit will offer more than 73 sessions and 25 E-learning posters over three days. Summit attendees will have the opportunity to earn up to 23 Continuing Education Units while hearing from renowned leaders from medicine, health care, policy and government. Attendees representing multiple disciplines from the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as private health care institutions will come together to network, collaborate and share knowledge.

On Tuesday, the 2015 Advocacy/Clinical Excellence Awards will be presented to the followingindividuals: Itala Wickremasinghe, MD, North Texas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX-Physician Award; Mary Susan Biggins, RN, MBA, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL-Nurse Award; Jeri Muse, PhD, DAAPM, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA (News - Alert)-Psychologist Award; and Adrienne Toubbeh, OTR/L, New Mexico VA Healthcare System, Albuquerque, NM-Therapist Award.

Paralyzed Veterans of America established the Advocacy/Clinical Excellence Award in 2013 to recognize clinicias for providing exceptional professional achievement, contributions and advocacy for spinal cord injury/disorder, multiple sclerosis and ALS health care.



The Summit EXPO will be open to attendees September 1-2 and will feature the latest in technology, medical devices and supplies, and other equipment to assist individuals living with spinal cord injury or disease live life to their fullest.

For more information about Summit 2015, please visit www.summitpva.org.


NOTE TO MEDIA: To arrange an interview with one of our spokespeople, please email [email protected].

About Paralyzed Veterans of America
Paralyzed Veterans of America is the only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the benefit and representation of veterans with spinal cord injury or disease. For nearly 70 years, we have ensured that veterans have received the benefits earned through their service to our nation; monitored their care in VA spinal cord injury units; and funded research and education in the search for a cure and improved care for individuals with paralysis.

As a partner for life, Paralyzed Veterans also develops training and career services, works to ensure accessibility in public buildings and spaces, provides health and rehabilitation opportunities through sports and recreation and advocates for veterans and all people with disabilities. With more than 70 offices and 34 chapters, Paralyzed Veterans serves veterans, their families and their caregivers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (www.pva.org)


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