Montclair State University

Photo: Garry Rideout

Julian P. Keenan, professor of psychology and director of the Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory at Montclair State addresses the Neurotrauma Symposium audience.

In association with the 2008 International Conference on Behavioral Health and Traumatic Brain Injury sponsored by St. Joseph’s Healthcare System, Montclair State hosted a day-long Neurotrauma Symposium in the Kasser Theater on October 13. Focusing on the latest scientific, medical, and technical advances in the care of neurotrauma patients, the symposium featured leaders in the field of brain injury research who spoke on the state of the science in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

“This is a field that is a critical one at any time, but especially so in a time of war,” said President Susan Cole in her remarks that opened the symposium. “We’re very proud to partner with St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center to host this timely and critical neurotrauma seminar sponsored by St. Joseph’s Healthcare System.”

The nearly 200 attendees—mostly physicians, neurotrauma specialists, brain injury therapists and other health care professionals—listened attentively to presentations on topics such as “Guidelines for the Surgical Management of Traumatic Brain Injury,” by neurosurgeon Anthony L. D’Ambrosio, M.D., “Neuropsychological Evaluation and Concussion Guidelines,” by neuropsychologist Rosemarie Scolaro Moser, Ph.D., and “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after Traumatic Brain Injury: Issues in Diagnosis and Treatment,” by psychiatrist Lauren La Porta, M.D.

Montclair State was represented on the agenda by Julian P. Keenan, Ph.D., professor of psychology and director of the Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory. He discussed the brain and behavioral relationship between the self and deception in his presentation, “The Brain and Denial: From Self to Self-deception.”

The ultimate goal of the International Conference—of which the Neurotrauma Symposium was a part—is for the experts to examine the issues in research, treatment, and family and ethics in order to make recommendations to the Congress of the United States regarding the need to improve outcomes and quality of life for people coping with PTSD and TBI.

Article Entered Into News System: Tuesday, October 14 2008
Article Last Edited: Tuesday, October 14 2008