AWARENESS MONTH ON MARCH 13, 2008, WITH DAY-LONG PROGRAM

COMMACK, NY, Feb. 8, 2008 – - A morning Plenary Session featuring distinguished newscasters, politicians and athletes, followed by Breakout Sessions covering a wide gamut of topics ranging from traumatic brain injury and the law to ethics and healthcare, will be hosted on Thursday, March 13, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by the Commack, NY-based Head Injury Association (HIA) in recognition of March being “National Brain Injury Awareness Month.”

According to Liz Giordano, CEO of HIA, the event will be moderated by Dr. Max Gomez, the medical reporter for WCBS-TV/Channel 2.  She also has added an impressive contingent of sports figures, including retired heavyweight boxing contender Renaldo Snipes, former NY Jets running back John Nitti, Gil Hodges, Jr. and others.  The event will take place at the Long Island Sheraton (located at 110 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway in Smithtown, NY.  For directions, call: [631) 231-1100).

Admission to the event is just $50 for professionals and only $25 for TBI survivors and their family members.

Seminar leaders for the afternoon session include:

• Dr. Marilyn Martone, St. John’s University – - “Ethics and Healthcare“
• Dr. Michael O’Dell, New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Center – - “Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Rehabilitation“
• Margaret Raustiala, Alliance of Long Island Agencies – - “TBI and Advocacy”
• Liz Giordano, Head Injury Association – - “TBI…After Everyone is gone, Where Do You Go.”

“In the U.S. today,” stated Giordano, “there are more than five million people who suffer from traumatic brain injury, which is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain.  A traumatic brain injury occurs every 12 seconds in this country . . . with death happening every 12 minutes.”

Giordano also pointed out that the leading causes of TBI are automotive, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents (48%); violence, such as firearm assaults and child abuse (20%); falls (20%); and assaults (more than 12%).  Among children ages 0 to 14 years of age, she noted that there are 2,685 deaths, 37,000 hospitalizations; and 435,000 emergency department visits annually.

For further information about traumatic brain injuries and the services available to individuals affected by them, call the Head Injury Association at 631-543-2245, ext. 200; or visit the organization on the web at www.headinjuryassoc.org.
For additional details about this special event, media should contact Ira H. Silverman or Erica Quagliata of Silverman Media&Marketing Group at 516-495-5280.

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