Our brain is the control center for our lives. Everything we do, think, or feel is processed in our brain. The way our brain functions defines who we are, how we live, and how we interact with others, so when a brain is damaged, the results can be devastating to the individual as well as to his or her family members, friends, and co-workers.
Join us as we talk about traumatic brain injuries with Dr. Thomas Watanabe, clinical director of the Drucker Brain Injury Center at MossRehab in Philadelphia. In addition to discussing the impact a TBI can have on a person’s physical capabilities, we talk about how it can also impact an individual’s personality, and why people who have sustained a brain injury should avoid drinking alcohol. If you’d like more information about the impact traumatic brain injuries and strategies for treatment, check out the Brain Injuries Fact Sheet provided by Moss Rehab.
Dr. Watanabe is actively involved in inpatient and outpatient clinical care as well as research and training of resident physicians and medical students. His primary clinical and research focus is on the medical management of individuals with traumatic brain injury. He’s authored numerous research and review articles and book chapters related to rehabilitation medicine, and he lectures extensively at conferences throughout the world. In addition to all of that, he is an Associate Professor at the Temple University School of Medicine.
We also visit with Dr. Mary Lovely, Senior Advisor with The American Brain Tumor Association. Dr. Lovely is a PHD certified neuro science registered nurse. She has an extraordinary background in neuro science and neuro oncology. She earned a Doctorate in Nursing focusing on brain tumor symptom management, and has over 20 years’ experience in working with patients and families afflicted with brain tumors. In addition to her work with the American Brain Tumor Association, she is an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the School of Nursing at University of California San Francisco.
We wrap up the program with a conversation with Howard Martin, Executive Vice President of HeartMath. We talk about relaxation strategies for caregivers. Howard is an author, speaker, musician and trainer. He is a member of the Transformational Leadership Counsel, an exclusive organization founded by author Jack Canfiel. He’s also a member of Evolutionary Leaders an organization founded by Depak Chopra consisting of leaders in the field of conscious evolution.
Caring for a loved one who has suffered an injury to the brain, whether it is due to an injury, a tumor, a stroke, or a progressive and degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s can be frustrating and heartbreaking. If you’d like help coping with the emotional stress you are experiencing as a result of caring for a loved one, be sure to visit Elaine’s website CaregiverHelp.com.