2026 Acquired Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Symposium
Course Description
This interdisciplinary symposium will focus on the current evidence-based practice and research for the treatment of those with acquired brain injury and spinal cord injury. The symposium will provide an education opportunity for rehabilitation professionals focusing on medical management and rehabilitative treatment interventions.
Course Learning Objectives
- The participant will be able to describe how medical interventions affect functional recovery.
- The participant will describe current research in acquired brain injury and spinal cord injury.
- The participant will be able to list therapeutic interventions utilized post acquired brain injury and spinal cord injury.
Registration Information
| Early Bird (Before 9/22/26) | Late registration (after 9/22/26) | |
|---|---|---|
| Visiting Professionals | $225.00 | $250.00 |
| Barrow/Dignity Health Employees | $200.00 | $225.00 |
| Student Attendee | $100.00 | $100.00 |
Refund and cancellation policy: Barrow reserves the right to cancel or change the program for due causes. Cancellation of this program by Barrow or by the participant before October 3rd will result in a full refund of tuition. Please contact the CME office at CME@BarrowNeuro.org at least 7 days prior to the start of the symposium for any special needs requests or accommodations.
CEU Information
- To obtain OT or PT CEUs from this symposium, you must login and logout and be in attendance throughout the agenda to receive full CEUs. PT, OT, and SLP are not eligible for partial credit and must attend the course in its entirety to receive CEUs.
- Completion of the online post course evaluation is required. SLP’s must compete the post course evaluation and select their discipline in order to provide their ASHA number and give consent for CEUs to be submitted to ASHA on their behalf.
- Satisfactory completion of this course includes full participation/attendance as well as completion of the post course evaluation. The post course evaluation with provision of your ASHA number must be completed in order to receive your CEUs. Following the closing of the course you will receive the evaluation via the email you used to register.
Hybrid Event
October 3-4, 2026
Date, Time, and Location
In-Person Goldman Auditorium & Virtual Availability
Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4, 2026
Target Audience
This program is designed for allied health professionals who treat people with acquired brain injury and spinal cord injury, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists.
Speaker Information
All times refer to Arizona time (Pacific Daylight Time).
Meal Information: Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are provided. Vegetarian options will be available.
| Time | SPeaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 7:55 AM | Day 1 | |
| 7:55 AM | Candyce Williams, MD | Welcome |
| 8:00 AM | Keynote: Andrei Krassioukov, MD, PhD, FRCPC | From Spinal Cord Injury to the Paralympic Podium: Cardiovascular Control and Elite Sport Participation |
| 9:00 AM | Christina Kwasnica, MD | Sports Concussion-Partnerships and Building the Team |
| 9:55 AM | Break | |
| Concurrent at 10:15 AM | Angelina Hibberd,OTD, OTR/L Julia Wall, PT, PhD | Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation: Translation from Research to Clinical Practice |
| Concurrent at 10:15 AM | Kelsey Raab, MS, CCC-SLP | When Swallowing Competes: Dysphagia Under Cognitive Load in ABI |
| 11:00 AM | Noland Arbaugh | Groundbreaking Brain-Computer Interface: Insights from Patient One |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch Break | |
| 1:00 PM | Connie Weglarz, PT, DPT, NCS | When the Brain Spins: Central Dizziness Recognition and Rehabilitation |
| Concurrent at 1:45 PM | Lisa Kerfoot, PT, DPT | Integrated Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and Indications for Home Use |
| Concurrent at 1:45 PM | Carolyn Abraham, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S | Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) for Swallowing, Trends and Advancement |
| 2:30 PM | Nina Carmela R. Tamayo, DO, MS, MOPH | The Road Less Accessible: Navigating Domestic and International Travel for People with Disabilities |
| 3:15 PM | Break | |
| 3:30 PM | Sara Finkelstein, MD, MSc | The ABCs of FND |
| 4:30 PM | Kaitlyn Verfuerth, MS, CTRS, PLY | Grand Canyon Expedition: Impact on Well-Being and Quality of Life for Individuals with Disabilities |
| 5:15 PM | Adjourn | |
| 7:55 AM | Day 2 | |
| 7:55 AM | Candyce Williams, MD | Welcome |
| 8:00 AM | Keynote: Sunil Sabharwal, MD | The Why, What, and How of Age-Friendly Spinal Cord Injury Care |
| 9:00 AM | Yonas Geda, MD | Mild Cognitive Impairment |
| 10:00 AM | Break | |
| Concurrent at 10:15 AM | Lori Dias, CPO James McCalmont, CPO | Stability to Mobility: AFO and KAFO Bracing Solutions in Neurologic Rehabilitation |
| Concurrent at 10:15 AM | Jeremy Legaspi, MS, CCC-SLP | Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for Disorders of Consciousness and Severe TBI |
| 11:00 AM | Dr. Tenee Lopez | Pain After Stroke in Inpatient Rehabilitation |
| 11:45 AM | Lunch Break | |
| 12:45 PM | Jessica Potvin, PhD, ABN | Behavior Management: Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Clients with Brain Injury |
| 1:30 PM | Alejandra Arroyo, OTR/L, OTD | Lost in Translation: Disparities in Neurorehabilitation Access and Outcomes for Non-English-Speaking Patients |
| 2:15 PM | Emily Kingston Ashleigh Justice Brenna Warnick Katie Chun, PT, DPT | Pregnancy and Postpartum with Spinal Cord Injury: A Patient Panel |
| 3:00 PM | Adjourn |
Disclosures
Barrow Faculty
Candyce Williams, MD
Financial disclosures – None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Christina Kwasnica, MD
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Kelsey, Raab, MS, CCC-SLP
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Connie Weglarz, PT, DPT, NCS
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Carolyn Abraham, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Kaitlyn Verfuerth, MS, CTRS, PLY
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Yonas Geda, MD
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Jessica Potvin, PhD, ABN
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Alejandra Arroyo, OTD, OTR/L
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Katie Chun, PT, DPT
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Tenee Lopez, MD
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Guest Faculty
Andrei Krassioukov, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Financial disclosures – Consultant for Convateck, Coloplast, ONWARD, WEIspect
Non-financial disclosures – Past President of the American Spinal Injury Association
Angelina Hibberd, OTD, OTR/L
Financial disclosures –None
Non-financial disclosures –Clinical trial site for ONWARD Medical, Aneuvo (Niche Biomedical), and SpineX, which are all manufacturers of transcutaneous spinal stimulators.
Julia Wall, PT, PhD
Financial disclosures –None
Non-financial disclosures –Clinical trial site for ONWARD Medical, Aneuvo (Niche Biomedical), and SpineX, which are all manufacturers of transcutaneous spinal stimulators.
Noland Arbaugh
Financial disclosures –None
Non-financial disclosures –PRIME (Neuralink) study participant presenting on firsthand experience with brain-computer interface technology and related care. Participation in the study and clinical relationship with Barrow Neurological Institute and associated care team.
Lisa Kerfoot, PT, DPT
Financial disclosures –None
Non-financial disclosures –Full-time Employee at Restorative Therapies. Educational content will not have commercial bias or speak solely of RTI products.
Nina Carmela R. Tamayo, DO, MS, MOPH
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Sara Finkelstein, MD, MSc
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Sunil Sabharwal, MD
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Lisa Dias, CPO
Financial disclosures –None
Non-financial disclosures –Full-time Employee at Hanger Orthotics. Educational content will not have commercial bias or speak solely of Hanger products
James McCalmont, CPO
Financial disclosures –None
Non-financial disclosures – Full-time Employee at Hanger Orthotics. Educational content will not have commercial bias or speak solely of Hanger products.
Jeremy Lagaspi, MD, CCC-SLP-AAC
Financial disclosures –None
Non-financial disclosures – Full-time at PRC-Saltillo- Educational content will not have commercial bias.
Emily Kingston
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Ashleigh Justice
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None
Brenna Warnick
Financial disclosures– None
Non-financial disclosures – None