Brain Health Collective Symposium
Mark your calendars for the fourth annual Brain Health Collective Symposium on March 6, 2026! More details to come.
The third annual Symposium was a dynamic and engaging event held on March 7, 2025. This year's theme was “Pathways to a Healthy Life After Brain Injury.” The event drew 125 attendees: a mix of healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, brain injury survivors, caregivers,college students, and community members. The event featured two keynote speakers, one general session, six breakout sessions, eleven resource booths, six student research posters, a silent auction, a social hour, and excellent networking opportunities.
The third Symposium was approved for OT (3.5 contact hours), PT (4.25 contact hours), and general CEUs (5 contact hours), as well as AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Please reach out to brainhealth@udayton.edu with any questions.
Sponsorship Levels pt.1
Sponsorship Levels pt.2
Mark Rogal- Retired Teacher/Current Football Coach at Bellbrook High School
Tina Rezash Rogal- Behavioral Health Professional
Mark and Tina will share their journey following three accidents in 18 months that left Mark with a traumatic brain injury. They will share their story and message of hope and healing.
Dr. Meredith Montgomery, LPCC-S, Associate Professor
This session provides insight into the changing social, emotional, and relational needs of brain injury survivors during the recovery process and beyond. It will include strategies to help brain injury survivors better relate to others, as well as how loved ones can cope with potential challenges.
Mary Jo McGuire, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, Executive Director of Rehab Educators
This session describes the relationship between the visual and vestibular systems, the impact of vestibulo-ocular and multisensory integration impairments, and relates multisensory impairments to the fear of being alone, anxiety, and decrease in exploratory behavior. It will also relay various assessment tools and strategies that can be used to identify impairments in vestibulo-ocular function, and intervention strategies that can facilitate multisensory integration and improve occupational performance.
Kim Estess, Attorney at Law, O’Diam & Estess Law Group
Gregory Darling, Executive Director — The Disability Foundation
This session introduces long-term financial and legal planning for individuals with special needs. It covers public assistance programs and the need for Special Needs Trusts, as well as a brief history on the creation of Special Needs Trusts and how they work.
Eamon Lilly, MS, RD-AP, LD, CNSC
This session explores the impact nutrition can have on recovery from brain injuries, as well as how brain injuries can pose unique barriers to obtaining optimal nutrition.
Megan Skidmore, PT, DPT
This session provides an overview of the role that exercise plays in brain health, supported by the latest evidence on the effects of high intensity exercise.
Julie Fasick-Johnson, E-RYT
This is an interactive presentation where we will discuss the benefits of yoga as it relates to TBI and then participate in several yoga postures along with breathwork to support improved sleep, increased mobility, and overall calmness.
Teresa Weiser, OTR/L
This session provides educational and rehabilitation professionals and survivors of TBI, an opportunity to update, share and/or validate their knowledge, based on evidence-based interventions related to cognitive strategies. The presenter will discuss client-centered individualized approaches in developing an effective plan of care to return to previous roles. The course content areas include a brief review of the functions of the various lobes of the brain, assessment tools used to identify cognitive strengths and limitations and strategies based on the information gathered.
