BMO Education and Conference Centre at the Krembil Discovery Tower – Toronto Western Hospital

60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5T 2R1

This event will bring together UHN leaders in concussion research and treatment across disciplines to exchange ideas and discuss the topic of Concussion and Motor Vehicle Accidents. Topics for this exclusive, minimal cost opportunity include Clinical Outcomes Prediction, Training and Education, Ethics, Challenges of Implementation, Research Approaches, and Adjudicating Concussion Claims.

This one (1) day Concussion Conference is hosted by UHN Altum Health and will feature keynote speakers, training, & networking opportunities

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Charles H. Tator, OC, MD, PhD, FRCSC

UHN Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto and Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital. Founder, ThinkFirst Canada and Parachute Canada. Director, Canadian Concussion Centre.

Since the early 1970s, Dr. Charles Tator has had a resounding impact on spinal cord injury research, prevention and treatment, and training our next generation of leading surgical scientists. An eminent scientist, neurosurgeon, professor and administrator, his laboratory was the first in Canada to study acute spinal cord injury from a basic science perspective. Dr. Tator’s research transformed our world’s understanding of spinal cord injury and, in 1978, he developed one of the first experimental models of spinal cord injury in small laboratory animals.

In addition, Dr. Tator showed that post-traumatic ischemia is a major secondary injury mechanism. He invented the inclined plane technique of functional assessment. Dr. Tator was one of the first to recognize the proliferation of endogenous stem cells in the injured adult mammalian spinal cord, and to assess the therapeutic value of transplantation of adult spinal cord-derived stem cells after injury. He developed the first acute spinal cord injury unit in Canada, and he is known for the introduction of halo vests for treatment.

The breadth of Dr. Tator’s influence is perhaps best manifested by his work in prevention, particularly related to sports and recreation. His advocacy efforts resulted in the adoption of new legislation and guidelines to prevent spinal cord injury in hockey. In 1992, he founded ThinkFirst Canada, an organization that educates young people about safety.

A dedicated, kind and skillful surgeon, Dr. Tator’s loyalty to his patients is legendary. As chair of the division of neurosurgery at the University of Toronto (1989-1999), Dr. Tator fostered the growth of Canada’s surgical scientist training program, believing that aspiring academic surgeons should train in science at the highest level. His program gained national prominence and was admired by neurosurgical departments across Canada.

Dr. Tator played a key role in developing the Canadian Brain and Nerve Health Coalition (2002) which brought Canadian organizations together to promote increased research and public awareness of neurological conditions. Among many awards, Dr. Tator was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada (2000) and inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame (2003).

Dr. Firas A. T. Al-Rawi MBChB, MSc, ABHS-EM, MRCSEd(A&E), FRCP(C) EM, Dip Sport Med, Dip ABEM Lecturer

University of Toronto Staff Emergency Physician, UHN | Toronto General and Western Hospitals Sports Medicine Specialist, UHN | UHN Altum Health Medical Director, OHAP Program.

Dr. Al-Rawi is a specialist Emergency Physician with subspecialty training in Sports Medicine. Dr. Al-Rawi has been a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons since 2013. Dr. Al-Rawi also completed a one year fellowship in Sports & Exercise Medicine at McMaster University in his subspecialty training year. His fellowship focused on sports medicine with a special interest and training in concussion assessments and management. He is a Diplomate of the Canadian Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine (CASEM). Dr. Al-Rawi is on active staff at the University Health Network in Toronto at both Toronto Western and Toronto General Hospitals. Dr. Al-Rawi established his OHIP clinic at Altum Health in 2014 in response to under recognized and unserved area of concussion and sports medicine follow ups from the Emergency Departments.   The additional need of specialty and treatment follow up led to the establishment of a training program for the family health team at TWH as well as the first year UofT FRCP Emergency Medicine Residents with active participation from Dr. Al-Rawi.

Currently, Dr. Al-Rawi is a Medical Director for the Occupational Health Assessment Program (OHAP) at Altum Health. He is also a Clinician Teacher and Faculty member at the University of Toronto in the position of Lecturer awaiting his promotion to Assistant Professor and focusses his training on emergency medicine, MSK injuries and Concussions.

Dr. Shayna Nussbaum, Ph.D., C.Psych.

Clinical Rehabilitation & Neuropsychology, UHN Altum Health Neuropsychologist

Dr. Nussbaum received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Adult Clinical Psychology at the University of Windsor. She completed her Honours B.Sc. in Psychology at York University.

Her doctoral research focused on the impacts of cultural and psychological factors on neuropsychological testing and validity in people with brain injuries following motor vehicle accidents. She has worked clinically with people who have had concussions and other motor vehicle accident-related injuries and workplace accidents since 2010, and has published about the impact of culture and language on performance validity testing in neuropsychological assessment.

Other areas of particular interest for Dr. Nussbaum include emotional trauma, depression, and somatic symptom disorders. Dr. Nussbaum has completed research in trauma-focused therapy. She has worked at UHN, The Ottawa Hospital, and Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare in Windsor. Her clinical neuropsychological work has included inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation for brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, and musculoskeletal injury. She has also worked in dementia differential diagnosis, determination of suitability for deep brain stimulation, and sport-related concussion. She has also worked in a clinical and neuropsychological capacity with individuals with severe mental illness.

Currently, Dr. Nussbaum is involved in program development with the Neurology Specialty Program at Altum Health, providing collaborative direction regarding psychological assessment and intervention with clients who have had a workplace-related concussion and traumatic brain injury.

Alekos Soriano, B.Sc (Hons. Kin)

UHN Altum Health Manager of Auto Insurance and Employer Program

Alekos Soriano graduated from York University in 2007 with a Specialized Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences.  He is a Registered Kinesiologist with the College of Kinesiology of Ontario, Professional Member of the Ontario Kinesiology Association, and is Affiliated with the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance.

He has 10 years experience conducting fitness assessment protocols and 10 years experience developing, implementing, and monitoring individualized active exercise programs for home, community, and clinic based settings.   Alekos has also assisted in the development of safety protocols for conducting safe and efficient Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE) for the FCE Guidelines Committee.

Alekos is also a Certified Worksite Wellness Specialist through the National Wellness Institute.

Alekos has over 10 years of leadership, operations and clinical experience within the Independent Medical Examination industry. He has held roles as a Quality Assurance Manager, Clinical Practice Lead, and currently, Manager of Auto IE and Employer Program and UHN Altum Health. His wealth of knowledge and experience makes him an invaluable member in upholding the operations and quality that UHN Altum Health strives for.