Working Group Member, Concussion/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program

Scientific discoveries about concussions have received a lot of media attention lately, but many unanswered questions remain about diagnosis and treatment. A research team at the University of British Columbia is seeking patient partners to help inform their work on advancing concussion research and care.

Open to: Patient partners in the Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley

Lead Organization or Department

Rehabilitation Research Program & University of British Columbia (UBC), Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Aim

• To better understand how to maximize recovery from concussion and translate new knowledge about concussion into improved patient care.
• Patient partners will help us pick research priorities, make decisions about research strategies, and co-create materials to educate patients and doctors about concussions. The patient partners will be asked to contribute to one or more research studies.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the research partner will work together with you to formulate solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

Eligibility

This invitation is being extended to patient partners in the Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley who have:

• Personally experienced a concussion or traumatic brain injury within the last five years;
• Worked in a group setting;
• Comfort telling their story and sharing input.

If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and Volunteer Agreement, are unsure if your experience is a good fit or feel another format of engagement would work better with your availability, please contact Jami Brown directly.

Logistics

• Vacancies: 4
• Date/time: To be determined, in consultation with patient partners
• Commitment: 1-2 hours per month, 7 months to a year long.
• Location: In oerson and teleconference. In-person meetings will typically be held at GF Strong Rehab Centre (4255 Laurel St, Vancouver)

Reimbursement

Reimbursement related to out of pocket expenses and travel to meetings (bus fare or parking at GF Strong Rehab Centre).

Background

The concussion/traumatic brain injury research program is led by Dr. Noah Silverberg, principal investigator and clinical associate professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of British Columbia. Researchers from around the world and specialties ranging from emergency medicine to psychiatry contribute to this program. Ongoing research studies aim to:

1. improve methods of assessing recovery from concussion,
2. evaluate a non-drug treatment for post-traumatic headaches,
3. train family doctors to use new return to activity guidelines, and
4. support family doctors to screen for and treat priority symptoms soon after a concussion.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Jami Brown
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Fraser Valley
604.510.0449
jbrown@bcpsqc.ca