Nation’s Largest Conference for Spinal Cord Impairment Professionals to be Held in Las Vegas
United Spinal Association will play host to over 1,400 health care professionals in the field of spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) at its Annual Conference, September 6-8, 2005 at the Riviera Hotel. The meeting is the largest gathering of SCI/D professionals in the country and provides a forum for three professional associations to hold member-specific conferences concurrently for professional information exchange and continuing education.
“For over 50 years, United Spinal has sponsored research and educational opportunities that advance spinal cord medicine,” said Gerard M. Kelly, executive director of the United Spinal Association. “These conferences promote excellence in meeting the health care needs of individuals with spinal cord injury.”
New this year will be the Therapy Leadership Council on Spinal Cord Injury––a forum to identify and discuss common rehabilitation issues and emerging trends within SCI therapy, while establishing a network for the collaborative development of strategies and standards based on current research.
In its 51st year, The American Paraplegia Society (APS) represents physicians and researchers in the field of spinal cord impairment from the United States and Canada. APS convenes to report state-of-the-art techniques, disseminate information about scientific and technological advancements, and discuss developments in research.
The American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses (AASCIN) will mark its 22nd annual gathering this year and will educate members, report on research findings and impart important information regarding the nurse’s role in health care for SCI patients. The conference also provides an opportunity to recognize outstanding nurses who have devoted their careers to enhancing the lives of people with SCI.
The American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers (AASCIPSW) will convene its 19th annual conference to promote education and research on the psychosocial aspects of SCI. AASCIPSW will be reporting the latest standards on health care as well as national health care policy that impacts the lives of people with SCI. Conferees will also identify new treatments and technologies to improve the psychosocial care of SCI/D patients.
The conferences feature professional presentations, workshops, and keynote addresses by internationally renowned experts, as well as abstracts and poster presentations. The event also offers continuing education credits and accreditation. Vendors will be showcasing innovative products, as well.
United Spinal Association has empowered people with spinal cord impairments for more than 59 years. The organization helped build the PVA-United Spinal Association Center for Neuroscience and Regeneration Research at Yale University in 1988 and they have contributed millions of dollars over the years to finding a cure for spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. United Spinal also provides significant annual funding to the Spinal Cord Damage Research Center at the Bronx VA Medical Center, where investigators study the impact of a spinal cord injury on other critical body systems.