Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

The Brain Changes Initiative Brain Health Summit is a community event designed to promote brain health strategies, particularly for people who are recovering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Founded by Dr. Matthew Galati, a TBI survivor and physician, Brain Changes Initiative promotes a comprehensive approach to brain health through six pillars: aerobic exercise, cognitive training, mindfulness, nutrition, limiting harmful exposures, and sleep hygiene. The Brain Health Summit aims to facilitate meaningful connections and share information between researchers, clinicians, TBI survivors, and community members. The summit will include diverse keynote speeches, panel discussions, trainee poster sessions, and interactive activities. These sessions provide a platform for everyone to directly engage with brain health practices and share experiences within the six pillars. TBI survivors face a number of health inequalities compared to the average Canadian. The summit will bring their unique challenges to light by sharing personal stories and experiences and offer opportunities to engage in the six-pillar approach. We hope that after the 2.5 day event, people will leave with a better understanding of the diverse and often overlooked struggles TBI survivors endure, promoting a better understanding and more targeted support. The summit will emphasize the importance of TBI survivor engagement and collaborative research. By involving TBI survivors in both planning and presenting at the summit, their perspectives are at the forefront of the discussions and goals. Through this event, we aim to enhance the inclusion of TBI survivors in research and clinical practice, build stronger community engagement, and address some of the many health inequities faced by survivors.