Brett Favre revealed he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The Super Bowl champion and legendary quarterback estimates he's suffered countless brain injuries over the course of his NFL career. He joined host and traumatic brain injury survivor, Christina Brown Fisher, sharing his concerns about his future and cognitive decline.…

Writer, journalist, and traumatic brain injury survivor, Christina Brown Fisher speaks with former linebacker Jarrett Irons about the impact of brain injury. His father, Gerald Irons, played in the National Football League for ten years. Gerald was a linebacker for the Oakland Raiders and is listed as one of the top 100 players for the Cleveland Br…

Writer, journalist, U.S. Air Force Veteran, and traumatic brain injury survivor, Christina Brown Fisher speaks with Dr. Russell Gore who is the chief medical officer of the Avalon Action Alliance (www.avalonactionalliance.org). The Avalon Action Alliance is a national network of programs treating mild and complex traumatic brain injury, for first r…

In 2015, at the World Tour Finals in Whistler, Canada, professional skier Jamie MoCrazy suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The elite athlete collapsed into a coma on the mountain as doctors raced to treat multiple brain bleeds. Her recovery meant learning how to talk, walk and ski again. Today, she leads the non-profit, MoCrazy Strong Foundat…

It is estimated nearly 30-percent of Covid-19 survivors continue to suffer from symptoms following their bout with the illness. Researcher and neuropsychologist James Jackson, Psy.D., is the author of the new book Clearing the Fog: From Surviving to Thriving with Long-COVID, A Practical Guide. The author of more than 90 scientific publications, Dr.…

Whether amateur or pro, the international Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) consensus statement impacts the care received by players if hit in the head during a game. Steven Broglio, PhD. is the director of the Michigan Concussion Center, the Neurotrauma Research Laboratory, and co-author of the CISG consensus statement. He is also a professor of at…

Read the transcript. Tune in to our Summer Brainstorm virtual speaker series presentation “’The Brainlash’ Way with author Gail L. Denton, PhD. Dr. Denton shares lessons, tips and strategies on living with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) As a patient turned professional MTBI life coach, Dr. Denton shares her first-hand insights and offers down-t…

2023 Spring BrainStorm Read the transcript Kessler Foundation, in partnership with the Voices Advancing the Brain Injury Community (Voices), hosted a Mike-at-the-Mic session entitled “Transition to the World After Brain Injury.” A lively panel discussion – including facilitator Michael Greenwald and brain injury survivors - Sharon Naulty, Scott Pom…

Former Division I soccer player turned race car driver, Anna Kouba Bowers, comes from a long line of professional racing drivers. Her family's legacy in American car racing dates back to the 1930s, beginning with her grandfather Earl Kouba. In 2018, her dreams of continuing to follow in the family's footsteps nearly came to an end following a traum…

Former mixed martial arts competitor Emily Fisher found her way into the octagon, in part, because of her husband Spencer Fisher, a popular UFC fighter. After his crushing defeat to Hermes Franca, in 2007, Spencer changed in ways Emily couldn't understand. Five years later an abnormal brain scan showed lesions on Spencer's brain, bringing his caree…

After a scan revealed lesions on the brain, the UFC career of Spencer Fisher would soon come to an end. But the instincts of the popular MMA fighter, once called 'The King' weren't to seek treatment, but to find a doctor who'd clear him to fight again. Spencer Fisher shares his story of denial, his loss of identity as a fighter, and his daily fight…

Mindful Meditation Ep. 5 - 10-Minute Silence with Bell Tones Meditation, Extended Version Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals wi…

Mindful Meditation Ep. 5 - 5-Minute Silence with Bell Tones Meditation Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while allevi…

Mindful Meditation Ep. 4 - 10-Minute Loving Kindness Meditation Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating d…

Mindful Meditation Ep. 4 - 20-Minute Loving Kindness Meditation, Extended Version Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI w…

Mindful Meditation Ep. 3 - 10 Minute Body Scan Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating depression and anx…

Mindful Meditation Ep. 3 - 20 Minute Body Scan Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating depression and anx…

Mindful Meditation Ep. 2 Extended - 10-MInute Awareness of Breath Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating…

Mindful Meditation Ep. 2 - 5-MInute Awareness of Breath Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating depressio…

Mindful Meditation Ep. 1 - Welcome Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating depression and anxiety. Each m…

Christina Brown Fisher, journalist and traumatic brain injury survivor, speaks with former supermodel Claudia Mason. A fashion icon who’d graced the covers of Vogue, Elle, and Cosmopolitan, Mason found herself under a different spotlight after suffering a brain injury.Oleh Christina Brown Fisher

At age 18, Matt Faulkner’s entire life changed in an instant. In this powerful podcast, the co-author of the book Most Likely to Survive and subject of the documentary "Recovery," recounted his journey from near death to remarkable recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI). After spending almost two months in a coma, he underwent intensive neurolo…

Christina Brown Fisher, journalist and traumatic brain injury survivor, speaks with Harvard Medical School associate professor in psychiatry, Eve Valera, PhD. Dr. Valera is a research scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and has been investigating the impact of brain injury among those affected by domestic violence for more than 25 years.…

Life at Kessler Foundation - Episode 7 Ray Ruben, a research assistant in the center for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Research, discusses their dedication to recruiting and interacting with study participants to further the Foundation’s research in TBI and multiple sclerosis (MS). Listen to what encourages and motivates them to continue working on …

Christina Brown Fisher, journalist and traumatic brain injury survivor, speaks with the sister of Michael Hutchence. He was the lead singer of the Australian rock band INXS until he died by suicide in 1997. Tina Hutchence says her brother kept a secret from their family, the band, and his fans. Five years before his death, Michael Hutchence suffere…

This series is supported by Kessler Foundation, the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System, and by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Grant #90DPTB0003. View the presentation slides Interested in joining a study? ★ Support this podcast ★…

Christina Brown Fisher, journalist and traumatic brain injury survivor, talks to brain health advocate and former NFL player Ben Utecht. By the time Utecht was 30-years-old he’d suffered at least five diagnosed concussions and was already experiencing memory loss. The former Super Bowl champion discusses his road to recovery, how the game has evolv…

Read the transcript. This series is supported by Kessler Foundation, the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System, and by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Grant #90DPTB0003. View the presentation slides and the video Interested in joining a study? ================…

Read the transcript The Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System proudly presents “Moving Forward: Personal Perspectives on Life after Brain Injury,” a virtual speakers series. Funding source: This podcast was supported under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR; grant …

Ever wonder what it’s like to become a participant in a clinical research study? This podcast outlines all aspects of recruitment, vetting, protocols, and considerations for joining a study and dispels common misconceptions often fostered by Hollywood movies or TV shows. Jessica Ganga, Communications & Digital Media Coordinator at the Foundation, m…

In this episode, Dr. Vikram Shenoy Handiru, associate research scientist in our Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research talks about his peer-reviewed article “Graph-theoretical analysis of EEG functional connectivity during balance perturbation in traumatic brain injury: A pilot study” e-published on July 26, 2021 in the journal…

Welcome to another Kessler Foundation podcast! Read the transcript In this episode, the Foundation’s Jessica Ganga, Communications & Digital Media Coordinator, and Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer, had the opportunity to speak with Ali Welch. She multitasks as mother, schoolteacher, and caregiver to her husband Pete, who was diagnosed with traum…

Fast Takes – Episode 12 View the transcript. In this episode Dr. Rakesh Pilkar, senior research scientist from our Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research at Kessler Foundation talks about his latest peer reviewed article "Evaluating Sensory Acuity as a Marker of Balance Dysfunction After a Traumatic Brain Injury: A Psychophysic…

Fast Takes – Episode 15 Read the transcription Welcome to a Fast Takes #WomenInScience podcast honoring the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Celebrated on February 11th, this United Nations initiative recognizes the critical role of women and girls in science and technology communities and calls for strengthening of their participat…

Fast Takes - Episode 6 In this episode, Dr. Helen Genova, assistant director of our Center for Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research at Kessler Foundation talks about her study " Using virtual reality to improve job reentry in adults with traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial.“ This is a three-year study funded by the National I…

My Life As A Research Assistant: Silvio Lavrador on Traumatic Brain Injury Data Collection at Kessler Foundation *** Originally recorded on April 14, 2016, updated September 25, 2020. *** *** Silvio is currently a Realtor/Marketing Director for Realty 33 in Northern New Jersey.*** Read the transcript Welcome to our podcast series, “My Life As A Res…

My Life As A Research Assistant: Gabriel Felix on Learning to Interact in a Clinical Setting Read the transcript. *** Originally recorded on June 9, 2016, updated July 20, 2020. *** *** Currently, Gabriel is a resident physician at Cambridge Health Alliance.*** Welcome to our podcast series, “My Life As A Research Assistant”. This series is brought…

My Life as A Research Assistant at Kessler Foundation Series: Denise Vasquez on Participants are Everything Read the transcript *** Originally recorded on April 14, 2016, updated June 19, 2020.*** *** Currently, Denise is a registered nurse in an ICU Stepdown Unit in Northern New Jersey.*** Welcome to our podcast series, “My Life As A Research Assi…

My Life as A Research Assistant at Kessler Foundation Series: Christian Lucca on Balancing Research and Clinical Skills Read the transcript *** Originally recorded on March 29, 2016, updated August 5, 2020.*** *** Currently, Christian is a neuropsychology extern at Staten Island University Hospital.*** Welcome to our podcast series, “My Life As A R…

My Life as A Research Assistant at Kessler Foundation Series: Andrea Trotta Gagliano On A First Look at TBI Research Read the transcript *** Originally recorded on March 31st, 2016, updated July 13, 2020 *** *** Andrea is currently a Research Coordinator in the Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research at Kessler Foundation*** Welcome to our newes…

Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on society can interfere with sleep in a variety of ways, making existing issues more difficult for people with disabilities and/or bringing about new challenges. Listen as Dr. Erica Weber interviews neuropsychologist Dr. Anthony Lequerica, senior research scientist at Kessler Foundation, and an …

In this podcast, we discuss with Dr. Genova how problems with social cognition (referring to the brain's ability to interpret and react to interactions with others) may be exacerbated during quarantine, and how to reduce the impact of these difficulties on relationships in the household. Dr. Weber also provides insight into how individuals with MS …

These experts discuss challenges often faced by caregivers of persons with TBI and how symptoms may be exacerbated during sheltering in place, along with recommendations to reduce stress in the household while remaining vigilant, safe, and healthy. Read the transcription at kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/…NSCRIPTION.pdf To learn more about our…

What to know about traumatic brain injuries

Welcome to the 2019 Brain Injury Conference - Brain Injury Rehabilitation: The Health & Wellness Connection sponsored by Kessler Institute Rehabilitation and Kessler Foundation. In this lecture podcast Irene Ward, PT, DPT, NCS, Brain Injury Clinical Research Coordinator at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation presents “BMI in TBI: When is it Safe t…

Welcome to the 2019 Brain Injury Conference - Brain Injury Rehabilitation: The Health & Wellness Connection sponsored by Kessler Institute Rehabilitation and Kessler Foundation. In this lecture podcast Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, Director of Neuropsychology, Neuroscience Research and Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Kessler Foundation presents “Cogni…

Welcome to the 2019 Brain Injury Conference - Brain Injury Rehabilitation: The Health & Wellness Connection sponsored by Kessler Institute Rehabilitation and Kessler Foundation. Each year, an estimated 2.8 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury and face a wide range of physical, functional, emotional and social challenges. This course w…

Welcome to the 2019 Brain Injury Conference - Brain Injury Rehabilitation: The Health & Wellness Connection sponsored by Kessler Institute Rehabilitation and Kessler Foundation. In this lecture podcast Kelly Kearns, PsyD, Neuropsychologist at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation presents “Relationships after TBI”. Program Summary Each year, an esti…

Welcome to the 2019 Brain Injury Conference - Brain Injury Rehabilitation: The Health & Wellness Connection sponsored by Kessler Institute Rehabilitation and Kessler Foundation. In this lecture podcast Neil Jasey, MD, Director of Brain Injury Rehabilitation at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation presents “Maximizing Recovery After Brain Injury”. P…