Virginia Traumatic Brain Injury Model System

Virginia Commonwealth University
Box 980542
1314 West Main Street
Richmond VA 23298-0542

Project Officer: Cate Miller, Ph.D.
Project Number: 90DPTB0021

The goals of this project are to: (1) enroll and follow a diverse group of people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the National TBI Model Systems database; (2) evaluate the effectiveness of supplementing TBI rehabilitation care transitions with community health services to improve care partners outcomes; (3) assess the extent to which the racial, ethnic and disability identity of persons with TBI and their discrimination experiences affect disparities in TBI rehabilitation outcomes; and (4) translate research findings into accessible, usable, and relevant dissemination materials. The objectives are to improve TBI rehabilitation transitions and care partners activation and well-being; achieve equity in TBI rehabilitation access and outcomes; and provide persons with TBI and care partners with easier access to information, resources, services, and supports. Project outcomes include advancing knowledge that has real world applicability, improving TBI care and outcomes across a continuum of care, and bettering the lives of all people with TBI and their families. Project outputs include: (1) original research and presentations, (2) a reference guide for delivering community health-driven TBI rehabilitation transition services, (3) disparity risk models for TBI outcomes and a toolkit for delivering culturally-competent TBI rehabilitation care, and (4) consumer-friendly fact sheets on TBI management and a search tool for finding TBI services and resources. Core partners for this center are Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, VCU Center for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering, Sheltering Arms Institute (SAI) and VCUHealth Division of Community Health. Collaborators include Virginia level I trauma centers, Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, VCUHealth and SAI outpatient rehabilitation centers, and consumer and state TBI groups.
             
  TitleEmailPhone  
Ron Seel, Ph.D.
Project DirectorRonald.Seel@vcuhealth.org(804) 628-1360
David Cifu, M.D.
Co-Project DirectorDavid.Cifu@vcuhealth.org(804) 828-4231
William Walker, M.D.
Co-Project DirectorWilliam.Walker@vcuhealth.org(804) 828-0861
Daniel Klyce, Ph.D.
Co-InvestigatorDaniel.Klyce@va.gov(804) 628-2758
Robert Perera, Ph.D.
BiostatisticianRobert.Perera@vcuhealth.org(804) 827-2037
Amol Karmarkar, Ph.D.
ProfessorAmol.Karmarkar@vcuhealth.org(412) 728-0507
Richard Kunz, M.D.
 richard.kunz@vcuhealth.org(804) 828-8061
Karen Brooke, M.T.
Research Specialistkaren.brooke@vcuhealth.org(804) 828-3705
Katherine Abbasi, M.A.
Project Coordinatorkatherine.walker@vcuhealth.org(804) 828-3703
Mark Bender, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologistmark.bender@vcuhealth.org(804) 828-4230
Dylan Marcuson
Clinical Research Coordinatordylan.marcuson@vcuhealth.org(757) 634-9745
Kelli Williams Gary, Ph.D., MPH, OTR/L, CBIS
Dissemination Coordinatorwilliamsjonk@vcu.edu(804) 828-3412
Melissa Avila
Research Assistantmelissa.avila@vcuhealth.org(562) 606-3695
Hiba Saleem
Clinical Research Assistanthiba.saleem@vcuhealth.org(804) 517-2561