FYM-The Unveiling: Updated OPA mTBI/Concussion Guidelines for Psychologists/Neuropsychologists
Presented by: Dr. Diana Velikonja, C. Psych & Dr. Joanna Hamilton, Ph.D., C.Psych
Overview:
The assessment and diagnostic guidelines for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussion have been updated to reflect current scientific evidence and evolving standards of professional practice for psychologists and neuropsychologists. These guidelines provide an evidence-informed framework for assessment across diverse populations, emphasizing best practices in clinical evaluation, interpretation and integration of assessment findings, and diagnostic decision-making. Developed by a committee of experts comprising recognized leaders in clinical guideline development and experts in mTBI/concussion, the updated guidelines underwent independent external expert review to support their scientific rigor, clinical relevance, and applicability to professional practice.
About the Presenters:
Dr. Diana Velikonja completed her graduate studies in the Biological Psychology/Neuroscience Program at the University of Waterloo. She completed her residency and post-doctoral training at Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University and became licensed for independent practice specializing in Neuropsychology, Rehabilitation Psychology and Clinical Psychology in children and adults. She has worked since 1997 in a clinical and research capacity at the Acquired Brain Injury Program at Hamilton Health Sciences and is currently working in the Integrated Adult Concussion Clinic, where she continues to work with residents and research students. She actively publishes and is a reviewer for several scientific journals.
Her roles include:
• Chief of Psychology Practice at Hamilton Health Sciences between 2004 and 2011.
• Past-President of the Hospital Psychology Association of Ontario
• Past-President of the Ontario Psychological Association
• Director on the Board of the Hamilton Brain Injury Association
• Advisory Board for the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation
• Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at the DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University
• Thesis advisor Department of Psychology at McMaster University.
• Chair of the RxP Committee for OPA - advocating for the expansion of scope of practice for psychologists to include prescribing psychotropic medications.
• Founding partner of Lifespan Psychological and Neuropsychological Services
Dr. Velikonja continues to work on the development of guidelines for the assessment and treatment of concussion as well as moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Velikonja has also completed the post-doctoral master’s degree program in Clinical Psychopharmacology and provides consultation in this domain of practice.
Dr. Joanna Hamilton completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Trent University in 1985 and her Ph.D. in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Windsor in 1994. She completed her internship training at Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals in the Acquired Brain Injury Program. Following completion of her degree, she worked at the (then) Bloorview MacMillan Centre in the Neurorehabilitation Program. She presently works in Private Practice in Peterborough where she sees individuals across the life span with known or suspected central nervous system dysfunction. She has provided consultation to the Acquired Brain Injury Resource Team through the Central East LHIN, as well as to various units at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. She has experience assessing individuals in a medical-legal context and has been qualified to testify as an expert witness by the Superior Court of Ontario and by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO). In the past, she has served on the Board of the Ontario Brain Injury Association and Four Counties Brain Injury Association. She is a Past-President of the Canadian Association of Psychologists in Disability Assessment (CAPDA). She holds the C-CAT(MB) designation and is on the faculty of that program. Dr. Hamilton is the 2024 recipient of the Jane Gillett Award from the International Pediatric Brain Injury Society.
This session is only available to active OPA members.
This webinar has been accredited by the Ontario Psychological Association for 1 CE credit. Members must RSVP through OPA Communities to receive CE's.
A copy of the recording will be made available to members 1 week post-webinar.
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