Inaugural Sara J. Mulroy SCI Symposium
The Inaugural Sara J. Mulroy Spinal Cord Injury Symposium held at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center was a productive day of learning for all attendees. The symposium focused on maximizing rehabilitation readiness with an interprofessional approach, bringing together medical professionals, researchers, and individuals with spinal cord injuries to exchange their knowledge and experiences.
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Dr. Requejo delivered an emotional and inspiring keynote address honoring Dr. Mulroy's legacy as a pioneer in SCI rehabilitation research and leader of the SoCal-SCIMS program. Kevin, Dr. Mulroy's husband, also shared her impact on patients and colleagues.
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The symposium aimed to increase awareness of the role of Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems in recovery for individuals with spinal cord injuries, define spinal shock and its typical time frame, discuss functional recovery potential based on neurologic level, and teach interventions to prevent pressure injuries and contractures. It also emphasized the importance of interprofessional participation in bowel and bladder management, described signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia and how to address it, and discussed contraindications of decannulation in a person with a tracheostomy following spinal cord injury.
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The event was a great success and set a high standard for future symposiums. It provided a platform for professionals to learn from each other, share their knowledge and experiences, and collaborate to improve rehabilitation outcomes. The symposium set the stage for future events that will continue to advance the field of spinal cord injury rehabilitation.
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Valuable resources that were featured at the symposium are readily accessible to anyone seeking them.
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