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New York, NY – The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to assist in the research of new developments for children suffering from pediatric traumatic brain injury (PTBI) and the rehabilitation of these children, today announced two of the nation’s leaders in the field of PTBI, Dr. Roberta DePompei and Dr. Ron Savage, have joined The National Advisory Board of The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation. A goal of The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation is to establish a PTBI Act based off the successful TBI Act, developed for adults suffering from traumatic brain injury and having established a Traumatic Brain Injury Model System throughout the nation. Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury is the leading cause of death and disability for children under 15 years of age in the United States resulting in over 5,000 deaths and over 17,000 permanent disabilities each year.
Dr. Roberta DePompei stated, “I am very excited about joining The National Advisory Board of The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation and working with other professionals and family members to establish a Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Model System and Research and Rehabilitation Training Centers across the country for the millions of children suffering from the effects of such trauma.” Dr. DePompei continued, “The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation will offer the voice necessary to make these goals become a reality.”
Dr. Ron Savage said, “As someone who has been working in the field of pediatric traumatic brain injury for over three decades, it is time for the children and families dealing with this health crisis to receive the support they deserve. The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation is determined to build upon the successes of the TBI Act by establishing a PTBI Act focused on children and their families who suffer from traumatic brain injury.” Dr. Savage continued, “As the leading cause of death and disability for children in America, now is the time for action and assistance.”
Patrick Donohue concluded, “I am honored to have two of the most respected professionals in the field of pediatric traumatic brain injury join our efforts at The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation. Far too many children and families are not receiving the type of care and services needed to support them at a time of crisis.” Mr. Donohue continued, “With the shock this causes to every family dealing with such a tragedy, they shouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel each time. As a father who didn’t ask to join the ranks of families dealing with traumatic brain injury to their children, I live each day by the expression, ‘Things work out best for those who make the best out of the way things work out.’ With the help of Dr. DePompei and Dr. Savage, as well as many others around the world, we will make the best out of a difficult situation.”
Dr. Roberta DePompei
Roberta DePompei, Ph.D., is a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Speech-Language Pathology and is the Director of the School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology at The University of Akron. Dr. DePompei is one of the leading authorities on traumatic brain injury in children and has conducted numerous research projects and has written extensively on the topic of pediatric traumatic brain injury. She specializes in the impact of brain injury upon speech, language and communication. She is especially interested in developing transitional opportunities for youth as they progress through school and prepare for adulthood. Dr. DePompei was awarded the Sheldon Berroll, M.D. Clinical Service award by the Brain Injury Association of America in July 2002, and was awarded the Robert L. Moody Prize for Distinguished Initiatives in Brain Injury Research and Rehabilitation in March 2004. She has presented and published articles and co-authored a text in the area of TBI in both children and adults. She was a member of the State of Ohio’s Brain Injury Advisory Committee, and co-chaired the Task Force on Children and Adolescents for the Brain Injury Association of America.
Dr. Ron Savage
Ron Savage, Ed.D., founded The Pediatric Task Force of the Brain Injury Association of America. Dr. Savage is the Senior Consultant for the brain injury and concussion programs at The Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health in Voorhees, New Jersey. He is also the Educational and Behavioral Health Development consultant of The May Institute Mid-Atlantic region, the Executive Vice-President for the North American Brain Injury Society (NABIS) and a Vice-President of Lash and Associates Publishing & Training which publishes practical, informative and affordable materials on brain injury in children, youths and adults. Dr. Savage serves as the Program Consultant to The George Washington University Graduate Program in Brain Injury and is the Editor of the Brain Injury Professional. Dr. Savage specializes in the impact of brain injury on behavior and learning in children and adolescents and has worked in the field for over 35 years. His international recognition as author and presenter is based on practical experience as a rehabilitation clinician, educator and school administrator. He is a national leader in developing model programs and has given special attention to recognizing the effects of concussion among children, the consequences of brain injury upon behavior, and designing educational programs for students with brain injuries in the community.
Patrick B. Donohue, Esq.
Patrick Donohue founded The Sarah Jane Brain Foundation after his daughter suffered from Shaken Baby Syndrome by the baby nurse they hired when she was only five days old. Mr. Donohue is the Treasurer on the Board of Trustees for Metropolitan College of New York and is Chairman of the Finance Committee. He is a graduate of Rutgers College where he received his B.A. in Mathematics, Philosophy and Political Science, Fordham School of Law where he received his J.D. and New York University Business School where he received his MBA. He lives in New York City with his three-year old daughter, Sarah Jane and runs a political and non-profit consulting firm which has raised over $500 million and has organized events all over the country for his various clients. Sarah Jane currently attends New York University Rusk School of Rehabilitation Pre-School full-time.