A clinician scientist, a physiotherapist, and a soccer coach are among those on the roster of panellists for Peterborough’s inaugural concussion summit.
Peterborough Athletic Concussion Awareness (PACA) and the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) are hosting the Peterborough Concussion Summit from noon to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28 at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Presented by Gowland, Boriss Injury Lawyers with financial support from the Ontario Brain Institute, the event features an array of speakers who will be sharing their knowledge about concussions. Helping kids who experience a concussion to recover safely is a key purpose behind the summit.
“We’re thrilled to bring together such an outstanding group of concussion experts representing every sector that supports a student or athlete after an injury,” PACA project manager Ryan Sutton told kawarthaNOW.
“Each panel features professionals who can speak directly to the key issues within their area of expertise. Together, these perspectives will create dynamic discussions that are not only informative, but also thought-provoking and complementary across the day.”
The event is designed to bring together educators, healthcare professionals, coaches, parents, athletes, and students for meaningful conversations and practical learning around concussion management and recovery.
All panel sessions will be moderated by Dr. Steph Dallaire. A local family doctor with the Peterborough Family Health Team and the longest-standing member the PACA panel, Dallaire is one of the most knowledgeable people locally on the topic of concussions, organizers noted in a media release.
“Dr. Dallaire brings unique insights and thoughtful questions that will make each discussion even more valuable,” Sutton added.
Those who attend the summit can expect evidence-based sessions on managing concussions in both school and sport settings. There will be networking opportunities for students, coaches, clinics, and practitioners.
Attendees can expect cross-sector collaboration among teachers, clinicians, and sport leaders, and acquire tools for supporting persistent symptoms and navigating complex recoveries.
The “Return to Learn” panel will cover topics including how schools can support students with academic accommodations, what teachers and staff should look for as symptoms linger, and how healthcare providers and educators can work together to ease students back into learning.
The panellists are Andie Hickling (research manager and occupational therapist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital), and Janice Runza (registered nurse and health and wellbeing advisor at Lakefield College School), with one additional panelist to be announced.
The “Return to Play” panel brings together clinicians, coaches, and sport leaders to share step-by-step return-to-play protocols, warning signs that can’t be ignored, and practical guidance for parents and athletes.
The panellists are Paul Hunter (CEO of Wheelchair Rugby Canada, Rowan’s Law advisory committee member, and Rowan’s Law working group member), Scott Cockburn (coach and president of the East Central Ontario Soccer Association), and Connor Massimo (physiotherapist, FCAMPT, and co-founder of Pulse Physiotherapy).
The “Fostering Stronger Connections Between Classrooms, Sports, and Healthcare” panel will explore how healthcare providers and sport leaders can better coordinate concussion management, why stronger links to the school environment are critical for student recovery, and practical strategies to build more consistent communication and support across sectors.
The panellists are Judy Gargaro (director at the Neurotrauma Care Pathways Initiative), Dr. Shannon Scratch (senior clinician scientist with Bloorview Research Institute, clinical neuropsychologist with the Brain Injury Rehab Team at Holland Family Professorship, associate professor with the department of pediatrics and associate professor with the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the at University of Toronto, and Mercedes Watson (director at the Coaching Association of Ontario).
A list of all panellists, as well as the keynote speaker for the event, will be announced before the event.
Registration for the summit is $24 for adults and $14 for students (includes venue fees), with lunch and snacks included as part of registration. All money raised through the summit will be directed towards future concussion awareness and education events through the GPHSF Concussion Fund.
For more information and to register, visit www.paca.health/education/peterborough-concussion-summit/.
