2009 Meeting Information

ASIA 2009 ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE COMBINED WITH APS, AASCIN, AASCIPSW and TLC

ASIA's 35th Annual Scientific Meeting will be held as a combined conference with the American Paraplegia Society (APS); the American Association of SCI Nurses (AASCIN); the American Association of SCI Psychologists and Social Workers (AASCIPSW); and the Therapy Leadership Council (TLC).

Entitled: "Congress on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation," the conference will be held from September 23-26, 2009 at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel (previously the Adams Mark Dallas), in Dallas, Texas.

A joint program committee consisting of representatives of all five organizations will select the program, which will feature invited "best of the best" lecturers, symposia, general sessions on selected themes, and ePosters.

APS, AASCIN, AASCIPSW and TLC has entered into a management agreement with Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans), effective October 1, 2008. The 2009 congress will be managed jointly by ASIA and Paralyzed Veterans, with ASIA Executive Director Lesley M. Hudson, MA and Paralyzed Veterans' Director of Research and Education Thomas Stripling in the key administrative roles.

More than 800 health care professionals are expected to attend this important scientific congress. Dallas is well positioned to welcome this group. The hotel became a Sheraton property in February of 2008 and a significant renovation began shortly thereafter, with a planned completion date of June 2009. The combination of the central location of Dallas, and the newly appointed Sheraton Dallas Hotel should insure a wonderful venue experience for all. There is lots to do in Dallas, and the Sheraton is located close to restaurants, shopping, and leisure activities.

Mark you calendars for next September 23-26, and plan to attend the "Congress on Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation," at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel.

Complete information is available on the ASIA website (asia-spinalinjury.org) and the congress website ( http://www.spinalcordcongress.org).

SELL LECTURESHIP 2008

The G. Heiner Sell Lectureship was established in 1982, to honor the memory of ASIA president-elect G. Heiner Sell, M.D. who died the previous year. Previous lecturers are:

1982  J. Paul Thomas
1983  R. Edward Carter, M.D.
1984  Albert J. Aguayo, M.D.
1985  P. Hunter Peckham, Ph.D.
1986  John Doyle
1987  Edward J. McGuire, M.D.
1988  Bernard Towers, M.D.
1989  David C. Viano, Ph.D.
1990  Martin E. Schwab, Ph.D.
1991  V. Reggie Edgerton, Ph.D.
1992  John F. Ditunno, Jr., M.D.
1993  Robert R. Menter, M.D.
1994  Paul J. Reier, Ph.D.
1995  William C. deGroat, Ph.D.
1996  Charles H. Tator, M.D., Ph.D.
1997  O. Lars Olson, M.D.
1998  Giles S. Brindley, M.D.
1999  Ake Seiger, M.D., Ph.D.
2000  Susan J. Harkema, Ph.D.
2001  Mary B. Bunge, Ph.D.
2002  Michal Schwartz, Ph.D.
2003  Barbara S. Bregman, Ph.D.
2004  Gale G. Whiteneck, Ph.D.
2005  Claire E. Hulsebosch, Ph.D.
2006  Volker Dietz, M.D.
2007  Arthur Prochazka, Ph.D.
2008  Mark Tuszynski, M.D., Ph.D.

AWARDS

Various awards are presented at ASIA annual meetings:

• The Alan T. Brown Foundation Research Award
• The Synthes Resident Research Award, partnered by Synthes Spine
• The Best Published Paper 2007 by an ASIA Member
• Best Paper Awards (3)
• Best Poster Awards (3)
• The Apple Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

ASIA established its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1986. Designed to acknowledge a career of outstanding contributions to the field of spinal cord injury medicine, the award has been presented to 18 worthy individuals in the past 21 years.

They are:

1987  John M. Young, M.D.
1990  A. Estin Comarr, M.D.
1991  R. Edward Carter, M.D.
1992  Albin T. Jousse, M.D.
1993  Samuel L. Stover, M.D.
1994  J. Paul Thomas
1996  Alain Rossier, M.D.
1997  David F. Apple, Jr., M.D.
1998  Paul R. Meyer, Jr., M.D., M.M.
1999  Theodore M. Cole, M.D.
2000  John F. Ditunno, Jr., M.D.
2001  Henry B. Betts, M.D.
2002  Kristjan T. Ragnarsson, M.D.
2003  Jerome M. Cotler, M.D.
2005  William H. Donovan, M.D.
2006  Hans L. Frankel, M.D.
2007  Robert L. Waters, M.D. & Gale G. Whiteneck, Ph.D.
2008  J. Darrell Shea, M.D.

The 2008 ASIA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to J. Darrell Shea, M.D. of Orlando, Florida. Dr. Shea, an orthopedic surgeon, was a founder of ASIA and served the association in many capacities during his career, culminating in a term as its 5th president (1985-1987). A hallmark of Dr. Shea’s contribution to the field of spinal cord injury was the establishment of the ASIA initiative for standards of care. His work was a precursor of the subsequent development of the "International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury" with which ASIA has been closely identified for three decades.

ASIA PROGRAM COMMITTEE