India

Kolkata, India,  hosts Flying Faculty, February 2017

Dr Aparna Dutt, a Medical and Social Doctor-Neurologist, organised a very successful six-day workshop in Kolkata, India from the 20-25 February entitled ‘Acquired Brain Injury: multiple dysfunctions to multidisciplinary actions’. 

The meeting was preceded by a one-day workshop on ‘Single Case Experimental Designs’ run by the WFNR Flying Faculty comprising  Professor Robyn Tate (Australia), Dr Michael Perdices (Australia) and Professor Barbara Wilson (UK).

The WFNR Flying Faculty members were joined by Professor Jonathan Evans (UK), Dr David Quinn (UK), Dr Mel Kaushansky (Canada) and Dr Anita Rose (UK). A skype session on ‘Management of fatigue after Brain Injury’ was conducted by Donna Malley (UK).

The meeting included a number of local speakers representing the medical profession and neuropsychology, and was well attended by delegates from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.  The topics ranged from assessment to mindfulness; from cognitive rehabilitation to rehabilitation of emotional problems, as well as challenging behaviours. 

One of the highlights was a moving speech from Kiran Nadkarni, the mother of a teenage son who sustained a traumatic brain injury.  She described how badly she had been treated by the medical profession, but that a neuropsychologist had been invaluable in terms of providing her with information and support.

Commenting on the meeting, Barbara Wilson said: “The hospitality of the local team was exemplary.  Everyone worked hard from 8.30 in the morning to 6.00 or 6.30 in the evening, and the overseas speakers were then taken to dinner each night.  We feel that we have been able to influence brain injury rehabilitation in India and further afield.  A big thank you to the WFNR for allowing us to participate in this worthwhile endeavour.”

Neuropsychological Rehabilitation: A Clinical Skills Workshop - Chennai, India, August 2014

One of the most recent Flying Faculty initatives was held in Chennai, India in August 2014.  This was a three day workshop.  Barbara Wilson (UK), Robyn Tate (Australia), James Malec (USA), Michael Perdices (Australia) and Narinder Kapur(UK), all neuropsychologists and members of the SIG in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, collaborated with Indian psychologists and a neuropsychiatrist to run the workshop, which was entitled  “Neuropsychological Rehabilitation: A Clinical Skills Workshop”. Travel for the overseas speakers was funded by the WFNR, while accommodation and meals were provided by the local hosts. Judged by the enthusiastic response from the 147 delegates, the meeting was considered a great success. Post session questions from delegates indicated extreme interest on the part of the host nationals and several areas of mutual knowledge and research were highlighted. Many contacts were established from which it is expected that further research will develop. Hospitality, including an evening with members of the Madras Club, was excellent t and thoroughly appreciated by the guest speakers. Dr Nirmal Singh from the Developing World SIG was present for the first morning. Barbara Wilson was also invited to present a public oration to many attendees from Chennai including city officials and the press from “The Hindu” one of India’s foremost national newspapers. An accurate report appeared in this newspaper the following day.