Event offers resources, information and community building for those affected by cerebral palsy
The annual Oklahoma Cerebral Palsy Conference will be held at Bethany Children’s Health Center on Saturday, March 2, 2024, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This event provides a valuable opportunity for education and support for individuals living with cerebral palsy, as well as for those who support them.
Dr. Justin Ramsey, pediatric physiatrist and Associate Medical Director – Movement Clinic and Cerebral Palsy at Bethany Children’s will speak at the event, along with Dr. Cynthia Wozow, pediatric physiatrist from Children’s of Alabama. There will be panel discussions, breakout sessions on selected topics, vendor booths and activities.
Dr. Ramsey is involved with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and has had the opportunity to interact with many people who are at the forefront of treating cerebral palsy and movement disorders. He also offers his own personal experience with cerebral palsy at different stages of life. Dr. Ramsey has been an integral part of creating the multidisciplinary movement disorder clinic at Bethany Children’s, which brings together specialties such as Neurology, Neurosurgery, physical therapy and occupational therapy to design comprehensive treatment plans for patients, many of whom have cerebral palsy.
Dr. Wozow is an assistant professor in the division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, Ala.. Her clinical interests include cerebral palsy, healthcare transitions, and medical education. As an individual living with cerebral palsy, she has the honor of using her story to engage her patients and families in dreaming of what is possible in a world which highlights the impossible. Whether she is sharing stories from her time as a patient in the very same hospital, the realities of her most recent fall, or advocating to improve the care of patient like her, she strives to use her experiences to change the future for others.
The Cerebral Palsy Conference encourages engagement and interactive participation, allowing meaningful dialogues among patients and families about their experiences. The conference addresses various aspects of coping with the challenges of having a child with special needs, offering a comprehensive approach to navigating the journey of disability from both the patient’s and family members’ perspectives.
Dr. Suneet Sahgal, Pediatric Physiatrist and Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services at Bethany Children’s, explains, “We look at impact on family relationships, work/life balance, developing social networks, and understanding how to access resources. We encourage families to maintain contact with one another after the event to help develop a larger support network.”
The cost to attend the conference is $10 per person, which includes a conference t-shirt and lunch.
See the full agenda and register here.