ASIA 2024
May 20-23
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Thank you Partners, Presenters and Attendees for participating in a successful 2024 Conference in Puerto Rico!
2024 Program
2024 Partners
2024 Conference Photos
2024 ASIA #SCIStrong Video
ASIA 2023
May 16-19
Atlanta, GA
Thank you Partners, Presenters and Attendees for participating in an enormously successful 50th Anniversary Scientific Meeting 2022 at the InterContinental Buckhead, Atlanta, GA.
2023 Program
2023 Partners
2023 Conference Photos
2023 Photo Booth Images
ASIA 2022
May 17-20
New Orleans, LA
Thank you Partners, P{resenters and Attendees for participating in a successful 2022 conference in New Orleans.
ASIA 2021
July 7-10
St. Louis, MO
Thank you everyone who participated in the American Spinal Injury Association’s 2021 Annual Scientific meeting. It was our first hybrid meeting – with hundreds of presenters and attendees online and in person at the St. Louis Union Station hotel.
2021 Program
2021 Conference Highlights (Photos)
2021 Partners
2020 Annual Online Meeting
Oct. 4 & 5, 2020
We missed seeing you in person in 2020 but made the most of our first online Annual Scientific Meeting.
Thank you conference attendees, presenters and partners for your support and enthusiasm which made the 2020 annual meeting both productive and fun.
2019 Annual Meeting
SCI Summit - 45th Annual Scientific Meeting
April 2-5, 2019
Waikiki, Hawaii
Thank you Partners, Exhibitors, Supporters, Faculty, Short Talk/Poster Presenters, Attendees and Leaders of the American Spinal Injury Association. Your contributions and participation in the 2019 SCI Summit in Hawaii made the 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting in Hawaii a great success.
2019 Annual Scientific Meeting Program
General Conference Images
44th Annual Scientific Meeting
Rochester, MN
The ASIA 2018 Scientific Meeting, May 2-4 was held at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota. The conference provided a rich and diverse program for all disciplines working from bench to bedside with SCI patients of all ages.
The Precourse on Non-Traumatic Myelopathy was held May 1 at Mayo Clinic. Dozens of ASIA attendees took advantage of Mayo Clinic private tours during the conference.
2018 Annual Scientific Meeting Program
2018 Annual Conference Photos
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2017 Annual Meeting
April 26 Howard H. Steel Pediatric Precourse
April 26 Urology Precourse
April 27-29 Scientific Meeting
Albuquerque, New Mexico
2017 Annual Scientific Meeting Program
General Conference Images
Photo Booth Images
ASIA 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting
April 13 Precourse • April 14-16 Meeting
Philadelphia, PA
2016 Annual Scientific Meeting Program
Image Gallery
Partner and Exhibitor Information
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Nearly 900 attendees participated in the events surrounding the fourth combined meeting of ASIA and ISCoS held at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec from May 14-16. International representatives and Americans convened for three days of scientific presentations as well as small workshops, round table discussions, and general fellowship. The organizing committee, headed by ASIA Board members John Steeves, Ph.D. of Vancouver, and Susie Charlifue, Ph.D. of Denver, and ably led by local host Serge Rossignol, M.D., Ph.D. worked tirelessly on the scientific program and many of the logistical details. French-Canadian hospitality was in evidence throughout as the city welcomed its visitors. The hotel was superbly suited for the event, and initial evaluations of the conference were uniformly positive.
Michael Boninger, M.D. of the University of Pittsburgh presented the G. Heiner Sell Memorial Lectureship at the Montreal meeting. The lectureship has been given annually since 1982, and is named for Dr. Sell, who died in 1981 when he was President-Elect of ASIA. Dr. Boninger’s topic was: ”The Future of Neural Prosthetics in SCI.” P. Hunter Peckham, Ph.D. of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH received the 2015 ASIA Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Peckham has distinguished himself through a career of research and clinical impact of functional electrical stimulation and its application to individuals with spinal cord injury. Edelle Field-Fote, P.T., Ph.D., FAPTA presented a special ASIA lecture at the combined meeting. Director of SCI Research at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Dr. Field-Fote’s topic was: “Neuroscience at the Nexus of the Lab and Clinic: Using Stimulation and Practice to Drive Adaptive Neural Plasticity.”
The 2015 Apple Award was awarded to Meegan G. Van Straaten, PT, MSPH, of the Motion Analysis Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Her article, which appeared in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is entitled: “Effectiveness of Home Exercise on Pain, Function, and Strength of Manual Wheelchair Users with Spinal Cord Injury: A High-Dose Shoulder Program with Telerehabilitation.” Her co-authors are: Beth A. Cloud, DPT; Melissa M. Morrow, PhD; Paula M. Ludewig, PhD, PT; and Kristin D. Zhao, PhD.
For the first time, the Vogel Award for excellence in publishing in the pediatric rehabilitation literature was awarded. Sponsored by the Pediatric Committee, the inaugural award was presented to Feng Tian for “Tracking Functional Status Across the Spinal Cord Injury Lifespan: Linking Pediatric and Adult Patient- Reported Outcome Scores.” This article also appeared in “Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.” Co-authors are: P.Ni; M.J. Mulcahey; R. Hambleton; D. Tulsky, S. Haley, and A. Jette. The award honors Lawrence C. Vogel, M.D., a recognized world expert on SCI in children. For the past 30 years, Dr. Vogel has served as the Medical Director of the SCI Program at Shriners Hospitals for children in Chicago. He is a past-president of ASIA.
Several new ASIA members attended the 2016 Mentor-Mentee Breakfast at the Montreal meeting. Thanks to the Membership Committee and outgoing chair Greg Nemunaitis, M.D. as well as to ASIA Board members for attending this event. Each mentee was assigned an appropriate mentor with whom to communicate over the next year. This event will be a regular part of every ASIA annual meeting.
ASIA 2014 Meeting - San Antonio, Texas - 350 ATTEND
The 2014 Annual Scientific Meeting was held in San Antonio from May 14-17, and amid an expanded program, an enhanced focus on poster presentations, and an increase in interactive session, including one in the hotel swimming pool, a productive time was had by all! Over 350 attendees enjoyed the sessions, visited The Alamo and other local sites, and spent a lovely evening in Texas hill country at the historic Knibbe Ranch.
Awardees Honored at San Antonio Meeting
The ASIA prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Dr. Michael J. DeVivo, an active member of ASIA since 1992.
The recipient of the 2014 Apple Award was Jacquelyn Cragg, PhD(c) for the article “Cardiovascular disease and spinal cord injury: results from a national population health survey.”
The Inaugural Neilsen-ASIA Research Award was awarded to Jennifer Schottler,MPT.
The Sell Lecture was given by Dr. W. Dalton Dietrich.
Best Paper Awards were presented to: 1st—Dr. Eva Widerstrom-Noga, “Clinical Sensory Pain Phenotypes After Spinal Cord Injury;” 2nd—Dr. Henry Ahn, “Current Treatment of Individuals With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: do we Need Age-Specific Guidelines? ;” 3rd—Alyssa Fenuta, “Comparison of Oxygen Demands and Muscle Activity Patterns During Different Forms of Body Weight Supported Locomotion in Individuals With Incomplete Spinal Cord.”
Best Poster Awards were presented to: 1st—Ona Bloom, “Elevated Levels of the pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) in Acute SCI Patients;” 2nd—Alicia January, “Understanding Personal Growth and Resiliency in Response to Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury;” 3rd—Dr. MJ Mulcahey, “Psychometric Evaluation of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III.”
Visit asia.conferencespot.org to view program
ASIA 2013 Annual Meeting - 40th Anniversary Celebrated in Grand Style
After months of intense preparation, the 40th Anniversary ASIA Meeting came off without a hitch!! Over 400 registrants enjoyed good weather, were treated to a live presentation by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, and fully participated in a comprehensive scientific program. “Sweet Home Chicago,” the Tuesday evening anniversary event organized by the local host committee was a complete success, with guests feasting on four ethnic Chicago cuisines, listening to the songs of the animated “Blues Brothers” and dancing to the sounds of the Matt Steadman Band at the historic Chicago Cultural Center.
The pre-courses offered were "The State of the Science of Prevention and Management of Secondary Health Conditions in People after Spinal Cord Injury", hosted by the Medical University of South Carolina and MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, "Spinal Cord Injury: From the Bench to the Bedside", hosted by the ASIA Spine Committee, and "Advanced Symposium on Teaching the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury", taught by members of the ASIA Education and International Standards committees.
Awardees Honored at Chicago Meeting
Lesley M. Hudson, MA, ASIA Executive Director, was honored with the ASIA Lifetime Achievement Award in Chicago. Described by ASIA Past-President Daniel P. Lammertse, MD, as “the beating heart of ASIA,” Ms. Hudson was given a standing ovation as she received her award. With her family and countless friends and colleagues present, her 37 year career with ASIA, Shepherd Center, and “Topics in SCI Rehabilitation” was chronicled. Her brother, Jim Hudson, spoke about her early life, and her mentor, David F. Apple, Jr., MD, escorted her to the podium and presented her with flowers.
The recipient of the 2013 Apple Award was Ralph J. Marino, MD from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, for the article “Development of an Objective Test of Upper-Limb Function in Tetraplegia.”
The recipient of the 2013 Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation/Sell Fund of ASIA Young Investigator Award was Christopher West, Ph.D., of Vancouver, British Columbia, for his research project “Effect of hind-limb exercise on cardiac function following experimental spinal cord injury.”
Best Paper Awards were presented to: 1st—Thomas Schnitzer, MD, PhD, “Prevention of Bone Loss after Acute SCI: Effect of Zoledronic Acid;” 2nd—Mark Nash, PhD, “Salsalate Improves Fasting and Postprandial Glycemic and Lipid Levels in Persons with Chronic Tetraplegia;” 3rd—Sunil Sabharwal, MD, “Presentation of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Veterans with SCI.” Best Poster Awards were presented to: 1st—Erin Kelly, PhD, “Secondary Conditions Among Youth with SCI;” 2nd—Kazuya Kitamura, MD, “Human Hepatocyte Growth Factor Promotes Functional Recovery in Primates After SCI;” 3rd—Sara Klaas, MSW, “Job-Related Participation in School-Aged Children with SCI.”
Thank You to our ASIA 40th Anniversary Partners
ANNIVERSARY PARNTER: Acorda Therapeutics
PRESENTING PARTNERS: Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Coloplast, Allergan Urology
LEADERSHIP PARTNERS: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, Craig Hospital, Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems
SUPPORTING PARTNERS: DP Clinical, Thomas Land Publishers, ekso Bionics, Hocoma, Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
ASIA 40th Anniversary Honor Roll Contributors
Additional Honor Roll Contributors: Los Amigos Research and Education Institute, and Sunil Sabharwal, M.D.
Three hundred attendees marked the start of the ASIA 40th Anniversary celebration year by attending the 38th Annual Scientific Meeting in Denver, CO from April 19-21. Craig Hospital served as local host and sponsored the Presidential Reception at the Hyatt Regency Hotel at Colorado Convention Center. The pre-course conducted by Craig on its Englewood campus was sold out, and many Craig staffers were on hand to applaud former Medical Director Daniel P. Lammertse, M.D. as he received the ASIA Lifetime Achievement Award. Visit our Research and Awards page to see the awards presented in each category at the conference.
The ASIA Board met on April 21st to finalize implementation of the initiatives its members identified during the Strategic Planning Retreat held in Atlanta on March 2-3, 2012. The timing of the Board meeting was favorable to a quick start for many of the highest priorities, which include: finalizing possible combined meetings with ASCIP (2014) and ISCoS (2015); revamping the ASIA website prior to the call for submissions for the 2013 meeting; financially supporting numerous committee activities as needed; coordinating major committee projects—among them: the Prevention Committee (national SCI prevention day and a series of print PSAs in partnership with the AAOS); the Membership Committee (goal to have each current member bring in at least one new member in the month of October, 2012); Education Committee (complete the spasticity module for the ASIA Learning Center by the 2013 annual meeting); Awards Committee (expansion of list of ASIA awards to begin at the 2013 annual meeting); and the 40th Anniversary Committee (finalizing plans for a variety of special events to be held in conjunction with the Chicago meeting in May, 2013). Committees met to discuss plans for the 40th Anniversary celebration, and all meetings were lively and very well attended. Significant energy and excitement exist both at the Board and Committee levels as ASIA prepares to mark 40 years of service to the field of SCI medicine.
Two of the three mornings of the 2012 Annual Scientific Meeting began with plenary sessions. On Friday, April 20th, SCOPE (Spinal Cord Outcomes Partnership Endeavor), presented: “Challenges to Enrolling Participants with Incomplete SCI in Clinical Trials.” On Saturday, April 21st, the Prevention Committee presented “Primary Prevention of SCI.” In addition to these sessions, there were nine General Sessions, with six presentations in each, on a variety of topics; and four Instructional Courses. For the first time, ASIA offered a “Rehab Track” developed by the Rehab Standards Committee. It featured presentations such as: “Recommendations for Mobility for Children with SCI;” “Identifying and Managing the Challenges of Visual Disturbances in SCI;” “Wheelchairs and Seating Systems for Individuals with SCI-What is Best Practice?”; and “Conducting a Functional Electrical Stimulation Program in the Clinic and at Home for People with SCI: Clinician and Consumer Perspectives.” The scientific program was rounded out by fifty-eight electronic posters available for viewing throughout the three day meeting.
We sincerely thank our 40th Anniversary Partners for their confidence in ASIA, and for the expertise and commitment they bring to ASIA projects. They are--ANNIVERSARY PARTNER: Acorda Therapeutics. PRESENTING PARTNERS: Coloplast; Allergan Urology. LEADERSHIP PARTNERS: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation; Craig Hospital; Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation; Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems. SUPPORTING PARTNERS: DP Clinical; Thomas Land Publishers, Inc.; ekso Bionics. In addition, we thank the following for their participation in the 2012 meeting: Adapta Medical Inc., Argo Medical Technologies, Inc.; Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Avery Biomedical Devices, Inc.; Bioness; Braingate Research team; Cleveland FES Center; Hocoma, Inc.; Hollister Incorporated; The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation; Paralyzed Veterans of America; and Restorative Therapies, Inc.
The 2011 Annual Meeting was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) in Washington, D.C.
Over 800 individuals attended the 5 days of events, and initial examination of the evaluation forms indicates that all were very pleased with the outcome. The Spine Symposium had over 450 registrants on Saturday, June 4th. The State of the Science of SCI Rehabilitation Research had the same number on Sunday, June 5th, and the combined three day meeting had nearly 800 attendees on June 6th-8th.
The Grand Hyatt Washington proved to be a wonderful venue for the event. National Rehabilitation Hospital served as local host, and did a spectacular job of welcoming delegates. The opening reception, attended by over 500, was held at NRH, complete with tours, special exhibits, and refreshments. Thirty-seven countries were represented at the conference.
"State of the Science in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation 2011: informing a new research agenda."
Heinemann AW, Steeves JD, Boninger M, Groah S, Sherwood AM.
Spinal Cord. 2012 May;50(5):390-7. doi: 10.1038/sc.2012.12. Epub 2012 Mar 20.
PMID: 22430512
