The Kingston Public Hospital hosted its first International Spinal Injury Symposium on December 2 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston
The event will feature presentations from some of the foremost authorities on the subject including Professor Michael Fehlings and Professor Charles Fisher from Canada.
Professor Fehlings is a leading researcher on acute spinal cord injury, regeneration and curing paralysis, while Professor Fisher is an expert on spine injuries caused by tumours – primary and metastatic.
Other speakers included Senator Dr. Floyd Morris, representing the physically challenged community; and Dr. Rory Dixon, Senior Medical Officer, Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre. The symposium also featured testimonials from persons living with paralysis as a result of spinal cord injury.
Symposium Chairman, Dr. Ian Neil, who heads the KPH’s Orthopaedic Department, said the goal of the symposium is to sensitise medical personnel about the methodologies used to identify and treat major spinal injuries while preventing further injury.
He also emphasised the need for greater attention to be paid to individuals afflicted with spinal injuries, which he described as a “quiet problem” pervading the society “[that is] destroying people”, especially young people.
