A Tribute to Two Pioneers in Brain Injury Research and Advocacy
Drs. Nathan Zasler and David Arciniegas are luminary figures in the field of neurorehabilitation. Their exceptional academic contributions and steadfast leadership have shaped the landscape of brain injury care worldwide. From 2005 to 2022, Dr. Zasler and Dr. Arciniegas served as the fourth and fifth chairpersons of the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA), guiding the organization through pivotal years of growth and influence.
Together, these distinguished leaders worked tirelessly to advance the IBIA’s mission—supporting a global network of multidisciplinary professionals, advocates, policymakers, and consumers dedicated to improving outcomes and opportunities for individuals with brain injuries. Their unwavering commitment to the field and to IBIA has left an indelible legacy, inspiring generations of brain injury professionals to push the boundaries of knowledge and care.
In recognition of their extraordinary advocacy and service, in 2025 IBIA established the Zasler-Arciniegas Lecture, to be delivered during the opening plenary of biennial World Congress on Brain Injury. This lecture honors the groundbreaking work of Drs. Zasler and Arciniegas and serves as a platform for a world-class scientist and/or clinical researcher to present a high-level review of neurorehabilitation. The lecture also invites the speaker to explore the broader implications of their research on the field of brain injury and rehabilitation.
The inaugural Zasler-Arciniegas Lecture will be delivered by Dr. Miriam Beauchamp during the opening plenary of the 15th World Congress on Brain Injury, scheduled to take place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, over the dates of March 19-22, 2025.