Longevity

Presented by Middle Park Health and Sky-Hi News

The Series

Traumatic brain injuries can happen to anyone at any time. They can negatively affect memory, attention, concentration, mood and behavior. And in serious cases, they can cause physical and mental disabilities.

Coloradans report higher rates of traumatic brain injuries than 41 of the 50 states in America. Roughly 1,000 people die and 5,000 people are hospitalized from them every year in the state, according to the Brain Injury Association of Colorado.

This year’s Longevity Project will focus on giving readers insights into how to identify, prevent and treat traumatic brain injuries based on the expertise of board-certified professionals in the fields of mental health care, physical therapy, neurology and sport sciences.

The series will publish Fridays starting in mid-February and culminate in an event featuring a keynote address, a panel discussion with local and regional experts, and educational information from local entities with connections to this year’s topic.

• Feb. 21: An introduction into what a traumatic brain injury is, why it affects the body and how Colorado’s High Country compares to other areas of the state and country
• Feb. 28: A deep dive into how physical therapy, mental health care and other treatments can improve cognitive outcomes while helping readers identify side effects and seek professional treatment
• March 7: A look at how the recreation and sports industry is seeing seismic shifts in culture surrounding the prevention of traumatic brain injuries as organizations push for changes to best practices for athletes
• March 14: A discussion about how far the science behind brain injuries and treatments has come while looking forward at promising research currently happening in the field

Share Your Story

The Sky-Hi News will ask readers to share their stories of struggles and successes after a traumatic brain injury. The stories will be published online and in the Sky-Hi News throughout the series.

The Event

Athlete and coach Stephanie Zavilla will share her personal experience of a traumatic brain injury followed by a panel discussion on the topic with local and national experts.

• What: The Longevity Project
• When: Wednesday, March 19
  • 5:30 p.m. Welcome reception with appetizers from Smokehouse
  • 6 p.m. Keynote address by Stephanie Zavilla
  • 6:45 p.m. Panel discussion with local and regional experts
  • 7:30 p.m. Audience Q&A
• Where: Headwaters Center, 730 Baker Drive, Winter Park
• Tickets: $15

In 2016, Stephanie Zavilla experienced a traumatic brain injury that led to a three-year struggle searching for relief and recovery. The impact of the injury left her navigating post-concussion syndrome and a lifelong seizure disorder. The injury inspired her to educate and support families and athletes, which she does through her role at the Winter Park Competition Center.

Zavilla serves as director of sports performance and oversees strength and conditioning, sports psychology, injury management, sports nutrition and return-to-sport programs. She holds a double major in psychology and history with a minor in coaching from the University of South Dakota, and she earned her master’s in sport and performance psychology from the University of Denver.

Beyond her role at the Competition Center, Zavilla has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver, collaborates with high-risk occupations like military and police, and runs a private practice in Denver where she sees athletes from all sport and performance backgrounds, including working with NFL Combine prep camps as well as high school, college and professional athletes.

Following the keynote presentation, Zavilla will join a panel discussion with local and regional experts including:

• Kathleen Flarity, Ph.D.: Flarity is the executive director for the CU Marcus Institute for Brain Health, a clinical care and research institute for traumatic brain injury and psychological health conditions such as post-traumatic stress. She is an experienced researcher, nurse practitioner and emergency and critical care flight nurse. She has over 41 years of military service from U.S. Army combat medic to U.S. Air Force general. Her passion for treatment and research interest is in TBI, PTSD, brain wellness and resiliency.
• Katharine Hartnack, Psy.D.: Hartnack is a clinical neuropsychologist at the CU Marcus Institute for Brain Health. She achieved her doctorate degree in clinical psychology with specialization in clinical neuropsychology from Antioch University. Her predoctoral internship was at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Massachusetts and she completed her postdoctoral fellowship through Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Mental Health Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
• Dr. Jason Stuerman: Stuerman is the emergency department medical director for Middle Park Health and has been dedicated to serving rural communities for over two decades. He earned his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Colorado’s Rose Family Medicine Residency Program. Following his training, Stuerman practiced in rural Kansas, providing comprehensive care across the emergency room, hospital, clinic and nursing home settings.