Sexually Speaking: Brain Injury, Development and Behavior
Sexuality is an integral part of being human. Sexual development is one of the most significant stages in an individual’s life. Love, affection, and sexual intimacy contribute to healthy relationships, feeling connected and individual well-being. However, the physical, cognitive and emotional challenges stemming from brain injury can greatly affect an individual’s ability for healthy sexual development and the formation/maintenance of positive social and sexual relationships.
Join us for a three-part series on sexuality across the lifespan: development and disruption, forming and maintaining relationships and the complex presentation and treatment of individuals with hyposexuality and problematic sexual behavior.
Part 1: Sexual Development and Disruption
Presenters: Mary Romano, MD and Rachel Kaplan, MPH
This webinar will focus on neurotypical physical, emotional and cognitive growth, and subsequent issues associated with the occurrence of TBI. Optimal points for education for teens and parents will be discussed as well as best practices for providing culturally competent care to adolescents and best supports for families navigating parenting and sexuality with youth who have experienced TBI.
Objectives:
· Review physical, psychological and neurobiological changes that occur during adolescence.
· Discuss how neurologic injury might disrupt this dynamic process--physical and psychological effects.
· Highlight best practices for providing culturally competent care to adolescents who have experienced a TBI (possible case presentation)
· Discuss how to best support families as they navigate the challenges of parenting an adolescent who has experienced a TBI.
Mary Romano, MD, MPH, attended Dartmouth College then earned her medical degree from St George’s University(Grenada, West Indies) in 2001. She completed her pediatric residency at Winthrop University Hospital(Long Island, New York) in 2004 and served as Chief Resident. She completed a fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Miami Children’s Hospital (Miami, FL) in 2007. During my fellowship I also earned my Masters in Public Health from Florida International University (Miami, FL) and is faculty at Monroe Carrell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt since completing fellowship. Research, Clinical and Education Interests: Adolescent gynecology, contraceptive management in medically complex patients, LARC use in adolescent/young adults, menstrual suppression in adolescents with physical/intellectual disabilities, menstrual disorders, LGBTQI2 health.
Rachel Kaplan, MPH is the founder of Kintsugi Consulting, LLC with a focus on providing training and consultation related to disability inclusion, education, accessibility, and representation. Rachel holds a Master of Public Health and Master Certificate in Drug and Addiction Studies from the University of South Carolina. She has extensive experience working with the homeless population, youth services and youth programming, youth with disabilities, sexuality health education, mental health awareness, suicide prevention, wellness programming, crisis intervention, and sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy.