FAQ ABOUT OUR PINK SUMMITS
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE PINK SUMMITS?
The goals of the PINK Summits are to discuss the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of concussion in females based on current science and research of how females differ from males.
From the consensus of faculty and participants, we will offer recommendations on what sex/gender-specific clinical practices and safety protocols should be researched and/or implemented to best treat females with concussions.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT THESE SUMMITS ADDRESS?
While research shows females may have different injury rates, symptoms, and rates of recovery, the medical community does not yet have any gender-specific guidelines, protocols, or resources for females with concussions.
Research studies have shown females in general tend to:
Sustain more concussions than their male counterparts in sports with similar rules
Experience or report a higher number and severity of symptoms than males
Have longer duration of recovery than males
WHAT KINDS OF WOMEN SUFFER BRAIN INJURIES?
Females of all ages, races and social-economic status suffer brain injuries.
The circumstances vary from the shaken infant who ceases to cry to the toddler who falls at the playground, the teen athlete who slams her head defending her goal, the college student who bangs her head while drinking at a party, the woman who is concussed from an act of domestic violence or a car accident, the soldier who is injured in the line of duty, to the grandmother who slips unsteady on her bathroom floor.
PINK Concussions focuses on brain injury in females from sports, domestic violence/violent assaults, accidents and military service.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE SUMMITS?
Review established science and current research on sex/gender-differences in concussions and other TBIs in females
Allow a cross-section of females to share their personal experiences with concussions and their medical care to illustrate the vital need for improvement by the medical community
Develop summary papers of summit presentations and develop a consensus of what changes in the clinical model could improve education, assessment, diagnosis and treatment for females with concussions or other TBIs
Establish a collection of sex/gender-based research abstracts to be incorporated into an online format to serve as a resource for the medical community
Identify gaps in current research and develop an agenda and funding sources for future research that addresses sex/gender
WHAT ARE THE DESIRED OUTCOMES OF THESE EVENTS?
Establish an on-going group of medical professionals who are interested in female concussions and continuing to meet in the future to further this work
Develop an education training program (online and live) for doctors to become aware “female-friendly” management for concussion
Create female-focused education resources for ERs and other medical providers along with patients/families
Encourage outreach and build communities for women recovering from concussions
Inspire more gender-based concussion research in the future
Actively seek funding sources for gender-based research and educational programs
WHAT IS OUR HOPE?
Every female with a concussion deserves a doctor who practices with gender-specific consideration for her symptoms, her acute care and her recovery plan.
Her journey back to health can be helped by the correct diagnosis, gender-specific care, education, and by the proper support systems at home, school or work.
WHO WILL BE IN THE AUDIENCE?
Medical providers, athletic trainers, and other professionals who treat females with concussion will attend as participants.
Non-professionals (patients, parents, coaches) can attend at reduced cost but all presentations will be geared for medical professionals. We will have an online version of the conference with select presentations live-streamed designed for patients.
WHY WOULD MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ATTEND?
In medical community aware of the sex and gender differences in females, clinicians are now questioning the lack of any gender-specific guidelines, protocols. Others in the medical community are unaware of the sex/gender differences or are unaware that women should be educated about brain injury.
Many medical providers are also unclear how best to help these females who suffer from post-concussion headaches beyond their expected recovery period, sometimes called “the miserable minority.’”
Some of these slow-healing females are referred by general practitioners to concussion clinics and are suffering from non-concussion issues; then there are patients who are referred headache clinics where their concussion issues may not addressed.
World experts in research and medical care for females of all ages who suffer from concussion, other TBIs and non-impact related headache with research on sex/gender differences.