The fourth edition of this text constitutes a continuation of 20 years of coverage of traumatic brain injury, and broadens the discussion of acquired brain injury. Within TBI, the paradigm shift from an injury occurring at a point in time to a disease entity of a chronic nature is changing the discussion of diagnosis, management, treatment and outcome assessment. Disease specification that differentiates TBIs by the mechanism of injury, the exact nature of the injury, the extent of injury, presence of co-morbidities and their exact nature, gender, age, race, and genome are emerging as crucial. Disease differentiation has impacted diagnosis, treatment and outcome.
Dr. Mark J. Ashley is founder and president/CEO of Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS), which has operated postacute brain injury rehabilitation programs in Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Francisco since 1980. In 2011, Dr. Ashley participated in the Blue Ribbon Panel on Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress convened by Generals Peter W. Chiarelli and Joseph Dunford, and he established the CNS Clinical Research and Education Foundation, a nonprofit research organization. He serves on the board of directors of the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and holds several positions in that organization, including chairman emeritus, chair of the fund development committee, and member of the Business and Professional Council. Dr. Ashley also serves on the board of directors of the California Brain Injury Association and is chairman emeritus. He is an adjunct professor at the Rehabilitation Institute of the College of Education at Southern Illinois University and a member of the advisory board of the Center for Applied Neuroscience, University of Cyprus. Dr. Ashley received his master's degree in speech pathology and a doctorate of science from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. He is a licensed speech-language pathologist in California and Texas and is a certified case manager.
Dr. David A. Hovda is the director of the UCLA Brain Injury Research Center, which was created in 1990. It incorporates teaching, research, patient care, and service for patients suffering from traumatic brain injury. Dr. Hovda has received a number of awards for his research on brain injury and recovery of function, including the "Strength of the Nation Award" from the United States Army in 2011. This is the highest civilian award given by the Secretary of the Army in recognition of Dr. Hovda's efforts to help treat military personnel suffering from mild traumatic brain injury returning from theater. In addition, Dr. Hovda received the Alumni Association's James F. Zimmerman Award from the University of New Mexico in 2012 for his research accomplishments recognized in the field of traumatic brain injury. Dr. Hovda is most well known internationally for his translational work on the pathobiology of traumatic brain injury and has devoted most of his career to understanding the mechanisms of recovery of function. Dr. Hovda continues to serve as a consultant for professional sport organizations as well as the Department of Defense, addressing issues related to traumatic brain injury and recovery of function. Dr. Hovda is a professor of neurosurgery and of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He received his doctoral degree under the supervision of Dr. Dennis M. Feeney in the field of Physiological Psychology at the University of New Mexico. He completed his postdoctoral training in neurophysiology under Dr. Jamie Villablanca at UCLA.
