Brain Injury from Two Perspectives
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
7 pm, Rangos 3, University Center
Deborah Brandon, Ph.D. is an Associate Teaching Professor of the Carnegie Mellon University Department of Mathematical Sciences, a textile artist, a writer, an avid dragon boater, and a brain injury survivor. She underwent three brain surgeries in the summer of 2007 as a result of brain hemorrhaging from cavernous angiomas. While these procedures corrected acute problems, they left Dr. Brandon with lingering neurological issues. The difficulty with neurological issues is that while one may “look fine,” there are many hard to appreciate disabilities and deficits ranging from the cognitive to the physiological to the emotional. Dr. William Hawthorn is Dr. Brandon’s Neuropsychologist. He assessed her cognitive issues and aided in her rehabilitation efforts. In some cases this meant recovering function, while in others, this meant developing strategies to compensate for deficits. In this presentation Dr. Brandon will discuss her path as a patient and Dr. Hawthorne will provide a clinician’s perspective on her case and recovery from brain injury.
William J. Hawthorne III, Psy.D., Hawthorne Clinical & Neuropsychology (private practice) and University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Hawthorne received the doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Central Michigan University in 1980 and completed post-doctoral residencies in both Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology. A full-time practicing psychologist, Dr. Hawthorne is an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Hawthorne’s clinical interests include the integration of mindfulness practice and behaviorally-oriented psychotherapy and the effects of exercise and meditative practices on health outcomes (including cognitive functioning). Dr. Hawthorne has a particular interest in the relationship between health-oriented activities and psychological well-being, and the expanding role of clinical psychology in primary health care.
Outside of his professional interests, Dr. Hawthorne's creative/artistic interests include nature and art photography and jazz guitar. His primary competitive recreational interests include Rowing and Dragon Boat Racing; he is a member of Steel City Dragons Competition Dragon Boat Team. Dr. Hawthorne has long-term interests in running, physical fitness, yoga, and meditation practice.