About the Author

My interest in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) care is grounded in both clinical training and lived experience. Following a head injury, I spent over two years navigating a system in which my condition was variably understood...at different points conceptualized as mTBI, persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS), emotional distress, or even questioned altogether. During this time, no coordinated rehabilitation pathway or specialist referral was initiated.

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A turning point occurred through a chance connection with an occupational therapist, which led to entry into an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. There, a comprehensive assessment clarified my diagnosis, including PPCS and visual-vestibular dysfunction. While validating, this experience also highlighted a broader issue: access to coordinated, interdisciplinary care was not the norm, but the exception.

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Participation in a clinical study on translingual neurostimulation (PoNS Therapy™) further reinforced this understanding. Conversations with other participants revealed a shared pattern of confusion, inconsistent diagnoses, and a lack of clear treatment direction, suggesting that these challenges were not isolated, but systemic.

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I recognize that my recovery was shaped by access to integrated care pathways that are not universally available. This realization informs the foundation of this work. What began as a personal experience has evolved into a focused inquiry: under what conditions does effective, coordinated mTBI care become possible across various healthcare systems in Canada?

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This study is guided by a pragmatic and ethically grounded approach, with the aim of generating knowledge that can meaningfully inform more accessible, coordinated, and responsive care pathways for individuals navigating mTBI.