The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center- Department of Neurosurgery in conjunction with Northwestern State University Nursing hosted the Neuroscience Sympsoium 2009, a one-day continuing education course on October 3rd at the Holiday Inn in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana. The Neuroscience Symposium was for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, physcians, and other allied healthcare professionals interested in neurosurgical issues. Participants were from Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. This is the fourth nursing symposium hosted by the University Neurosurgery (the other years being 2001, 2003, and 2006). Over one hundred physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals, and students have attended each year's symposium.
The symposium is designed to advance the knowledge of those who do not encounter neurosurgical patients on a daily basis. This year participants learned how to identify basic neuroanatomy as it applies to patient care, interpret specific diagnostic studies for evaluation of neurosurgical problems, as well as how to describe rehabilitation concepts and outcomes for neurosurgery patients through various presentations.
The symposium featured a unique mix of neuroscience topics and ideas. Speakers included the Chancellor Robert A. Barish, M.D, M.B.A., Dr. Roger Kelley, Dr. Anthony Sin, Dr. Paul McCarthy, Dr. Anil Nanda, Alice Edwards, PA, Tabitha Ward, RN, Dr. Raul Cardenas, Dr. Prashant Chittiboina, Dr. Bharat Guthikonda, Dr. David Connor, Sheree Jordan, RN, Denise Taylor, RN, Peter Molnar, APRN-C, and neurosurgery patient Mrs. Kathy Gibson.
