Free Symposium Hosted by Headway of WNY

January 24, 2019: Headway of WNY, an affiliate of People Inc., will host a free educational symposium, “Medical Cannabis: A Promising Therapy for TBI & Other Cognitive Disorders?” on Wednesday, February 6, from 8 a.m. to noon. The event will be held at the University at Buffalo Center for Tomorrow, 101 Service Center Road, Amherst, NY (North Campus, Flint Road entrance, off Maple Road). The featured speaker is Dr. Laszlo Mechtler, medical director, Cannabis Clinic at DENT Neurologic Institute. The symposium will include up-to-date information about the current state of Medical Marijuana, including legal aspects and common misconceptions. 

The symposium will include a panel of experts from PharmaCannis, a local medical cannabis dispensary, along with a health and wellness fair. The symposium is ideal for people living with the after-effects of a traumatic brain injury, cognitive disorder or chronic health condition, as well as for caregivers, medical professionals and wellness specialists.

As part of its community outreach activities, Headway of WNY addresses current topics through its educational programs. “The Medical Cannabis symposium is an opportunity for experts to share information for attendees to learn more about possible alternative therapies for people with traumatic brain injury and cognitive disorders,” said Ronald Fernández, RRDS, CRC, LMHC, director of Headway of WNY. 

Dr. Mechtler is professor of Neurology and Oncology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is UCNS certified in Neuroimaging, Neuro-Oncology and Headache Medicine. He completed his Neuroimaging fellowship at the Dent Neurologic Institute in 1990. He is currently participating in numerous clinical trials, which include neuroimaging research for traumatic brain injury and migraines, as well as brain tumors. He is publishing some of the first major retrospective research trials on medical marijuana in headaches and other neurologic disorders. Lecturing both nationally and internationally, he is recognized as a leader in the fields of neuroimaging, headache medicine, medical cannabis and neuro-oncology. Dr. Mechtler is the director of the DENT Cannabis Clinic, which has nearly 6,500 patients certified through the New York State Medical Marijuana Program.

Pre-registration for the symposium is strongly encouraged by January 28. To register, email support@headwayofwny.org or call 716-408-3100. The symposium includes breakfast.

Headway of WNY, a not-for-profit agency and an affiliate of People Inc., provides support groups, trainings and educational programs to both survivors and caregivers of brain injury. Headway of WNY is a support and advocacy agency for persons with brain injuries and other disabilities and the Regional Resource Center/Single Point of Entry for the New York State Department of Health’s Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver and the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver. For more information, go to headwayofwny.org or call 716-408-3100.