Representatives from Paradigm once again attended the Annual Scientific Meeting for the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA). Dedicated to advancing the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) care, education, and research, ASIA is the premier North American organization for this important field. Through events, publications, and other activities, ASIA creates and disseminates standards for practice, education and research that translate to improving the lives of people affected by SCI.

At this year’s 50th Anniversary meeting, Paradigm Medical Director, Kenneth Parsons, MD, was especially honored to receive the ASIA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the field.

2023 Annual Scientific Meeting
The 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting, held April 17–19 in Atlanta, Georgia, brought together industry-leading researchers, clinicians, and SCI professionals for thought-provoking courses, panels, and sessions. Paradigm Medical Directors Maureen D. Miner, MD, Indira S. Lanig, MD, Pamela Ballard, MD, and Dr. Parsons represented Paradigm along with Chief Medical Officer, Michael Choo, MD. Drs. Lanig and Miner both previously chaired last year’s meeting and currently serve on ASIA’s board of directors.

Paradigm was proud to serve as a Silver Partner for the three-day event, which featured lectures on the latest advances in treating spinal cord injuries and sessions on topics ranging from addressing behavioral concerns to improving quality of life for people with SCI. There were also a series of educational courses for SCI specialists, including enhancing motor function recovery and how exercise physiology impacts recovery.

Paradigm Medical Director Dr. Parsons presented with Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest recognition bestowed by ASIA, given to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the world of spinal cord injury care. Dr. Parsons, a Past-President of ASIA, is a physiatrist with a career spanning more than 45 years. In a ceremony on the opening morning of the meeting, Dr. Lanig presented the award to Dr. Parsons.

Dr Parson’s service and commitment to the SCI community has been recognized on the local, national, and international levels. In addition to his history of clinical and administrative work at various medical non-for-profit facilities, Dr. Parsons was the lead author for the Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine’s Respiratory Management Following Spinal Cord Injury. He has served as a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) surveyor and CARF board member. Specializing in spinal cord cases, Dr. Parsons has served as a Paradigm Medical Director since 1996.

Dr. Parsons has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to advancing best practices in the larger community beyond academia through his leadership in CARF and his service with Paradigm SCI Catastrophic Care Management. “I could not be more honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award from such an important organization as ASIA.” said Dr. Parsons. “At this stage in a long career, I want to thank my colleagues here at Paradigm and the entire organization for enabling the advancement of life-changing SCI care that truly helps injured workers and their families achieve remarkable progress.”

Learn about Paradigm’s commitment to clinical expertise and the strong clinical partnerships that enable advancement and understanding across multiple fields.