Asia Pacific Stroke Conference – My Highlights
This week I had the privilege of attending \{at the invitation of Lisa Murphy, CEO of Stroke Foundation\} to attend and participate in a Panel at the Asia Pacific Stroke Conference held in Adelaide on 26=28 September 2024. The panel's theme was –
Redefining Obesity: Shifting Perspectives and Changing the Narrative.
The objective was to redefine the narrative around obesity and discuss the multifaceted aspects of obesity, the challenges, treatments, and societal implications.
I joined a distinguished and diverse panel of speakers who discussed the multifaceted aspects of obesity.
The Panel was chaired by Dr Lisa Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, the Stroke Foundation, and the Panel comprised Dr. Tope Adepoyibi, Executive Director, of Stroke Services and Research, Stroke Foundation; Professor Nigel Stocks, Head of the Discipline of General Practice, University of Adelaide; Dr Zanna Murfitt, Director, and Co-Founder, Re: You Health and myself as a Stroke Survivor, Advocate, and Investigator.
It was a highlight to share the stage with these people.I am pleased to say we achieved our objectives with thought-provoking discussions.
Co-Design and Collaboration…
The Conference presentations were dominated by the Two C’s- Co-Design and Collaboration. Each presentation I attended and the chats I had with the attendees demonstrated the powerful, respectful relationship between these two elements.
There were two such occasions that this union resonated with me, these being--- –
Co-design Best Practice Workshop- Top tips for engaging people with Lived Experience in research co-design - Brenda Booth and Adrian O’Malley. Their stroke journeys are amazing- such courage and resilience.RESPECT
VR Game Upper Limb Project - Matthew Berryman Thomas D Beltrame. Mathew, a stroke survivor was a co-designer with Thomas- “Thomas treated me like a total person’ That to me was the quote of the day!!
The other highlight of attending this Conference was to meet \{face to face\} many of my amazing stroke friends and collaborators whom I have been working with via ZOOM for the past 7 years.
People like - Professor Coralie English, Karly Zacharia, Brooke Parsons, Brenda Booth, Emily Ramage, Adrian O'Malley, Dawn Simpson, Sharon Kramer.
There were some whom I did not get the opportunity to meet but I will be a visitor at future gatherings of this type.
A true perk of being a Stroke Survivor!
My only Regret.....
I was not staying for the Karaoke which was planned for Thursday evening. I do a half-decent version of Them’s” Here Comes the Night” But that's when I used to drink!
My Key Message...
The intellectual strength and commitment that permeated the Conference should fill everyone with the confidence to eradicate the scourge of stroke from the Australian landscape.
And I aim to do my bit to help!!
Brian A Beh. Stroke Survivor