December 22, 2023 by Angela

Why Your Support Matters

A Special Message from Dr. Gary Abrams

photo of Dr. Abrams I am a Professor of Neurology at the University of California San Francisco and have worked in the neuro-recovery field for 40 years. I am delighted to serve as a volunteer member of Schurig Center’s Board of Directors because their programs play an essential role in helping people heal and fill gaps in the continuum of our health care system.

As many of you may know, our health care system provides only limited support for patients beyond the early rehabilitation phase of treatment after a traumatic brain injury, concussion, stroke, and other types of brain injury. However, the journey to reaching one’s full potential is often a prolonged process and most effective with access to continued support and community re-integration.

With your generosity, this is where Schurig Center helps.

The enriched environment of Schurig Center picks up where health care leaves off by providing long-term restorative therapies, personal growth activities, and opportunities for social engagement. I have long recognized these are critical components for optimal recovery, but they are often difficult to access in our community.

Without a place like Schurig Center, many people end up isolated, depressed, declining in their abilities and health, and potentially, back in the hospital system.

The need for organizations like Schurig Center cannot be over emphasized.

Schurig Center is the only place I know of that helps address this need by offering an array of supportive “whole person” services and a community that cares for both survivors and their families. Staff work with a talented group of medical advisors who consult on program design to ensure services are high quality and effective.

I’m reaching out to you today because it’s critical for the center to have support from community members, like you and I, to carry forth its mission. Schurig Center is a nonprofit that does not receive medical reimbursements or federal funding.

I can’t stress enough how much your giving matters. Through your generosity, you have the power to help ensure your fellow community members living with a brain injury don’t fall through the cracks in our health care system. Please join me in helping to ensure this vital community resource continues to be available.

If you are in a position to help, please donate today and give as generously as you can.

On behalf of the people whose lives your caring touches, thank you. I can assure you your gift will be used wisely and will go far in helping hundreds of people this year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gary Abrams, MD
Schurig Center Board of Directors
Professor of Neurology, UCSF

November 6, 2019 by Angela

You Help Change the Future of Concussion Treatment

Thanks to your support, adults living with the effects of a Concussion are helped by innovative services not available anywhere else in our area; services that are gaining recognition as a model program.

According to the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability around the world. Concussion, also known as Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI), is considered an epidemic in the United States.

It was once believed that people who sustained a Concussion would typically recover fully in a few months. Research now shows over 50% of people who sustain even just one Concussion may experience significant long-term effects for a year or longer.

Globally, health practitioners, who themselves may have limited familiarity with these conditions, are often faced with a lack of resources to aid clients in their recovery.

A Concussion is a significant medical problem that can result in lasting effects that are not at all ‘mild.’ It’s important to have a place like Schurig Center that offers continued education and support at affordable rates to help those who are experiencing longer-term side effects of a Concussion. – Dr. James Wilson, PhD

Dr. Jim Wilson, PhD

33% of Schurig Center’s clients are adults with post-concussive syndrome.

With the expert guidance of neuropsychologist and concussion specialist Dr. James Wilson, Schurig Center has designed and implemented specialized services to meet the unique needs of these people.

Schurig’s Post-Concussion Education and Support Group, facilitated by Dr. Wilson, fills gaps in care by providing accurate information about Concussion and directing clients to suitable sources of care. The group also addresses the altered sense of self, a psychological reaction that is common among Concussion survivors.

We are pleased to share that the group’s outcomes show significant improvement in clients’ ability to cope with the long-term cognitive, behavioral, and psychological effects that often impact their work, family, and personal lives.

In recognition of the group’s innovation and positive outcomes, Dr. Wilson was invited to share the findings as a keynote speaker at the 4th International Conference on Clinical and Counseling Psychology this past August in Tokyo. Locally, he also spoke at MarinHealth Medical Center’s Trauma Symposium in October.

July 10, 2019 by Angela

Connecting with Furry Friends that Help People See the World

Schurig Center’s latest Community Integration group outing happened in May with a visit to Guide Dogs for the Blind, a leading guide dog school serving people who are blind or visually impaired.

The Guide Dogs team warmly welcomed a group of Schurig Center participants, volunteers, and staff for a walking tour of the San Rafael campus to learn all about their guide dog programs, from birth and puppy socialization to training and pairing with prospective clients.

After the tour, the Schurig group wrapped up the day with lunch and an extra special art project to reflect on what they had learned during the visit – each person created and shared an original art piece depicting their very own dream guide dog.

Community Integration… Why It Matters

Community integration outings like this one are important to the recovery process of our participants. Isolation is often one of the greatest challenges facing people living with the effects of a brain injury. These group outings help keep people active and connected by providing an opportunity for participants to:

Re-engage with the community
Build confidence through personal interactions with new people
Practice communication and social skills
Support one another through cooperation and peer-to-peer support
Increase their sense of independence
Participate and not just be an observer
Access experiences and activities that may not otherwise be available to them

The outings are also a wonderful way for members of the community-at-large to learn more about brain injury as well as to meet and get to know people living with the effects of a brain injury as unique, valuable individuals, not just as their disability.

Our community is truly stronger when everyone is included!

Thank you!

Big thanks to Keith Rosenthal and the rest of the awesome team at Guide Dogs for their time and enthusiasm to make this memorable “warm and fuzzy” day possible for Schurig’s group.

No one should have to go through brain injury alone.
Your generosity helps ensure no one does.

Schurig Center’s innovative programs are powered by the giving of foundations and individual donors, like you. We hope you’ll join us in making critically-needed services, like the Community Integration Program, possible by donating today. Your gift ensures everyone in our community has the opportunity to live happily, meaningfully, and fully. Thank you!