CBIS Spotlight: Kelli Gary Talley
Categories: ACBIS Insider, Professionals
Kelli Gary Talley, PhD, MPH, MS, OTR/L, CBIS is a an occupational therapist who is deeply involved with the brain injury community. After sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 1990, Kelli decided to pursue a career in the field. In working as an occupational therapist, Kelli has observed the need for culturally-sensitive approaches to care and has worked to adapt a TBI family intervention for African Americans. In addition to her work, she was also heavily involved in the BIA of Virginia as part of their leadership team.
How did you choose a career in brain injury?
The reason I chose a career in brain injury may tie into why I am so passionate about it. I will save that for the next part of the question. Why I focus on brain injury from a clinical and research prospective is because it is such an intriguing population to work with. Ever since occupational therapy (OT) school, I have wanted to know more about working with that population. I focused all of my chosen classwork to learn more about how to provide better rehabilitation services for people with brain injury. Often the population has multiple problems related to cognition, physical impairment, and emotional regulation so it pushes rehab professionals to develop multiple strategies and to be very creative to provide better services. Many of my colleagues have mentioned that individuals with brain injury are difficult to work with because they often encounter a multitude of problems but I always considered it a great challenge and it pushed me to be a better therapist.
Why are you passionate about BI?
The reason why I am so passionate stems from why I became an OT and desired to work in that field as a clinician, researcher, and advocate. I am a person with the lived experience of traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a motor vehicle accident in 1990. I struggled for many years with residual deficits related to cognition, physical deficits, and emotional regulation. However, I was able to return to school and earn my BS in OT, two Masters and a Ph.D. after injury. Going through my own rehabilitation is what introduced me to OT and when I returned to school I was motivated to learn about all aspects of brain injury from a clinical and research perspective since I already knew a lot as a patient.
Why is it important to consider culturally adapting interventions and programs for diverse populations with BI?
It is important to consider culturally adapting interventions for diverse populations with TBI because there are many that do not completely address factors related to culture that can influence recovery. My search of the literature reveals that culturally adapting interventions are beneficial for diverse people with brain injury because there are components that, not only address recovery from brain injury, but also deal with cultural factors that influence the recover process. After all of the descriptive research I have done about racial and ethnic minorities with TBI, I have felt compelled to culturally adapt a TBI family intervention for African Americans and add components relevant to issues specifically experienced by diverse people, such as, implicit bias, lack of access to health care, and other cultural factors.
How did you get involved in BIA of Virginia and decide to become a leader?
I have joined every BIA organization since I graduated with my OT degree but never had the time to become very involved. I wanted to do what I could to help others learn strategies to overcome challenges of brain injury and become successful and have a productive life. When I got settled in Richmond, I was able to incorporate my volunteer work with BIAV with the requirements of my position at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). As I continue to volunteer with various committees and get to know leaders in the organization, I decided to get involved in leadership positions. The current executive director of BIAV (Mrs. Anne McDonnell) would meet with me every month and mentor me as I assumed leadership at BIAV.
What advice do you have for others who may want to get more involved with their local BIA chapter?
My advice for others to get more involved with their local BIA chapters is to attend the activities that they sponsor. Go to the support groups and attend the conferences. Reach out to those who work in the organization and let them know how interested you are in being involved. Volunteer for the activities they sponsor as much as you can and most importantly make sure you join and become a paying member of the organization.
Why is having a CBIS important to you?
Being a certified brain injury specialist means that you have been tested and have displayed knowledge and skills related to all aspects of brain injury. I was really impressed with the exam and how if covers so many aspects of brain injury. It is really important because it shows that I am capable of relaying that information when I teach a class that I have designed specifically for rehabilitation counseling students at VCU. Additionally, it pushes me to keep and update my knowledge as I strive to renew my certification.
What recommendations would you make regarding increasing CBIS and CBIST involvement with BIAA or ACBIS (other than certification)?
I think that BIAA or ACBIS should organize a conference/meeting on an annual or biannual basis where those with CBIS/CBIST can come to and gain additional knowledge and network. There are several conferences on the state level that bring us together regionally and some national conferences we usually attend, but there should be other activities specifically for those with a CBIS/CBIST on a national level and we could convene in the Washington DC area. We should find ways to get more involved with advocacy at the National level. There should be a survey sent out to ask those with a CBIS/CBIST what would motivate them to get involved in BIAA or ACBIS.