BIAA Announces Newly Formed Brain Injury Action Coalition, Names Dr. Michael S. Jaffee Chair

The Brain Injury Association of America is excited to announce the launch of the Brain Injury Action Coalition, a new program with the goal of identifying and prioritizing the most promising solutions and approaches to accelerating advancements in brain injury treatment and prevention. Michael S. Jaffee, MD, FAAN, FANA, has been appointed chairperson of the Brain Injury Action Coalition.

The Brain Injury Action Coalition was formed in response to the challenges faced by the brain injury community, including insufficient federal funding for brain injury programs and research, a lack of FDA-approved TBI therapeutics or diagnostics, and coordination challenges among federal agencies involved in brain injury.

The Brain Injury Action Coalition will first prioritize the adoption of a federal Brain Injury National Action Plan, which will prioritize brain injury prevention, research, and care coordination while also determining mechanisms to enhance data collection and federal funding.

The coalition represents a cross section of allied organizations within the brain injury community, and includes the Centre for Neuro Skills, Collage Rehabilitation Partners, The Mac Parkman Foundation, the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA), the National TBI Registry Coalition, Neurorestorative, Oxeia Biopharmaceuticals, PINK Concussions, Rehab Without Walls, Save Our Air Medical Resources and Select Medical.

“For too long, brain injury has been understudied and underfunded. It is of vital importance that we have all parties at the table to advocate for a National Plan of Action that addresses the challenges that the brain injury community is facing, and I am excited to lead this effort,” Dr. Jaffee said.

A board member of the Brain Injury Association of America since 2024, Dr. Jaffee is also Chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Florida (UF), and the Bob Paul Family Professor of Neurology. He is the founding Director of the Brain Injury, Rehabilitation, and Neuroresilience (BRAIN) Center at UF, Florida’s designated lead state agency for brain injury. The BRAIN Center fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration between clinicians and researchers and unites specialists and institutions, such as the McKnight Brain Institute and the Fixel Institute for Neurological Disorders, to advance neuroresilience and neural injury science, while ensuring statewide access to services, resources, and coordinated care for Floridians with brain injury.

Prior to his tenure at UF, Dr. Jaffee served for 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he held several key leadership roles, including National Director of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. He serves as a national consultant for multiple federal agencies and national professional organizations.

“Thanks to his extensive clinical experience in both military and civilian settings, Dr. Jaffee possesses a deep understanding of the diverse needs and challenges faced by brain injury survivors from multiple perspectives,” said Rick Willis, President and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of America.

Learn more about the Brain Injury Action Coalition at https://biausa.org/brain-injury-action-coalition. If you’d like more information about becoming a member, contact Peter Knockstead at pknockstead@biausa.org or 703-584-8640.