An interview with Jane Ross, former professor of medical anthropology (University of Cambridge, UK) on her involvement with the BRAIN Conference and BRAIN Centre covering brain injury and rehabilitation for Central Alberta, in the Battle River region.

Jane started out as a nurse, and soon realized that different parts of the world have different cultural ideas and practices, so she went onto medical anthropology, a subfield of anthropology that studies how human health, illness, healing processes, and healthcare systems are shaped by cultural, social, biological, and political-economic forces.

*1 What did BRAIN stand for in the beginning, and what do the letters stand for now?

BRAIN is anacronym that stands for Battle River Arts, Innovation and Neuroscience.

In June of 2022 the name was brought up in a clinical setting at in St. Mary's Hospital expressed by medical professionals and brain injured people. It fit with workshops they'd been holding, starting at Red Deer Lake in 2012. The book, Beauty Everyday, was a result, featuring the Battle River which runs from the headwaters at Battle Lake, east to the Battlefords in Saskatchewan. This is one of few groups in Canada that is place based.

Now that we've changed from ALL (Association for Life-wide Living of Alberta) to the BRAIN Foundation, so too has our focus changed. Operating under ALL, this initiative focuses on brain health, education, injury rehabilitation, and neuroplasticity through community engagement and the arts.

*2 Brain injuries don't just affect the brain. They cause disability and pain throughout the whole body. Tell us of your own personal journey in this regard. I was healthy and active, but with a nursing background, I recognized that I was having a stroke and called for help on 911, then all went black. I heard the snap of my ankle breaking as I fell.

My left side was affected: leg, arm, and impaired speech. The initial response is to resist and deny that something has happened. The rehabilitative journey began. I progressed much better than some others, so that I wanted to help others. A positive attitude is a huge factor. Never give up hope and following the regime to regaining health. Brain injuries act in many ways, some are even chemical (in the brain).

*3 I gather you have been key to getting BRAIN conferences into the Battle River region and getting the most knowledgeable of speakers on the subject. How do you find them and where do they come from?

It helps that I have an MBA and health background and know people from all over the world.

I've discovered that most people (especially out of country) want to come to a rural setting—it's a new experience, exciting. One participant/speaker is Jacob Krive, who was a student of mine at the University of Maryland. He now lives in Chicago and has eagerly jumped at the chance to be a part of both the BRAIN Foundation and the conferences.

*4 What do you envision for the outcome of these conferences, both short and long term?

Short term – Getting together and talking (conference mode) to obtain and apply research-based knowledge about the brain. It has been developing and is now into a third year, beginning in Camrose, then Wetaskiwin, and now Halkirk.

Long term – We first envisioned what has become The Lending Place, which celebrated the grand opening of its new building in Camrose on Sept. 26, 2026.

Long term – a world class BRAIN Centre that will start right here in rural Central Alberta. Australia accomplished something similar, establishing in a tiny town—it can be done anywhere! Again, attitude! They started off by eliminating the IM in impossible = Possible! They also went on to recruit and train their own local people.

*5 Has there been talk of where such a facility will be and has there been any movement towards that end?

Yes. The major facility is envisioned for Camrose, while a possible satellite facility is likely to happen in Maskwacis. There is already a Polytech and rehabilitation program at Augustana University. Meetings are being held with regards to possible sites and expansions as a next step.

*6 Regarding the above, what do you see as a feasible time frame for turning the talks into action, meaning the building of a facility, bringing in world class machinery and devices, and having the staff to handle them and patients?

There is no time frame yet set. Getting started with be slow. Regional buy-in is important; one community can't do it all. The 'need'; is all through the Battle River region and beyond. All communities need to get involved.

*7 Your husband, Jack Ross, suffered a similar brain injury, with more devastating results than you've suffered. Can you relate that to us and how it has affected your lives?

In a word: drastic change to our lives. Jack was healthy and active, but within one second, he lost strength due to a brain bleed. Several times we were called to the hospital, as they thought it was the end. But, far from it! He hasn't lost hope for a full recovery and has had the advantage of regaining full speech and thought, and use of his writing hand to record his stories. Jack and I went down to a Florida facility to undergo treatment not accessible in Canada and have had good outcome. The people there also offered to train anyone for free, and to get information from them. The drug(s) used are not yet available in Canada and I have contacted Health

Canada on getting drug approval (nothing yet).

*8 I gather you two have been instrumental in getting some much-needed equipment to Camrose, things like quality used wheelchairs, walkers and more, along with some equipment very specific to patient needs, like a sit-to-stand apparatus. It sounds like The Lending Place was the beginning of visions for bigger things. Can you comment more on how it all began.

The Lending Place started in 2021/2022, with three distinct divisions: to collect equipment, mobility training, and learning and education. Unfortunately, things stalled as a result of my stroke, thus not everything is under one roof with no plans to amalgamate at this time.

Presently, assistance comes from Neurogym is in Ontario and Synaptic which had the exoskeleton in Calgary. There are prototypes in Calgary through the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, a part of the University of Calgary which features a dedicated research theme and priority on healthy brain aging and cognitive disorders, studying mechanisms of cognitive decline, dementia, and movement disorders.

*9 Any final words?

We need to attract students and professionals to get into what we need for a future BRAIN Centre. Many need training for this field and that needs to be started now. Outsiders need to recognize that the rural prairies have a different culture than urban communities. That must be taken into consideration.

As a writer and participant in the BRAIN CONFERENCE, it has been an honor to interview Jane Ross, from the BRAIN Foundation. By Lori M. Feldberg, Wetaskiwin

The next conference happens on Saturday, October 24 th , 2626, with further events and fun activities happening both Friday evening and Sunday morning.

For more information and to register for the conference, see the BRAIN Foundation website:

www.brainfoundation.ca . or by telephone: 780/672-9315 or 780/781-9244