Physician Recognized as an 'Outstanding Researcher and Clinician' by the BIA

The Brain Injury Association of America recently announced that Concord resident, Ross Zafonte, D.O., Vice President of Research, Education, and Medical Affairs at Spaulding Rehabilitation and the Earle P and Ira S. Charlton Chairman of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School was selected as the recipient of the 2012 William Fields Caveness Award. This award is presented to an individual who, through research on both a national and international level, has made outstanding contributions to bettering the lives of people who have sustained a brain injury.

“Dr. Zafonte’s contributions to our understanding of traumatic brain injury and the field of rehabilitation medicine are numerous and well documented for their importance,” said David E. Storto, President, Spaulding Rehabilitation. “However, the most incredible trait he has is regardless of the high level research and lectures in which he is involved all over the world, he always makes time and fully invests in the patients and families he sees each day at Spaulding. The hundreds of patients whose progress and improvements to their quality of life he fosters is the greatest testament to why he is so deserving of this award.  All of us at Spaulding celebrate with him and feel it is an honor and a privilege to call him a colleague and friend.”

Zafonte joined Spaulding and Harvard just over four years ago. In that short time has further established himself as a leader in the field of rehabilitative medicine.  He serves as a lead researcher on numerous studies on traumatic brain injury (TBI) including serving as the Clinical and Research Leader for TBI for the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program, which provides clinical care for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and families affected by Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD) and TBI. Zafonte has served as an adviser on the development of TBI treatment and care models for the military and Department of Defense, including trips to the front lines of Afghanistan. In addition to his work with the military, Dr. Zafonte is one of the leading physicians and researchers exploring the areas of sports concussions and long term treatment connected to TBI.

Dr. Zafonte will be presented the 2012 William Fields Caveness Award at the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine /American Society Neuro-Rehabilitation annual conference in Vancouver, October 8-13, 2012.