World Head Injury Awareness Day 2026

We are pleased to share about World Head Injury Awareness Day (WHIAD), held on 20 March 2026 at Campus Biotech in Geneva.

This year’s event focused on pediatric brain health, bringing together researchers, clinicians and experts from Switzerland, Europe and North America to exchange knowledge and explore recent advances in the care of children and adolescents affected by traumatic brain injury, from prevention and diagnosis to rehabilitation and long-term support.

Throughout the day, the discussions highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the complexity of paediatric traumatic brain injury, while also drawing attention to the broader realities surrounding care, including the experiences of families and the long-term recovery journey.

This event was organized thanks to the collaboration between Professor Schaller (EANS Foundation, HUG-NeuroCentre), Professor Assal (HUG – Hopitaux Universitaires de Genève), Professor Péron (FPSE, Faculté de psychologie et des sciences de l’éducation – UNIGE) and Professor Hummel (EPFL).We also extend our sincere thanks to all speakers, contributors and participants who helped advance this important conversation.We would also like to express our gratitude to the sponsors of this event: Wyss Geneva, DePuy Synthes, Etat de Genève, Stiftung Cerebral, Neuroswiss, Suva, Promedics AG.

Watch the event reply

Program

Morning

Session 1 – Research
Moderator: Ms Thomasson Marine

9:00 Welcoming
Pr Karl Schaller
9:10 Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: advances in research and implications for public health policy in Switzerland
Dre Michelle Seiler
9:30 Development and trauma: MRI insights into the pediatric brain injury
Pr Pratik Mukherjee
9:50 Toward better outcomes in pediatric concussion: challenges and prospects
Pre Miriam Beauchamp
10:10 Advances in biomarker-based diagnostics for pediatric TBI
Pr Sergio Manzano & Anne-Cécile Chiollaz

10:30 Pause (20 minutes)

Session 2 – Clinics
Moderator: Dr Aria Nouri

10:50 Understanding and preventing shaken baby syndrome: a forensic perspective
Pr Tony Fracasso
11:10 Surgical management of severe pediatric TBI: indications and specific considerations
Dr Andrea Bartoli
11:30 Optimizing care after minor head injury in children: insights from the PECARN validation study
Dre Fleur Lorton
11:50 Table ronde: “Advancing pediatric brain health: expert insights across research and care”
Dr Andrea Bartoli / Pre Petra Hüppi / Pre Miriam Beauchamp / Pr Pratik Mukherjee / Pr Sergio Manzano – Moderator : Dr Aria Nouri

12:30 Pause Lunch (1h10)

Afternoon

Session 3 – Clinics
Moderator: Pre Julie Péron

13:40 Supporting psychological well-being in children and adolescents after TBI
Carla Raselli
14:00 Empowering families and children in recovery and social reintegration post-TBI
Florence Zangas-Gehri
14:20 Traumatic brain injury in children: care pathways and management challenges in the Île-de-France region
Dre Mathilde Chevignard
14:40 Neurorehabilitation after pediatric TBI: the occupational therapist perspective
Julie Mulsant Dumont & Diana Rebelo

15h00 Pause (20 minutes)

Session 4 – Entourage/families
Moderator: Pr Frédéric Assal

15h20 In ice hockey: how can we protect players from head impacts?
Alex Dipietro & Aurélien Urfer
15h30 Swiss Rugby Experience
Kaya Vie
15h40 At the heart of intensive care: providing comfort, support, and excellence to children and their families
Julie Renaut
16h00 Hiki supports, relieves, and connects families with children who have brain injuries
Daniel Savary
16h20 Table ronde: « Living with pediatric TBI: insights from families and patients »
Filipe Alves and his family caregiver / Carla Raselli / Dre Marine Cacioppo – Moderator : Ms Elena Beanato

17h00 Conclusion and aperitive

Download the programme in pdf

Programme