FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026
6:00PM
SCIOTO RESERVE COUNTRY CLUB
CBIRD Brain Injury Gala
We warmly invite you to join us at this Brain Injury Gala for an evening of inspiration, connection, and dedication.
This special event will bring together experts, advocates, clinicians, and supporters to celebrate survivor resilience while raising critical funds for the Center for Brain Injury Recovery & Discovery (CBIRD) to expand groundbreaking brain injury research, innovative educational initiatives, informed care systems, and authentic community engagement.
Brain injuries affect us all. Your support enables research to develop new interventions, student fellowships to accelerate excellence among scientists and clinicians, and survivor programs that connect persons with lived experience with studies to ensure our collaborative work has meaningful impact.
Enjoy a night of dining, entertainment, and impactful stories while advancing discoveries that improve the lives of those affected by brain injury.
Details
General Admission: $135/person
Purchase your tickets here!
Each ticket includes:
- Catered dinner and dessert
- Two drink tickets for beer or wine
- A built in donation toward brain injury research, outreach, and education
Please note - If you would like to sit together, please purchase all of your tickets together in one transaction.
We will not know that your seats are together if you purchase tickets separately.
The maximum number per table is 8 seats - please plan accordingly!
You can also purchase tickets via phone by calling 1-800-678-6011.
Sponsorship rate: $1,500/package
Sponsoring a table includes the following package:
- Eight general admission tickets for any guests of your choice
- Two donated tickets to provide free admission for brain injury survivors and family/caregivers
- A dedicated thank you with your name or organization's logo included on the gala website and event materials
Please call the Advancement Engagement Center at 1-800-678-6011 to purchase. This special offer is only available via phone.
If you would like to purchase a table, but the above sponsorship package does not meet your needs, please purchase 8 tickets in one transaction. This will ensure that we know to seat your party together.
For any questions, or if you'd like to discuss a personalized sponsorship for your needs, please email us at cbird@osu.edu.
If you cannot attend the gala, but would still like to support the Center for Brain Injury Recovery & Discovery, please donate here.
We are also accepting items and experiences as donations for our silent auction. If you are interested in giving toward the auction, please email us at cbird@osu.edu.
Thank you so much for your contributions toward this important cause!
Location
Scioto Reserve Country Club
7383 Scioto Pkwy
Powell, OH 43065
Parking
Free self-parking is provided on site.
Note: A short flight of stairs lead from the parking lot to the country club. Please plan to use the drop-off directly in front of the doors for any guests with accessibility needs.
If there are financial barriers for you to attend this event, we will have a limited number of sponsored tickets available at free or reduced rates. If you'd like to be added to the waitlist for these spots, please email us at cbird@osu.edu.
What is the dress code for this event?
- Please plan to wear cocktail attire.
- Dresses (long or short), dressy jumpsuits, suits, sport jackets, etc. would all be appropriate.
What is the schedule for this event?
- 6:00 - Reception
- 6:30 - Welcome Remarks
- 6:45 - Dinner
- 7:30 - Invited Speakers, CBIRD Awards & Silent Auction
If I have a dietary restriction - can you accommodate me?
- Yes! We are happy to provide a meal that meets your dietary restrictions! Please report your allergies and restrictions when prompted as your purchase your event ticket.
If I have an accessibility need - can you accommodate me?
- Yes! We will provide accommodations for any accessibility needs to make this event an enjoyable experience for you. Please report your accessibility needs when prompted as you purchase your event ticket. Feel free to email us at cbird@osu.edu if you have any concerns.
I have a question that is not addressed here - who should I contact?
- Please contact us at cbird@osu.edu.
Organizer
- Alexa Benear, MBA - Project Manager, Center for Brain Injury Recovery & Discovery (CBIRD)
Committee
- Sheital Bavishi, DO - Physician & Associate Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Ava Bracken - Undergraduate Student, Buckeyes Raising Awareness in Neuroscience (BRAIN)
- Jasmeet Hayes, PhD - Associate Professor, Clincial Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience
- Kedar Hiremath, MBA, MPH - Associate Director, Center for Brain Injury Recovery & Discovery (CBIRD)
- Megan Keiser, PhD - Assistant Professor, Neurological Surgery
- Olga Kokiko-Cochran, PhD - Associate Professor, Neuroscience
- Katrin Parker - Undergraduate Student, Buckeyes Raising Awareness in Neuroscience (BRAIN)
- Lailah Rudolph - OSU Graduate, Buckeyes Raising Awareness in Neuroscience (BRAIN)
- Zeynep Saygin, PhD - Associate Professor, Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience
Support
- Julia Casbarro - Director, Advancement Events
- Paige Schafer - Event Coordinator, Advancement Events
Partners & Sponsors
Buckeyes Raising Awareness in Neuroscience (BRAIN) is a student organization dedicated to providing support to those affected by neurological injuries and illnesses while increasing awareness and education within the Ohio State and Central Ohio community.
BRAIN is made up of a talented group of motivated young adults studying psychology, neuroscience and pre-medicine; but they encourage new members from all disciplines to join them! They host an annual Brain Injury Awareness 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk, fundraise for local brain injury efforts, participate in a wide array of service events, and hold awareness events on campus.
BRAIN is supporting the gala via planning efforts and they are coordinating the gala's silent auction. CBIRD is honored to partner with this wonderful student group!
Speakers
Lisa Huelskamp, LPC, CWC, NCC, PhD
Brain Injury Survivor • Licensed Professional Counselor • Certified Wellness Counselor • PhD Recipient in STEM
Lisa Huelskamp, a survivor of multiple brain injuries, is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a certified wellness counselor (CWC), and earned her PhD in STEM education from OSU noting that she’s proud to be a 4-time OSU graduate. She retired as a clinical research assistant at Ohio State College of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health last year and continues to run her private practice Red Apple Counseling and Consultation. Lisa taught middle school for 32 years and served 9 years as an adjunct instructor at OSU. She is a professional musician, enjoys traveling with her husband, gardening, baking, volunteering for Great Dane and cat rescues, and running Union County's Brain Injury Support Group at Memorial Hospital in Marysville.
Sheital Bavishi, DO
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, The Ohio State University • Medical Director, Brain Injury Program, Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr. Bavishi is a physiatrist, who focuses on Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Recovery and has a passion for medical education. Dr. Bavishi is a Clinical Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) with The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine and the Medical Director of the Brain Injury Program for Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital. She is board certified in PM&R and Subspecialty Board Certified in Brain Injury Medicine. Dr. Bavishi completed her medical education at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, her residency in PM&R at University of Cincinnati, and her fellowship in Traumatic Brain Injury and Polytrauma at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center in conjunction with Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been practicing in academic medicine since 2010. Additionally, she is a Faculty Member of the Center for Brain Injury Recovery & Discovery (CBIRD), and serves on committees for NeuroNights and CBIRD's Gala.