Head Injury Association history

The 1990’s brought changes in terminology and the national organization became the Brain Injury Association of America.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy introduces the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Act of 1992.

The International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) was founded by George A. Zitnay, PhD, and Martin B. Foil, Jr., following an international meeting on brain injury held in Oxford, United Kingdom at Oxford University in April of 1993.

1994 The State’s Assembly was established to foster training and networking among state associations.

The legislation will be revised and re-introduced in successive years until it is enacted in 1996.

1998 George A. Zitnay, Ph.D., resigns as BIA President/CEO; Allan I. Bergman is selected as his successor.

1999 BIAA’s Board of Directors and staff participate in a multi-day strategic planning meeting that leads to a new mission statement for the organization: To create a better future through brain injury prevention, research, education and advocacy.

2005 NASCAR Legend Ernie Irvan, Olympic Gold Medalist Dick Button and Miss Utah Pageant Winner Amy Davis generously volunteer their time to BIAA to spread brain injury awareness and prevention messages.

2007 BIAA partners with ABC News journalist Bob Woodruff and his family to raise awareness of brain injury and to administer the newly created Bob Woodruff Family Fund to assist servicemen and women and their families affected by the signature wounds of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

2010 President Barack Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the most sweeping health care reform in United States history.

2013 BIAA establishes the Future Care Coalition in collaboration with the United Spinal Association to address threats to the health and financial security of current and future Medicare beneficiaries.

In 2015, the Center identified and purchased a “fixer upper” building that would allow for expansion and to accommodate the many people seeking our services.

2016 BIAA secures report language in the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for a $5 million increase for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to complete a concussion surveillance survey.

BIAA’s reimagined website, www.biausa.org, launches in December 2017 after nearly two years of work.

2018 BIAA unveils its new Brain Injury Fundamentals Certificate and Training Program.