National Harbor convention aims to help paralyzed veterans

This photo taken May 20, 2014 shows a view of the new "Capital Wheel" at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. With a massive new Ferris wheel overlooking the nation’s capital, a children’s museum, a village of restaurants and hotels and a major casino resort on the horizon, National Harbor in Maryland has quickly become a travel alternative to the marble monuments and museums of nearby Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)(AP/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON — Improving care for veterans and others with spinal cord injuries and diseases is the focus of next week’s convention that will be held in the D.C. area.

More than 800 people from around the world will take part in the Paralyzed Veterans of America’s annual summit, which runs Monday through Thursday at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor.

“Eighty percent of participants are providers that provide care for veterans,” said Lana McKenzie, Paralyzed Veterans of America’s medical services associate executive director.

A neuroscientist who’s looking for a cure for spinal cord injury will give one of the many presentations.

Other topics to be covered range from the latest treatment research to suicide prevention to the use of video chat technology — such as Skype and FaceTime — to connect health care providers with veterans in rural areas.

Learn more on the summit’s website.

Michelle Basch

Michelle Basch is a reporter turned morning anchor at WTOP News.

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