Senate committee places Brain Injury Trust Fund nominees on consent calendar

The Colorado Senate Health and Human Services Committee on the floor introduced six appointees to the Brain Injury Trust Fund Board and placed their confirmations on the consent calendar.

Rusha Nauer, director of the MindSource Brain Injury Network at the Colorado Department of Human Services, introduced the nominees and described the fund’s statutory role in supporting services, research and education for people living with brain injury. Nauer said the board funds client services and supports research and awareness for Coloradans living with brain injury.

Nominees who addressed the committee included Jennifer Medina, a clinical neuropsychologist who said her diagnostic and treatment experience would help her advocate for patients; Kathy Harden, a speech-language pathologist and professor at Metro State University who cited more than 25 years supporting families with traumatic brain injury; Caitlin Hayes, a physical therapist at Craig Hospital with research and rehabilitation experience; and Tobin Wright, a retired chief probation officer who described work with people who screen positive for traumatic brain injury in the criminal justice system. Rebecca Wassel, a rural resident and returning member, was noted as on medical leave and did not participate in person.

The vice chair moved the group’s confirmations to the full Senate and asked that they be placed on the consent calendar; the motion met no opposition and was granted. The committee did not debate individual nominees in depth during the hearing.

Next steps: the confirmations will appear on the Senate consent calendar for final action.