On Saturday, March 3rd the Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation held their annual Medical Science Scholarship Award Banquet in Orlando at the Lake Mary Marriott.
UF Department of Psychiatry, Associate Professor, Richard D’Alli, MD was the keynote speaker. His talk focused on ADD/ADHD. He explained that ADHD should not be thought of as a problem of out-of-control, poorly parented children, but instead of children and adults whose brains process attention to their environment, internal motivation, and appreciation of rewards somewhat differently than people without ADHD.
The Sia Brain Awareness Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in memory of Sia Christine Yorker and others that have transitioned on, and those that are currently living with an Adverse Brain Condition. The foundation awards scholarships to deserving Central Florida graduating high school seniors who will be full-time students in an accredited Florida College or University with the intent of pursuing Medical Science.
The Foundation’s mission is to educate the community by bringing awareness of signs and symptoms of Acute Brain Hemorrhages, Brain Tumors, Aneurisms, Strokes, Concussions, Seizures, Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinsons, the choking game and other adverse brain conditions.
“It was both a pleasure and privilege to represent the UF Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Department of Psychiatry with this presentation to honor the memory of a lovely, gifted young woman whose path to a career in medicine was cut short by a brain disease.”
-Richard E. D’Alli, MD, Associate Professor
