Joel Goldstein

Joel Goldstein is an author, advocate, educator, and businessman whose life changed when his teenage son Bart suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an automobile accident. By necessity, Goldstein became a lay authority in traumatic brain injury after his son's accident. This experience led him to immerse himself in the science, medicine, and human dimensions of brain injury recovery, turning personal crisis into a platform for public education and advocacy.

Goldstein is the author of "No Stone Unturned: A Father's Memoir of His Son's Encounter with Traumatic Brain Injury," published by University of Nebraska Press with a foreword by Lee Woodruff. The book is recognized as a reference work in university libraries worldwide. It chronicles Bart's struggle to regain his life, told from Goldstein's perspective, with flashbacks detailing Bart's life since his arrival from Korea as an infant. In their search for remedies to Bart's injuries, the Goldstein family explored a range of therapies, including craniosacral, hyperbaric oxygen, sensory learning, and vision restoration, combining conventional medicine with alternative and emerging therapies. The book has received recognition from medical professionals, including Columbia University neurologist Dr. Randolph S. Marshall, who described it as a work where the neuroscience of TBI is brought to life and recommended its inclusion in medical education.

Goldstein has written about acquired brain injury for Brainline.org, Exceptional Parent Magazine, Adoption Today, Caregiver Space, Rehab & Community Care Medicine, and Korean American Story. He has spoken on NPR, public television, and to audiences including medical societies, brain injury associations, and the New York State Assembly. His interest in critical thinking and problem-solving dates back to his teaching career, during which he co-wrote the film series for young adults, "Thinking Things Through: Solving Problems/Making Decisions."

Goldstein is a founder of the Brain Alternative Rehabilitation Therapies Foundation (BART Foundation), a public charity dedicated to exploring and promoting safe alternative therapies for brain injuries. Through his advocacy, he addresses how medical, rehabilitation, and educational systems can collaborate, emphasizing community involvement in the rehabilitation process and openness to unconventional therapies. Goldstein's work supports parents, psychologists, social workers, teachers, and caregivers in understanding their roles in supporting individuals with chronic health challenges.

Goldstein holds a BA from Brooklyn College and an MA from the Graduate Faculty of Political and Social Research at The New School. He has had a career in transportation and logistics, which informs his pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to navigating complex systems on behalf of TBI survivors and their families.