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Gerard Gioia, Ph.D., international expert in kids' concussions, becomes president of the Sports Neuropsychology Society

Dr. Gioia assumes role at conclusion of 6th Annual Concussion Symposium in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Gerard Gioia

WASHINGTON – Internationally recognized pediatric concussion expert Gerard Gioia, Ph.D., division chief of neuropsychology and director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery and Education (SCORE) program at Children’s National Health System, is now president of the Sports Neuropsychology Society (SNS). The society is a professional membership organization for neuropsychologists who are actively involved in concussion management efforts at both amateur and professional sports levels.

Dr. Gioia assumed the role of president at the conclusion of the 6th Annual Concussion Symposium, the society’s annual meeting, which was held in Washington, D.C. from May 3-5, 2018.

Kurt Newman, M.D., president and CEO of Children’s National, which was the symposium’s title sponsor, welcomed the society’s 300 members to Washington to kick off the meeting.

“We know how critical it is to identify and appropriately treat every concussion, particularly when they happen early in an athlete’s career,” Dr. Newman told the group during the opening session. “That’s one of the many reasons I’m so proud of the work that Dr. Gioia, his team, and so many of you have done to address youth concussions here in D.C., across the country and around the world.”

The conference gathers members from the U.S. and internationally to share best practices in sports-related concussion management through presentation of evidence-based studies on a wide range of related topics. This year’s presentations included:

  • Sex differences in sport-related concussion: Incidence, outcomes, and recovery
  • Concussion Clinical Profiles and Targeted Treatments: Building the Evidence
  • Legislative advocacy and the sports neuropsychologist
  • Treatment of concussion in kids: What we know, what we think we know, and what we need to learn

“This meeting and its agenda, held in D.C. where we’ve done so much work on understanding concussion management for children, is particularly meaningful because it really drives home our key message  of a  link between active participation in sports, appropriate recognition and management of youth concussions and the developing athlete’s brain health,” says Dr. Gioia. “The way we can really help our youth athletes is by understanding how we can prevent concussive head injuries in sports, and how we can manage those earliest concussions more effectively to minimize the negative long-term consequences.”

Dr. Gioia will serve a two-year term as society president. In the role he will work with members to advance the mission of SNS—to advance the field of neuropsychology, to generate and disseminate knowledge regarding brain-behavior relationships as it applies to sports and to promote the welfare of athletes at all levels.

Media Contact: Jennifer Stinebiser | 703-568-8825 (mobile) | 202-476-4500 (office)

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