Mayo Clinic/Arizona State University Concussion Summit Focuses on High School Athletes
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Coaches, athletic trainers, athletic directors, medical professionals
and others concerned about protecting high school athletes from the
effects of concussions will gather for the Arizona Concussion Summit
sponsored by Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University on Saturday
August 20, at the Arizona Ballroom, Room 221, Memorial Union at ASU, 10
a.m. to noon. (Parking information attached.)
Recognizing the importance of concussion awareness in the state,
Governor Jan Brewer has issued a proclamation declaring August 20, 2011 Concussion
Awareness Day in Arizona.
Olympic Gold Medalist, World Champion, and U.S. Ski Hall of Fame member
Picabo Street will be among the speakers at the event which is intended
to provide education and awareness of the risks involved in athletic
brain injuries and the need for careful management of concussions in
student athletes. Steven Threet, retired quarterback of the Arizona
State Sun Devil football team will also address the audience. Other
speakers include:
-
Donald Hughes, Special Advisor to the Governor for Health Care
Innovation -
Wyatt Decker, M.D., Mayo Clinic Vice President and CEO Mayo Clinic in
Arizona -
David Dodick, M.D., Professor of Neurology Mayo Clinic in Arizona and
President of the American Headache Society -
Martha Dennis Christiansen, Ph.D, Associate Vice-President, Arizona
State University - Superintendent Kenneth Baca, Tempe Union School District
-
P. David Adelson, M.D., Director of Neuroscience Institute, Barrow
Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital - Steven Erickson, M.D., Head Team Physician, Arizona State University
-
Bert B. Vargas, M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurology Mayo Clinic in
Arizona -
Diane Padilla, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Arizona State University
Sun Devil Athletics
“Concussion has become a major public health concern that transcends
athletics, age, and gender. The potential for long term neurological
effects on children and adolescents is of particular concern and we want
to amplify the awareness and facilitate the education of all those who
intersect with youth athletes by bringing together key players for a day
of discussions,” said Dr. Dodick, who organized the event in
collaboration with Dr. Martha Christiansen, Associate Vice-President at
Arizona State University.
The summit will focus on recognizing the signs and symptoms of
concussion, the changes in brain function that occur after concussion,
the particular vulnerability of the developing brains of children and
adolescents, the proper evaluation and management of the concussed
athlete, and the role of baseline and after-injury testing in helping
health care providers make return-to-activity decisions. Picabo Street
and Steven Threet will also provide their thoughts on the effects of
concussion as elite athletes performing at the highest level.
Arizona recently joined several other states in passing Senate Bill
1521, which mandates that all athletes who are recognized as having a
concussion, be removed from play and cleared by a licensed health-care
provider before returning-to-play. Following the passage of the
legislation, Mayo Clinic announced
that together with the generous support from the J.
Theodore Curtis Karalis Fund, it would provide baseline concussion
testing to all high school athletes in Arizona at no cost. Mayo Clinic
will also provide after-injury testing and extended their program to all
youth hockey athletes within the Arizona High School Hockey Association
and the Desert Youth Hockey League.
About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a non-profit worldwide
leader in medical care, research, and education for people from all
walks of life. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org/about/
and www.mayoclinic.org/news.
August 20th Concussion Summit Location and Parking:
The Arizona Concussion Summit will take place at the Tempe Campus of
Arizona State University at the Memorial Union, Arizona Ballroom, Room
221 on Saturday, August 20th at 10:00 a.m.
The Memorial Union is located north of Apache Blvd, just North of the
Apache Blvd Parking Structure. Parking will be available at the Apache
Blvd parking structure, and is free of charge all day on Saturday. The
visitor entrance to the parking structure is on Lemon Street – travel
North on Normal Ave off of Apache Blvd to Lemon Street. Turn left on
Lemon and you will see the Visitor Entrance on your left. From the
Apache Blvd Parking Structure, walk North across Lemon Street, down the
Cady Mall walkway. You will see the Memorial Union on your right. You
can take the stairs or the elevator to the 2nd floor.
Overflow parking will also be available in Lot 19, located on the
South-West corner of Apache Blvd and Normal Ave. Entrance to Lot 19 is
off of Apache Blvd eastbound. Lot 19 is also free of charge all day on
Saturday. From Lot 19, walk West on Apache Blvd to College Ave. Cross
Apache Blvd, and walk North down College Ave. Cross Lemon Street and
walk North down Cady Mall walkway – you will see the Memorial Union on
your right.
Parking map available at: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6832096lang=en
MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6832096