University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina To Host Sports-Related Neurotrauma Symposium At Kenan Stadium
April 26, 2011 | Football
April 26, 2011
The University of North Carolina football program and the department of athletics will host the inaugural Matthew A. Gfeller Sports-Related Neurotrauma Symposium at Kenan Stadium, April 29-30, 2011.
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Gfeller suffered a severe helmet-to-helmet collision during his first varsity football game at Reynolds High School on August 22, 2008. Tragically, the accident caused a fatal traumatic brain injury. Gfeller never regained consciousness and died two days later on Sunday, August 24, 2008.
The symposium will provide physicians, athletic trainers, and other allied health care professionals with a comprehensive overview of sudden death in sports as well as how to recognize and manage sport-related neurotraumatic injuries in young athletes. More than 150 medical professionals have registered for the sold-out event.
"Matthew was a special young man and it's an honor to host this symposium," says Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, the Kenan Distinguished Professor and Director of the Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center at UNC. "Many of the top experts in neurotrauma will be in Chapel Hill to participate and discuss ways to play athletics in the safest way possible. We could not hold this event without the cooperation of the Carolina football program, which has been a great partner in our continuing concussion research. "
Carolina participates in Guskiewicz' concussion study, which measures hits from sensors hidden inside each player's helmet. The sensors - called accelerometers - send data that measures the magnitude, location and frequency of each impact sustained during games and practices to a machine that collects the information. Carolina has been involved with the program for 7 years.
"I enjoy working with Kevin and his staff on making the game of football as safe as we can," says Davis, who enters his fifth season in 2011. "Our athletic trainer Scott Trulock works with Kevin to be on the cutting edge of all sport science. We've participated in a number of studies with the sports medicine staff to provide the best medical care for our student-athletes. We have a great partnership with sports medicine and are pleased we can host the symposium at Kenan Stadium."
Joining Guskiewicz as committee chairs for the symposium are UNC's Dr. Jason Mihalik and Dr. Johna K. Register-Mihalik, all of who work in Carolina's exercise and sport science department.
Location of event: Swofford Auditorium, 2nd Floor of Kenan Football Center, UNC-Chapel Hill
Dates & Times: Friday, April 29, 2011 (3:30 until 9:15pm) & Saturday, April 30, 2011 (8 a.m. until 7 p.m.)
Website: http://tbicenter.unc.edu/
Registration: Pre-registration is required. Currently, the event is sold out.
