Dr. Peter Cummings
Dr. Peter Cummings, MD - Chair, Medical Advisory Committee
Dr. Cummings is board certified in anatomic pathology, neuropathology and forensic pathology. He earned his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland and completed his pathology training at the University of Virginia. He also earned a Masters degree in pathology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and a B.A. from the University of Maine. Formally, Dr. Cummings worked as a medical examiner at the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He was a member of the SwissAir Flight 111 identification team in 1998 and during the summer of 2002, worked on identification process of those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
He recently contributed to “Brainwashed; The Bad Science Behind CTE and the Plot to Destroy Football” written by former NFL player Merril Hoge (2018). Dr. Cummings current research focuses on pediatric head injury, particularly concussions. In 2018, the Cummings Neuropathology Lab was the first group to describe tau accumulations in woodpeckers.
Dr. Cummings is the author of two internationally acclaimed textbooks "Atlas of Forensic Histopathology" and "Pearls and Pitfalls in Forensic Pathology: of Infant and Child Death Investigation" both published by Cambridge University Press. Dr. Cummings has also authored two fiction novels "The Neuropathology of Zombies" and "The Seven Stars", both published by Macabre Maine.
Dr. Micky Collins
Micky Collins, PhD - Member, Medical Advisory Committee
Michael “Micky” Collins, Ph.D., serves as director and a founding member for the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program and a Professor of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. The Concussion Program is the largest research and clinical program focused on assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, research and education of sports-related mild traumatic brain injury in athletes of all levels, with roughly 20,000 patient visits annually at six different locations across Pittsburgh. Dr. Collins and his UPMC program colleagues attract patients embodying youth, high-school, collegiate and pro athletes with concerns about safe return to play as well as clinical management and treatment of sports concussion.
Besides his extensive clinical experience, Dr. Collins has also been a lead author and investigator on numerous groundbreaking studies of high-school and college athletes published in JAMA, Neurosurgery, American Journal of Sports Medicine and Pediatrics, among many others. He has been the lead author or co-author on more than 130 peer-reviewed research articles, and has delivered more than 450 presentations at national and international scientific meetings.
Dr. Collins currently has upward of $10 million in funding for his research efforts from entities including the NFL-GE Head Health Challenge, National Institute of Health, Major League Baseball, and the United States Army Special Operations Command. He is a co-founder of ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), the most widely used computerized sports-concussion evaluation system that has become a standard of care in nearly all organized sports at all levels and is a consultant to numerous athletic organizations and teams – including the NFL Steelers, the NHL Penguins, other NFL teams, numerous MLB clubs, and several NCAA programs. Dr. Collins serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Neurosurgery and the Journal of Sports Neurology. He is also on the editorial board of such publications as Brain Injury Professional and the Journal of Athletic Training. In addition, Dr. Collins is the executive and clinical director of the first countrywide network in Ireland for the diagnosis and treatment of concussion in people of all ages.
An athlete himself, Dr. Collins played in the 1989 NCAA Baseball College World Series. A graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology in 1991, Dr. Collins earned a master’s degree in psychology in 1995 and doctorate degree in clinical psychology in 1998 at Michigan State University.
Dr. Thomas Dompier
Thomas P. Dompier, PhD, LAT, ATC, FNATA - Member, Medical Advisory Committee
Dr. Thomas Dompier is an Associate Professor of Athletic Training at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the faculty at Lebanon Valley College, Dr. Dompier served as the President of the Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention in Indianapolis, Indiana, and provided oversight of the Datalys Center’s research programs including: the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program, High School NATION, Project CARE, Youth Football Safety Study, and Lacrosse Study Tracking Injuries and Concussions in Kids (LAX-STICK). Dr. Dompier received bachelor and doctoral degrees from Michigan State University, a master’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University, and also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of South Carolina and Fort Jackson Army Training Center. Dr. Dompier’s research is centered on the prevention of injury in sport.
“Consistent with the social ecological model of public health, providing sound policies and coach education are effective strategies for preventing injuries in youth sports”
Dr. Donald Haas
Donald Haas, MD, MPH - Member, Medical Advisory Committee
Dr. Donald Haas is a cardiologist in Abington, Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from NYU School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Medical Director, Advanced Heart Failure and Ventricular Assist Device Programs
Abington Jefferson Health
President and Coach, West Windsor Youth Football and Cheer Program
Dr. James MacDonald
James MacDonald MD, MPH - Member, Medical Advisory Committee
Dr. MacDonald is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Family Medicine at The Ohio State University (OSU) and a Pediatric Sports Medicine Specialist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He is a Team Physician for Ohio Dominican University and Bexley High School and was previously Team Physician for the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is licensed to practice medicine in the states of California and Ohio.
Dr. MacDonald has lectured widely and written numerous journal articles and book chapters on topics in sports medicine. He has been awarded several research grants for his work on pediatric concussions, including a “Young Investigators” grant from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM). He is the Deputy Editor for the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine (CJSM) and Associate Editor for the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science. He is a member of USA Swimming’s Sports Medicine Task Force and a medical delegate for the Fédération internationale de natation (FINA), the governing body of international swimming. In 2015 he was awarded one of the AMSSM’s two ‘Travelling Fellowships,’ and travelled to South Africa where he lectured widely.
Dr. MacDonald is on the Board of Directors of MomsTEAM Institute, a leading 501(c)(3) youth sports safety advocacy and education non-profit organization, which has been named as a "pioneer organization" to implement the International Safeguards for Children in Sport in the USA, in a global initiative coordinated by UNICEF. He is also on the Board of Directors of Leave No Child Inside, Ohio, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting outdoor free play for children.
Dr. MacDonald is a cum laude graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Biology and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa society. He received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and completed his Family Medicine training at the Maine-Dartmouth Family Practice Residency. He completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital and received his M.P.H. from the College of Public Health at OSU.
Board Certified in Family Medicine, with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine, Dr. MacDonald is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, spending three years teaching in eSwatini (Swaziland – in southern Africa) and is an Eagle Scout of the Boy Scouts of America. He was selected by peer physicians to the “Best Doctors in America List” for 2017 -18.
Dr. MacDonald has had a lifelong devotion to sports and physical activity. He lettered in track and cross-country at Harvard and is currently an active bike commuter who always wears his helmet! He and his wife enjoy watching their twin fifteen year old daughter and son adopt sports ranging from tennis to cross-country, karate to weight lifting. He blogs and podcasts for CJSM (www.cjsmblog.com) and maintains an active presence on social media [Twitter: @cjsmonline and @sportingjim].
Dr. Joe MAroon
Joseph C. Maroon, MD - Member, Medical Advisory Committee
Dr. Maroon has completed his medical and surgical training with Indiana University, Georgetown University, Oxford University in England, and the University of Vermont.
His clinical and research interests include development of minimally invasive surgical procedures for diseases of the brain and spine, the prevention and treatment of traumatic injuries to the central nervous system, innovative approaches to pituitary and other brain tumors, complementary approaches to inflammatory diseases associated with aging, the prevention and treatment of sports related injuries, co-developing ImPACT, a neurocognitive test which is now the standard of care for concussion Management in the NFL, NHL, MLB, NASCAR and over 12,000 high schools and colleges in the United States. The only FDA approved test for concussion evaluation (2016) and has 13 million athletes baseline tested to date
Dr. Maroon is a member of the following editorial boards: Neurological Research, The Physician and Sports Medicine, Surgical Neurology International, Anti-Aging News Journal, Turkish Journal of Neurosurgery.
He is also the neurosurgical consultant for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 25 years and first neurosurgeon directly appointed in the NFL, as well as a member of the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee since 2007.
Other Honors and Appointments include President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (the largest society of neurosurgeons in North America), Member of the Board of Directors of Mylan and Chairman of the Scientific and Technology Committee, 2005-2017, Medical Consultant to Mylan Corporation, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board to General Nutrition Corporation, Chairman of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board of Stemedica—a pioneering company in the therapeutic use of stem cells, Medical Director of the World Wrestling Entertainment Corporation (WWE) since 2008, Senior Vice President of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) since 2009, Recipient of a 2011 Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Service Award, awarded to 5 individuals out of 500,000 alumni annually, One of America’s Best Neurosurgeons for 15 consecutive years, Chairman, Scientific Committee, Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research, 2017 Circus Saints and Sinners Man of the Year, 2018 Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation Humanitarian of the Year
Dr. Maroon has been published in 283 peer reviewed papers, 64 book chapters, and 7 books.
Dr. Erin Reynolds
Erin Reynolds, PsyD - Member, Medical Advisory Committee
Dr Reynolds is a clinical sports neuropsychologist who specializes in the treatment of sport-related concussions. She currently serves as Clinical Director for the Baylor Scott & White Sports Concussion Program at The Star in Frisco, TX and holds an appointment as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Texas A&M College of Medicine. Dr. Reynolds earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from William James College in Boston. She completed an internship and postdoctoral residency in clinical neuropsychology at the Bedford VA Medical Center followed by a fellowship in sports neuropsychology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Sports Medicine Concussion Program, where she went on to become faculty and fellowship director.
Dr. Reynolds consults with local primary and secondary schools, colleges, and professional teams on the evaluation and treatment of sport-related concussions. She emphasizes the importance of the team approach and active recovery models in her clinical work. Her research interests include the identification of factors that influence recovery from concussion, improving treatment protocols, and the psychological impact of injury.
A mother of two student-athletes, she is passionate about the benefits of playing team sports in childhood and adolescence. She frequently speaks with parent groups, coaches, and athletes to provide education on concussion treatment and the importance of early identification of injury and clinical intervention.
Dr. Anthony Saglimbeni
Anthony Saglimbeni, MD - Member, Medical Advisory Committee
Anthony J. Saglimbeni, MD currently serves as the head team physician for the San Francisco Giants and team physician of the San Francisco 49ers. He is a native of San Jose and board certified in internal medicine and sports medicine, with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Saglimbeni earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from UCLA. He went to medical school in Omaha, Nebraska and received his M.D. from Creighton University. Dr. Saglimbeni returned to California and completed his residency in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at UC Irvine. He completed a Sports Medicine fellowship at UC San Diego, where his interest in concussions grew exponentially. Since then, he has trained extensively with Michael “Micky” Collins, Ph.D., an internationally renowned expert on sport concussion.
In 2007, Dr. Saglimbeni founded South Bay Sports and Preventive Medicine Associates, Inc. with his longtime college friend and associate, Dr. Chris Chung. This medical group has expanded to offices serving the entire bay area, and has recently rebranded to West Coast Sports Institute (WCSI). Dr. Saglimbeni attracts hundreds of patients with concussions annually and plays a critical part in the clinical management and recovery process. In addition to his everyday clinic, Dr. Saglimbeni currently serves as team physician and concussion specialist for many high-profile sports teams in the Bay Area including the San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Santa Clara University, Bellarmine College Preparatory, Presentation High School and other local affiliates.
In 2013, Dr. Saglimbeni and his partners founded the California Concussion Institute, a virtual institute aiming to expand concussion awareness in the community and provide quality concussion care to patients and athletes from all sports and of all ages through community outreach, professional partnerships, clinical research, and continuing education. Dr. Saglimbeni is a Credentialed ImPACT Consultant (CIC) through ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing). He is well known for his expertise in concussion management from the initial evaluation through the entire recovery process. Beyond his clinical expertise, he has also presented at many conferences, including a case study of second impact syndrome at an AMSSM conference. He also presents annual updates on concussion management in baseball at the San Francisco Giants Sports Medicine Conference.
In 2019, he hosted the first annual California Concussion Institute conference, A Modern Approach to Sport Concussion. This conference brought together world renowned experts, Micky Collins, Ph.D., Javier Cardenas, M.D., MLB/NFL Sports Medicine Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists to present the active approach to sport concussion management from the sideline injury assessment through the return to play.
Dr. Uzma Samadani
Uzma Samadani, MD PhD FACS FAANS - Member, Medical Advisory Committee
Uzma Samadani, MD PhD is a neurosurgeon and brain injury researcher at the University of Minnesota. She moved to Minneapolis in 2015 and was named to Minneapolis St-Paul Magazine’s “Top Doctors in Neurosurgery” lists in 2016 through 2019. In 2018 she was on the cover of the “Top Doctors” edition with the byline “The Doctor Will Save You Now.” In 2018 she also was awarded the “Courageous Women in Healthcare” award by the Women’s Health Leadership Trust and named a “Top Doctor in Minnesota”.
Dr. Samadani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota with graduate faculty appointments in Neuroscience and Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. She is also an attending neurosurgeon at Centracare and the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center and founder of the neurodiagnostic start-up Oculogica Inc.
She is on the Executive Committee of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Joint Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care and served as Scientific Program Chair for their meeting in conjunction with the National Neurotrauma Society from 2014-7. She also serves on the board and is President-Elect of ThinkFirst Foundation, the largest brain injury prevention foundation in the world. She currently chairs the Minnesota State Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Program. She is a Past-President of Women in Neurosurgery.
Dr. Samadani has received more than three million dollars in research grants from national and international competitive funding agencies to study diagnostics, risks, outcomes and treatments for brain injury. She has been funded by the United States Veterans Administration, National Space and Biomedical Research Institute, Abbott Diagnostic Laboratories, American College of Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Thrasher Research Fund, Integra, the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation and several other organizations.
She is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Her research on brain injury has been discussed in the New York Times, LeMonde, LeFigaro, Wired, Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, and Minneapolis Star Tribune as well as numerous other media sources. She has been a speaker at TedMed, the North American Brain Injury Society, National Neurotrauma Society, American Association of Neurological Surgeons meeting and multiple other conferences. She has published more than 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers and an additional 30 reviews and chapters including in the Journal of Neurotrauma, JAMA Neurology, Journal of Neurosurgery and the New England Journal of Medicine.
Dr. Samadani also serves as an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant to the National Football League.