Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine Hosts Conference with Spotlight on Concussions

Second annual Athletic Training Conference featured former U.S. soccer goalie Briana Scurry and aimed to educate athletic trainers, coaches, clinicians, and administrators on newest approaches and research into concussions

The second annual Mass General Brigham Athletic Training Conference was held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, with former United States soccer goalie Briana Scurry acting as the keynote speaker. The event welcomed over 225 area athletic trainers, athletic directors, school nurses, physical therapists and coaches who play a role in the care of student athletes. This year’s event focused on concussions with sessions on the latest research and management practices for the athlete both on and off the field. Attendees were able to hear from leading sports medicine experts at the professional, collegiate, and high school levels.

The day launched with a keynote address from Scurry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion, who detailed her journey to the heights of athletic success and how it was cut short after a head injury. Scurry emphasized, “After my head injury, it took several years to get correctly diagnosed; meanwhile I was not getting better. That time now fuels me to help clinicians and athletes learn from my story. For anyone in a position of care, it’s vital to listen to your athlete and not rush to conclusions but, instead, follow the science.” Scurry’s story after concussion and brain injury was detailed in her biography, My Greatest Save and the 2022 documentary “The One” on Paramount+.

Following Scurry’s keynote speech, she joined a panel with Mass General Brigham clinicians Patricia Cordeiro, MS, ATC, CSCS, Mary Alexis Iaccarino, MD, Phil Madore, MS, ATC, PES, Claus Reinsberger, MD, PhD, and Ashwin Babu, MD, who moderated. The panel discussion examined how concussion management has changed in the past decade, trends in the U.S. and Europe, and the importance of an integrated team supporting an athlete at every level.

“Concussion continues to be one of the most complex chronic diseases those in our field face. We are proud to bring the incredible expertise from across the Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine program directly to those who can most impact the quality of concussion care in our region,” said R. Scott Gassett, Vice President of Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine. “Throughout the day our experts and collaborators demonstrated the clinical excellence and innovation that makes Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine one of the true leaders nationally on concussion.”

The overall theme for the day was the “Interprofessional Concussion Management of the Interscholastic Athlete.” The interprofessional conference covered a range of topics addressing the importance of the "team" approach towards concussion in the interscholastic and academic environment and concussion care at both the clinical and administrative levels.

Among the topics covered were:

• Coordination of care and the differences at professional, intercollegiate, and interscholastic levels
• Rules and regulations with reporting
• Emergency action planning
• Current research on injuries following concussion
• The importance of communication between administration and clinicians when it comes to return to learn and return to play
• Considerations for the athletes’ emotional, social, and mental well-being
  

This year, exhibitors were welcomed at the conference, adding a new element of collaboration throughout the day. The exhibitor hall was open to attendees at various times and included both nationally and locally recognized businesses as well as sports medicine programs across Mass General Brigham, allowing exhibitors and attendees the opportunity to network and establish more connections.

The day concluded with a panel focused on the future of concussion care in high school athletics with Mass General Brigham’s Ross Zafonte, DO, Mike Belanger, PT, MSPT, ATC, and Mary Alexis Iaccarino, MD. They were joined by experts from the scholastic field — Sabine Jean-Louis, DNP, FNP, MS, RN and Djenny Lobo Lopes, DNP, MSN, RN of Boston Public Schools; and Meghan Ober, CAGS, MS, BA of Triton Regional High School.

Mass General Brigham Sports Medicine provides clinical services to the Boston Bruins, New England Patriots and New England Revolution, as well as numerous Division I college athletic programs, including Boston College, and high school athletic programs throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. To learn more about sports medicine programs and services from Mass General Brigham visit sportsmedicine.massgeneralbrigham.org. For information about careers for athletic trainers visit the careers page and select “Contact Talent Acquisition.”