Dr. Steven Broglio, director of the University of Michigan Concussion Center, has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Robert L. Moody Prize for Distinguished Initiative in Brain Injury. Presented by the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA), the award celebrates leaders whose visionary dedication and commitment have meaningfully advanced brain injury research and improved lives.

Broglio was formally honored on Sept. 28, 2026, at a celebration hosted by NASHIA at the South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center in Houston.

After completing his training at the University of Georgia, Broglio served on the faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before joining the University of Michigan in 2011. While his career is marked by significant research contributions, including more than $100 million in grant funding and over 300 published articles across two decades of work, speakers at the ceremony emphasized that his greatest impact stems from the teams he builds and the colleagues he mentors.

“Steve, you haven’t just advanced the science. You’ve helped make that science matter,” said Ashley Rettmann, a longtime colleague and former project manager who presented the award on behalf of the nomination committee. “His impact is bigger than measurable publications, grants, or research findings. It is seen in the people he brings together in support of the work.”

A Legacy of leadership, mentorship, and global impact

As the founding director of the Michigan Concussion Center, Broglio has established a collaborative, multidisciplinary hub that brings together clinicians, researchers, educators, and community partners to streamline concussion recovery and science.

Key highlights of Broglio’s career and broader contributions include:

• National research leadership: Leading the groundbreaking NCAA–DoD CARE Consortium (CARE), an enormous 30-site operational and research endeavor studying concussions in collegiate athletes and military cadets. His strategic vision helped transform CARE into an enduring, high-impact research program that has revolutionized early symptom recognition and care standards.
• Setting global standards: Serving as president of the Concussion in Sport Group and playing a pivotal role at the International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport, he’s set evidence-based diagnostic and treatment guidelines worldwide.
• High-support mentorship: Mentoring dozens of students and researchers across academia, sports medicine, and industry, including seven Ph.D. students. Former trainees credit Broglio with setting a “high standards with high support” culture that opened doors across the field.
• Policy and community innovation: Partnering with state leaders, legislative bodies, NASHIA, and the U-M Injury Prevention Center to develop tools like the Concussion Navigator to help families navigate recovery and return to school, work, and daily life.

Warm tributes

The Moody Prize presentation brought together national sports medicine leaders, former U-M All-American football captain Jarrett Irons (who was the event’s keynote speaker), and colleagues who traveled from Michigan to celebrate. The evening included touching messages from former mentees and key team members who reflected on Dr. Broglio’s transformative impact:

“Steve convinced me to pursue my PhD by asserting that intelligence is less important than stubbornness in pursuing a PhD. Through his mentorship, I learned what it took to lift the knowledge of a research field. His work in the concussion field sets the standard that we all aim to attain.”

— Dr. Doug Martini, assistant professor at University of Massachusetts and Broglio’s first PhD graduate

“Watching Steve get the recognition he actually deserves makes me super proud to have been part of the team.”

— Tina Chen, operations & strategic initiative manager for Unit X, who led the prize nomination

“Steve shows up for the people he mentors, not just with expertise but with real care. He shaped how I think about research but, more than that, he shaped how I think about being a mentor myself. I’m endlessly grateful to have had him in my corner.”

— Dr. Adrian Boltz, postdoctoral researcher at University of Colorado, Boulder and Broglio’s most recent PhD graduate

About the University of Michigan Concussion Center

The U-M Concussion Center strives to maximize societal health through groundbreaking, multidisciplinary research; clinical care; and educational outreach targeting concussion prevention, diagnosis, and management.

To learn more about Broglio’s research and the U-M Concussion Center, visit concussion.umich.edu.

About the Moody Foundation

Established in 1942 by William Lewis Moody Jr. and Libbie Rice Shearn Moody, the Moody Foundation is a major Texas-based philanthropic institution dedicated to supporting education, healthcare, social services, and community growth. Driven by a commitment to improving lives across generations, the foundation invests in high-impact initiatives and research nationwide, including pioneering advancements in brain injury treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care through initiatives like the Robert L. Moody Prize for Distinguished Initiative in Brain Injury.

About NASHIA The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) assists state governments in promoting partnerships and building infrastructure to support individuals with brain injuries and their families.