Member Spotlight: Lily Tiefel and Adaptive Sports

Lily Tiefel, a current University of Michigan Master’s student at the School of Public Health, has significantly advanced our understanding of concussion among adaptive sports athletes. Through her summer internship with the U-M Injury Prevention Center, Lily collaborated with faculty and staff from the U-M Concussion Center to create the first college-level concussion baseline testing using C3 Logix, a cloud-based concussion management system used by clinicians nationwide, for the University of Michigan Adaptive Sports and Fitness Program. She worked alongside Concussion Center Associate Director of Research Dr. James Eckner and Dr. Melissa Tinney, an executive board member of the University of Michigan Adaptive and Inclusive Sports Experience and clinical assistant professor with the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Michigan Medicine.

Lily Tiefel at the **Celebrating Equity: Health Behavior & Health Equity Symposium**, hosted by the U-M School of Public Health.

Lily’s research, titled “Pioneering Concussion Baseline Testing in Collegiate Adaptive Athletes: Addressing Gaps and Challenges,” was showcased at the Celebrating Equity: Health Behavior & Health Equity Symposium hosted by the U-M School of Public Health. Lily presented her findings at a poster session, engaging attendees in discussions about her discoveries. She clarified that this summer was dedicated not to conducting new research but to developing and implementing adaptive sports and fitness concussion programs. During this time, Lily and her team collected baseline concussion testing data for every adaptive athlete before the start of their training and fall seasons. The primary focus was to launch the program and establish protocols for these baseline assessments.

Lily acknowledged that before beginning this project, the team understood that adaptive athletes often perceive injuries differently than others, and that the variations of these perceptions can vary depending on the disability. She identified several key findings from her work. Notably, some tests proved to be challenging for the athletes in unintended ways and did not appear to be testing what they were intended to test. For example, athletes with impaired upper extremity motor control had a difficult time performing Trails tests and had low scores that did not reflect their executive function, which is what the test is intended to evaluate. Another major insight Lily emphasized was the need for research to develop more balanced tests tailored to disabled athletes. Their findings revealed that while some concussion tests were designed for adaptive athletes, they were not adaptable for all types of disabilities. Lily questioned, “When we think about specific disabilities such as visual impairments, and we have a visual acuity test, how can we rethink tests to make everything more equitable?”

Despite the limited time frame of the summer, Lily recognized there was much more to explore. Throughout the summer, she took detailed notes and observations based on themes, dates, and issues that arose during testing. However, the team was only able to gather feedback from one athlete, leaving Lily eager to learn more about the experiences and feedback from other athletes regarding the testing process.

The coaching and mentorship offered by Drs Tinney and Eckner have been transformative in Lily’s summer internship experience. She successfully merged her interests with her mentors to develop this project, which they also found engaging. Dr. Eckner commented, “Lily was great to work with this summer. She was a perfect fit for this project, falling at the intersection of concussion and adaptive sports, and she played a critical role in getting this baseline concussion testing program started for our adaptive athletes here at UM. I’m excited to see where she will take her career from here.”

Lily’s commitment to this research is also very personal, as she lives with lifelong traumatic brain injury (TBI). Lily mentioned that she has learned to be at peace with her identity. Her experiences have fueled her passion for concussion research and adaptive sports. Prior to her time at the University of Michigan, Lily interned at Michigan State University’s adaptive sports program and now coaches wheelchair adaptive sports there. Since being an undergraduate student, adaptive sports has challenged her to look at health and equity in a different light, and it’s really inspired her to pursue the field of health equity through something she loves, which is sports.

Reflecting on her academic journey, Lily expressed concern over lacking disability studies courses within top-tier public health programs, underscoring the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in educational and research settings. Lily noted that it makes her think about her trajectory in this field: “If I am going to design or continue research in public health, I need to make it as accessible as possible to all people with disabilities.”

As adaptive sports gain recognition and become more accessible, Lily is enthusiastic about expanding and enhancing these programs. She noted recent developments in Ann Arbor, where local parks and recreation programs have become more accessible thanks to new grants, benefiting the University of Michigan’s adaptive sports programs and the broader community.

“If I am going to design or continue research in public health, I need to make it as accessible as possible to all people with disabilities.”

– Lily Tiefel

Lily has done amazing research and we are excited to see where her future takes her. Currently one of her greatest aspirations is to find a job or research that she is as passionate about as she was with this past project and make a career out of it. Lily has many interests and many passions in the field of public health and disabilities. She plans to follow that great passion and continue her work towards a more equitable future.

The University of Michigan Concussion Center invites nominations and applications for one open rank (assistant, associate, full professor) tenure-track faculty position to work at one of the world’s preeminent research institutions. As one of the highest-ranked public universities in the nation, the Concussion Center is an international leader in research, clinical care, and education.

We are seeking a passionate concussion researcher to help the center by developing and sharing groundbreaking ideas that translate laboratory, clinic, and community observations into knowledge products that reduce concussion risk and improve outcomes in those affected by the injury. The Concussion Center integrates our research, clinical, outreach & engagement cores to create novel solutions that advance concussion knowledge and protocols. All research domains related to concussion will be considered, including candidates focusing on social and cultural health disparities in concussion prevention, identification, and management.

As the hub of concussion-related activity for the U-M community, the Concussion Center is proud to be located in a renovated facility in the heart of the Ann Arbor campus, with immediate access to clinical research and wet lab space.

U-M School of Kinesiology Building, where the Concussion Center is housed.

Founded in 1817, the University of Michigan has a long and distinguished history as one of the first public universities in the nation. It is one of only two public institutions consistently ranked among the nation’s top ten universities. With more than $1.7 billion in annual research expenditures, U-M has the second largest research expenditure among all universities in the nation, in addition to an annual general fund budget of $2.8 billion and an endowment valued at more than $17 billion. Adjacent to the central campus, Michigan Medicine, with its hospitals, clinics, and satellite offices, along with the Medical School, and School of Nursing, comprise one of the finest health systems in the country. The university’s prominent athletic programs and outstanding teaching and research programs in medicine, engineering, and other related disciplines provide ideal collaborative opportunities for center faculty.

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The Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded $731,980 for a three-year research project entitled “A Data-Driven Approach to Individualized Concussion Risk Prediction in US Service Academy Cadets and Midshipmen.” This project is led by University of Michigan (U-M) Concussion Center members Dr. James Eckner and Dr. Mariel Lavieri, whose home departments are Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Michigan Medicine and Industrial & Operations Engineering (IOE) at Michigan Engineering. The success of this multidisciplinary grant application was supported by Mr. Hossam Abouzahr from U-M’s E-Health & Artificial Intelligence (e-HAIL), whose mission is to make U-M a premier hub for AI and health and improve health outcomes through technology.

Through collaborative efforts, the research team will develop predictive tools to identify cadets and midshipmen from US Service Academies at the highest risk for sustaining concussions based on baseline information. The project’s major goals include optimizing risk prediction models using pre-season baseline data and comparing the models’ predictive abilities across different years. This initiative is crucial for military cadets and midshipmen, who are at significant risk of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion.

“Concussion is a common occurrence among our military personnel, and the findings from this research project will have implications for the population at large. As healthcare providers who routinely treat patients with concussion and brain injuries, the department of PM&R is excited about this project, and Drs. Eckner and Lavieri’s success,” said Dr. Nitin Jian, Chair, Department of PM&R, Michigan Medicine.

Concussions account for over 80% of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in military personnel, highlighting the critical need for effective identification, prevention, and management strategies. These injuries, often sustained during non-combat activities, post significant short and long-term health risks, impacting cognitive and physical function and potentially leading to chronic conditions in service members and veterans.

Leveraging the existing NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium database, which includes baseline assessments in over 17,600 Service Academy cadets and midshipmen across 4 U.S. Service Academies, Dr. Eckner and Dr. Lavieri’s research promises to advance the understanding of concussion risks and improve preventative strategies, ultimately benefiting both military and civilian populations engaged in high-risk activities like athletics. “We are excited to harness the richness of the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium database in parameterizing, calibrating, and validating our models. This will enable us, as a multidisciplinary team, to tackle this important problem faced by our military personnel,” said Dr. Lavieri, Associate Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering.

“Concussion is a common occurrence among our military personnel, and the findings from this research project will have implications for the population at large. As healthcare providers who routinely treat patients with concussion and brain injuries, the department of PM&R is excited about this project, and Drs. Eckner and Lavieri’s success”.

– Dr. Nitin Jian, Chair, Department of PM&R, Michigan Medicine.

The award secures the necessary funding to push forward this vital research and bring about meaningful improvement in concussion prevention and management.

“This research is important because the ability to prospectively identify individuals at elevated risk for concussion will allow opportunities for more targeted concussion prevention, education, and surveillance efforts in those at greatest risk. In addition to this project focusing on cadets and midshipmen from the US Service Academies, we are also interested in expanding to conduct a similar study in civilian athletes as well,” said Dr. James Eckner, Associate Professor from the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

The U-M Concussion Center is pleased to announce its inaugural call for the Zatkoff Graduate Student Fellowship for Concussion Research. Doctoral students are a cornerstone of academia, significantly enriching the research and educational landscape, and are at the beginning of becoming tomorrow’s leaders. These students emerge as content experts with skill sets, such as critical thinking and communication, that are valuable within and beyond academia. Their contributions ensure the continued vitality and innovation of the scholarly community and can lead to broader societal benefits through research and practical applications.

To increase students’ opportunities to attend the University of Michigan, the Michigan Concussion Center has created the Zatkoff Graduate Student Fellowship for Concussion Research. This fellowship provides full tuition (in or out-of-state), a stipend (12 months at 50% effort), and health care costs. One position will be available starting in Fall 2025.

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Dr. Philip Veliz is an associate research professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing’s Applied Biostatistics laboratory. He graduated with a degree in sociology at Cleveland State University and later earned a PhD in sociology at the University at Buffalo SUNY. Having participated in multiple sports and experienced head injuries himself from a young age, Dr. Veliz is passionate about understanding the benefits of sports participation during childhood and adolescence, the prevalence of head injuries, and their long-term consequences. Currently, he sits on the faculty council with the Concussion Center and co-leads the “Michigan Alumni Neurological Health Study” with Dr. JT Eckner. In a recent interview, Dr. Veliz shared his aspirations for his research, advice for students, and the inspiration that drives him.

Dr. Veliz’s first research paper that focused on concussions, a 600-word letter, remains his favorite. Intrigued by questions surrounding youth head injuries, he initially struggled to find secondary data that addressed the lifetime prevalence of concussion among adolescents in the United States. Discovering a gap in the data, he took action by helping advocate for a question to the Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, an annual, in-school survey of US students in grades 8, 10, and 12. This enabled him to create an article looking at the lifetime prevalence of concussions among children in the United States. During this process, Dr. Veliz collaborated with multiple people and along the way met Dr. JT Eckner, the Associate Director of our center’s research core. He noted, “Even though it’s a 600-word research letter, it’s a combination of having to meet people that study this and figure out how to get that question on the survey. That’s why I like that article so much; there is a lot of background in putting that together.”

The U-M Alumni Neurological Health Study, co-led by Dr. Veliz and Dr. Eckner, aims to learn more about long-term neurological health in formal male and female athletes. Supported by U-M’s alumni community, the pilot study phase saw more than 1,000 survey responses from former athletes and general students. This is the first population-based study to investigate key neurological outcomes in former athletes across all sports. Dr. Veliz noted that current information on the long-term health effects of these injuries is limited. He is concerned about the general population, including himself, and what these risks could mean for others. Dr. Veliz seeks to determine if something can be done to minimize the risk of problematic issues later in life, stating, “Most head injuries are mild, and sometimes there are no long-term effects and I want to see if that is really true.” The study team is exploring opportunities to support the next phase of this study, where more subjects will be included with additional research procedures such as neuroimaging (e.g., MRI) and biomarkers to help better understand the relationship between concussion and long-term neurological outcomes.

As a faculty member with the Concussion Center, Dr. Veliz is excited about the opportunity to work with researchers from multiple disciplines. He stated, “I’m working with neuroscientists, MDs, psychologists, who study this and they give their perspective, which I wouldn’t think about.” Being able to exchange ideas and contribute his clinical knowledge creates an environment for a better understanding of injuries. He emphasized that his favorite part of his job is interacting with people who have a common interest in what he is researching. Dr. Veliz mentioned, “Not only do we do research, but we can share personal stories and connect.” He noted that the members and faculty of the Concussion Center are driven by a shared curiosity and passion for learning more about head injuries. He deeply values the personal connections and shared interests within the Concussion Center.

Looking to the future and the now, he plans to continue studying the epidemiology of concussion and diving deeper into the secondary data. He aims to refine the questions used to measure concussion history by integrating various datasets that address these questions. Dr. Veliz left some final words for students pursuing a career in concussion research: “While something might be a hot topic, study something that you are incredibly passionate about. Study what you like; that’s the only way you are going to enjoy it. You have to find some kind of passion, and that will push you in the right direction.”

As Dr. Veliz continues to uncover critical insights into concussion and athlete health, his dedication and collaborative spirit inspire those around him. His journey exemplifies the impact of combining passion with research, and he remains committed to making a lasting difference in the field of concussion studies.

Learn more about the Michigan Alumni Neurological Health Study:
“Brain health, concussions and sports: is there a long-term connection?”
Research update at the 6th NCAA-DoD Grand Alliance Concussion Conference

The American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, held in Boston from May 28-31, 2024, was a remarkable event showcasing invaluable research and insightful presentations from numerous experts in the field. The University of Michigan Concussion Center was prominently represented by its members, trainees, and alumni, who delivered exceptional presentations that contributed to the conference’s success!

The event began with a presentation by PhD candidate Adrian J. Boltz, MSH, during the Sport Injury Surveillance and Prevention session. Boltz presented an in-depth analysis of the epidemiology of knee injuries in NCAA men’s football over a 10-year period. His second appearance was during the poster session, where he shared his abstract titled “Lifetime Concussion History, Sleep Quality, And Pain Interference Following A Collegiate Athlete Career.” Both presentations highlighted Boltz’s dedication and expertise!

Dr. Landon Lempke, PhD, ATC, a former post-doctoral researcher with the Center and current Assistant Professor with the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), delivered a noteworthy lecture on “What is the Value of Functional Paradigms in Concussion Management? Evidence Behind Concussion Assessment Approaches.” Dr. Lempke, alongside other experts, explored evidence supporting various concussion assessment methods. His well-researched presentation provided the audience with a deeper understanding of functional paradigms in concussion management, highlighting his significant contributions to the field.

Another center member, Dr. Abigail Bretzin, PhD, ATC, Research Investigator with the U-M Injury Prevention Center, shared invaluable information during the Youth Sport session with her presentation on “Person Variability In Sleep And Concussion Symptom Reporting In A Pilot Study Of Health High School Student-athletes.” Her research offered insights into the variability of sleep and concussion symptom reporting among youth athletes.

The conference featured a group symposium titled “Concussion in Sport: An Update on What We Know and Where We Should Go,” featuring various current and former Center members, including Adrian J. Boltz, MSH, Allyssa Memmini, PhD, LAT, ATC, Reid Syrydiuk, MSc, and Dr. Steven Broglio, PhD. Each speaker brought a unique perspective to the symposium, making it one of the highlights of the event! Reid Syrydiuk, shared his expertise on Sport-Related Concussion Epidemiology and Prevention, while Dr. Allyssa Memmini, provided valuable insights on Sport-Related Concussion Assessment. Adrian J. Boltz, discussed Sport-Related Concussion Management and Recovery, and Dr. Steven Broglio, concluded the symposium with his presentation on the future of Sport-Related Concussion research.

The Center’s student trainee, Sabrina Vega, MS, also contributed with an outstanding poster presentation on “Factors Associated With Persistent Post-concussive Symptoms: Findings From The NCAA Injury Surveillance Program.” Under the mentorship of Adrian and Dr. Broglio, her research examined the factors associated with the odds of persistent post-concussive symptoms following sports-related concussions, providing valuable data that could inform future preventative measures.

In the same session, Dr. Landon Lempke, in collaboration with Adrian J. Boltz, Allyssa Memmini, Reid Syrydiuk, and Dr. Steven Broglio, presented on “Associations Between Head Trauma Exposures, Mental Health, And Cognitive Health Following A Collegiate Athletic Career.” Their collaborative effort, a testament to the team spirit of the University of Michigan Concussion Center, highlighted the intersection between head trauma exposures and long-term health outcomes, contributing to a critical area of sports medicine research.

From the University of Michigan Concussion Center, we would like to extend a thank you to The American College of Sports Medicine and all the incredible attendees for making ACSM2024 a memorable and outstanding event! We appreciate the opportunity provided to our members to share their knowledge and research contributions. We look forward to future ACSM events and continuing to advance the field of sports medicine and research!

Rising Senior and Pop-Up Safety Town Curriculum development lead, Sarah Boeke, was honored with the Rosalie Ginsberg Dedicated Community Service Award at this year’s M-Lead Leadership Ceremony. This award recognizes an individual and group who made a positive, meaningful, and lasting impact in surrounding communities through social action and community engagement. In a recent interview, Sarah shared her aspirations and the impactful work she has done with Pop-Up Safety Town.

“The award is not a reflection of the work I personally do, but the team environment and it truly is such a massive team behind Pop-Up Safety town. I am really proud to be a part of that and contribute what I can.”

Pop-Up Safety Town was launched in 2018 and has since evolved into a highly successful program. During 2022-2023, Pop-Up Safety Town traveled to seven different sites in Michigan and was able to fit more than 600 helmets on children aged three to five. When Sarah joined the initiative, Dr. Hashikawa, the program director and Emergency Medicine physician, was exploring ways to expand the program due to high demand from schools across the state of Michigan and the country. This led to the creation of “Pop-Up Safety Town in a Box,” a concept similar to meal kit services. The box contains all the necessary props and materials, allowing teachers to easily implement the program in their classrooms. Sarah noted that working at Pop-Up Safety Town events is one of her favorite parts of being on the team. She remarked, “When you talk to a parent and see how happy they are that their kids are given an adjustable helmet, it’s really rewarding. I’m just hoping we can continue to expand and reach more people and communities.”

Her research, “Pop-Up Safety Town: Leveling the Playing Field for Children in Underserved Communities Through Injury Prevention Education,” has been published in The Journal of School Health. Pop-Up Safety Town aims to bring injury prevention education to preschoolers and families in urban and rural communities facing health disparities. Sarah hopes that school administrators and educators will read the paper and find ways to apply its insights to their own communities. She remarked, “We are not the experts in what other communities across the country need, but I hope after they read the article they can take away what would be effective for them.”

Sarah’s dedication to early injury prevention education has propelled her into the spotlight of various conferences. She recently spoke at the Child and Adolescent Safety Panel at “Rethinking Injuries: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Harm, Safety, and Society,” an international conference hosted by Johns Hopkins University. Additionally, she presented a poster at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference in Washington, showcasing the Pop-Up Safety Curriculum Kits she developed with Dr. Andrew Hashikawa. Most recently, she attended the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR) conference in Chapel Hill. Sarah emphasized the value of attending these conferences and engaging with researchers and practitioners from different fields. As an undergraduate student, she found the experience of public speaking and presenting scientific information invaluable for her future career.

Sarah mentioned how she entered Michigan knowing she was going to be pre-med, building a foundation for her future in the medical field. Her advisor recommended an introductory course which opened her eyes to the broader field of public health. Sarah said, “I like how you could work really closely with individuals and families to design tailored solutions; I just think the public health approach really compliments the type of medicine that I want to go into.” Sarah plans to graduate in December 2024 with a degree in public health with future plans of attending medical school and pursuing a master’s in public health.

“Sarah Boeke is an exceptional undergraduate at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health and her efforts have elevated Pop-up Safety Town. She has helped create educational kits for preschool teachers in underserved areas that have expanded the program’s impact. Her efforts epitomize how creative volunteerism can address early childhood injury prevention disparities with remarkable effectiveness.”

Dr. Andrew Hashikawa, MD, MS

Dr. Steve Broglio, Director of the University of Michigan Concussion Center, was honored with the Policy Impact Award at this year’s Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation (IHPI) member forum. IHPI acknowledges individual members whose contributions in their respective fields have positively influenced health policy or practice. Dr. Broglio’s constant dedication to reducing the risk of concussion and enhancing outcomes at local, state, and national levels are the supporting factors behind his recognition this year.

Recipients of the award will receive $2,000 in funding to support ongoing research and will also be afforded the opportunity to present their work in forthcoming IHPI publications.

Dr. Broglio expressed gratitude to the university for providing ample resources and acknowledged the exceptional individuals from over 35 different departments who collaborate with his team at the U-M Concussion Center across campus.

“This is not about the work that I’ve done, it’s really about the work that people around me have done,” said Broglio. “I’m just the fortunate one who gets to stand up and receive the award this year.”

IHPI article

From the most fun he’s ever had doing research, to finding his career calling, this Q&A session with Dr. Eckner is guaranteed to entertain and inspire. Holding strong family values and a love for hockey, Dr. Eckner walks us through his aspirations for the future and explains how Nerf balls fit into the lighter side of concussion research. Use the link below for the full Q&A session.

Q: Can you tell me about your academic journey and how you ended up in your career?

A: I can’t claim to be one of those people who has always known exactly what I wanted to do with my life from a young age- growing up I had pretty broad interests and over time I narrowed them down from science in general (high school) to biology (college) to medicine (medical school, duh) to physical medicine & rehabilitation (residency) to concussion (post-residency). It was also during residency that I realized I wanted to pursue a career as a physician-scientist. During medical school and internship, I envisioned a clinical career. I credit my resident research mentor, Jim Richardson, with recognizing how much I enjoyed doing research, and that I had a knack for it!

Q: What inspired you to pursue your career field, and are there any specific moments that stand out in shaping your journey?

A: I’d credit my 4th-year medical school electives with solidifying my interest in PM&R. After trying out all of the medical specialties I thought I might be interested in PM&R just seemed to be the place where I belonged. From there, it was really my resident research project that led me to my current career. As a resident, I took on a research project to develop a clinical test of reaction time based on a standardized ruler drop. What I initially thought would just be a fun project during residency really ignited my passion for research and at first concussion was just a good clinical population to apply the RT test in. This said, I have always loved the brain so my interest quickly broadened to encompass many aspects of concussion, and working with and studying athletes is a great way to marry my interests in clinical research, the brain, and sports. Now one of the things that really drives me to understand the long-term effects of concussion and repetitive sport-associated head impacts on brain health is a desire to keep the brain healthy without losing out on the benefits of sport and exercise.

Q: Beyond academia, do you have any hobbies or interests that you are particularly passionate about?

A: I think anyone who knows me realizes that my #1 passion is my kids. Whether it’s their karate, soccer, scout campouts, science olympiad, or astrophotography, I’m very proud of all they do and I have a hard time not bragging about them and sharing our most recent adventures together. Otherwise, I’d say my main hobby of my own is playing beer-league hockey.

Q: What is the best part about your job?

A: The best part about my job is the amazing people I get to work with and all of the challenges we take on together. I love the collaborative aspect of the work I do, whether it’s in caring for patients, studying complex research questions, or educating the next generation of learners. Focusing on concussion is also great because for all we know (or think we know) about the brain and brain injury, there is just as much if not more that we still haven’t figured out.

Q: Can you share a memorable or amusing anecdote from your time in academia that reflects the lighter side of research life?

A: I’ll answer this by telling you about one of the most fun research projects I have ever done. In this project, we wanted to determine whether our clinical test of reaction time (ruler drop test) could predict an athlete’s ability to project their head in a simulated sport environment. We way we measured this was to gear high school kids up with protective equipment and then shoot Nerf balls at their heads from an air cannon. To be sure we were measuring their optimal protective response each time they blocked a neaf ball we moved them closer and closer to the air cannon until the ball hit their helmet before they could get their hands up. The team and the kids all had a really fun time with this experiment and I had colleagues enroll their own kids just so they could watch us shoot them with Nerf balls in the name of science.

Q: In your opinion, what is the most exciting or groundbreaking development in your field in recent years?

A: I think the most exciting recent development in our field is the growing body of research surrounding concussion biomarkers. We’re still not quite there but I think that it’s only a matter of time before we’ll be applying new imaging, blood-based, and/or physiological markers of concussion to routine patient care.

Q: How do you balance the demands of work life with personal well-being, and do you have any tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance?

A: I think this is something we’re all still trying to figure out. For me, recognizing and accepting that there will always be more work to do so not getting sucked into it and allowing myself to step away to make time for other higher priorities like family and exercise is the key.

Q: Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future, both in terms of your career and personal growth?

A: My two biggest aspirations for the future of the Concussion Center are to grow our research portfolio to support a large-scale center grant and to expand our Concussion Learning Health System across Michigan Medicine and eventually to partner sites.

The University of Michigan Concussion Center continues to support Pop-up Safety Town, an initiative led by Dr. Andrew Hashikawa, professor of Emergency Medicine,, who is pioneering a new chapter in injury prevention and helmet safety education by expanding Pop-up Safety Town into Florida and Georgia’s underserved neighborhoods. Leveraging a new partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) CATCH-ON program and the AAA Auto Club Foundation, this initiative can now bring a dynamic, hands-on learning experience to preschool children and families in other states.

Initially developed at the University of Michigan in 2018, Pop-up Safety Town brings injury prevention education events to Head Start Centers in underserved neighborhoods to teach children and families about helmet safety and other injury prevention topics. The AAP CATCH-ON initiative seeks one program yearly to help expand pediatric “ready-to-go” interventions that can be impactful in other states. With a generous grant from the AAA Auto Club Foundation, allocated evenly between Florida and Georgia, this new collaboration led by Dr. Hashikawa and the team at the U-M Concussion Center will allow the team to provide expert insight to adapt Pop-up Safety Town in these two states.

“This represents an exceptional chance to broaden the reach of our University of Michigan initiative, states Dr. Hashikawa. We are passionate about instructing pediatricians in other states on how to host Pop-up Safety Town, where we provide vital injury prevention education and free helmets to young children and families. With the support and expertise of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the University of Michigan Concussion Center, and the AAA Auto Club Foundation, we’re excited to extend our impact to preschoolers and elementary students beyond our state lines. Our goal is to instill lasting safety habits in children from an early age and empower families with the knowledge that can prevent injuries before they occur.”

The pilot program for the two new locations is slated to begin in Fall 2024 with events to be held in Spring 2025.