Squaring Off Against Head Injuries

Pictured: New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning addresses the crowd at the Head Injury Awareness Celebrity Sports Forum.

On March 27, NYIT Center for Sports Medicine once again teamed up with celebrity athletes and the Head Injury Association of Long Island to raise awareness for concussions and head injuries in school-aged children.

The annual Head Injury Awareness Celebrity Sports Forum, moderated by WCBS medical reporter Max Gomez, Ph.D., and WFAN talk show host Ann Liguori, featured a panel of notable speakers, including current New York Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning. During a candid discussion with Gomez, Manning noted a positive shift in the culture of athletics, citing the NFL’s improvements to safety guidelines, and advances in football helmet technology that have led to fewer concussed NFL athletes.

Speakers urged parents, athletes, coaches, and students to consider the dangers of concussions, as well as prevention and treatment for these serious injuries. While they shared differing opinions on whether parents should allow their children to play contact sports, the athletes all agreed that head injury awareness has made great strides, but the job is not yet done.  

Jenna Winokur, founder of the Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation, gave an emotional keynote speech.

Jenna Winokur, founder of the Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation, gave an emotional and powerful keynote address. Winokur founded the non-profit following the suicide of her brother Jake Lord, who took his own life at the age of 18 after suffering multiple concussions. Through her foundation, Winokur now promotes safety in youth sports.

Hallie Zwibel, D.O., a panelist and director of NYIT Center for Sports Medicine, is an advocate for rehabilitation and baseline concussion testing. He discussed advancements to injury detection, as well as the Center’s concussion findings among NYIT men’s lacrosse players.

Director of NYIT Center for Sports Medicine Hallie Zwibel, D.O., is an advocate for rehabilitation and baseline concussion testing.

“There are lingering effects to a concussion that are still not being recognized, and rehabilitation—whether it’s balance, vision, or cognition—is drastically underutilized. It’s a resource that more people need to know about and take advantage of,” said Zwibel.

Panelists included:

• Chris Algieri, professional boxer and former kickboxer
• Harry Carson, former New York Giant
• Gerry Cooney, former heavyweight boxer
• Randy Cross, former San Francisco 49er
• Ramon Dominguez, former professional jockey
• Max Gomez, Ph.D., CBS News medical correspondent
• Ann Liguori, sports radio and television personality
• Eli Manning, New York Giant
• Barry Miskin, M.D., medical director, Joe Namath Neurological Research Center
• Curtis Martin, former New England Patriot and New York Jet
• John Nitti, former New York Jet
• Wesley Walker, former New York Jet
• Jenna Winokur, Jake Lord Play It Safe Foundation
• Hallie Zwibel, D.O., NYIT Center for Sports Medicine

Learn more about the concussion evaluation and treatment services offered by NYIT Center for Sports Medicine.

From left: Max Gomez, NYIT Assistant Professor Adena Leder, D.O., and Ramon Dominguez.

Ann Liguori and former New England Patriot and New York Jet Curtis Martin.

Former New York Giant Harry Carson.

Chris Algieri is a professional boxer and former kickboxer.

Former New York Jet John Nitti.