Monday 5 August 2013

Colloquium Talk: Dr. Andrew Gardner on Sports-Related Concussion.



The School of Psychology is proudly hosting a talk by:
Dr. Andrew Gardner
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Hunter New England Health

Title: The assessment and investigation of sports related concussion in active and retired athletes


Date: Thursday 22nd August 2013, 12-1pm in Keats Reading Room (AVLG17) (video streaming to AV3 in the Ourimbah library)
If you would like to meet with Dr. Gardner, please contact A/Prof Frini Karayanidis (frini.karayanidis@newcastle.edu.au).

Abstract: A brief overview of the field of sports-related concussion will be presented, before an in-depth discussion surrounding assessment and management (return-to-play/school/work). There will be an emphasis on the role of cognitive assessment in this decision-making process. Finally, an overview of the current research being conducted within the field of sports related concussion (neuropsychological assessment, neuroimaging, genetic testing etc.), with discussion surrounding its clinical application. There will also be an emphasis on the potential long-term consequences of concussive injury (i.e. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) and the current discussion around this issue.


Bio: Dr Gardner completed his Bachelor of Psychology with 1st class Honours at the University of New England in 2005 and subsequently completed a Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology) at Macquarie University in 2009. His doctoral dissertation on sports-related concussion won the USA's National Academy of Neuropsychology's most outstanding dissertation of the year award last year, the first recipient of this prestigious award who studied outside of the USA. Sports-related concussion has always been his research focus and he is currently examining the potential long-term consequences of participation in collision sports. He is currently attempting to delineate the potential evidence or clinical manifestations of long-term issues related to a history of sports concussion amongst current and retired collision sports athletes through cognitive testing, neurological examination, genetic testing and neuroimaging.