Bon Secours Health System and UPMC announce Ireland's first Concussion Symposium in association with the GAA

Bon Secours Health System and UPMC, the leader in Concussion worldwide, have come together with the GAA to present Ireland’s first Concussion Symposium which will take place at Croke Park on October 8, 2016.

The symposium was announced today at Croke Park by Aogán Ó Fearghaíl, Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Mr Bill Maher, CEO Bon Secours Health System and Mr Charles Bogosta, President of UPMC International.

 

Leading Concussion experts from UPMC in the United States, Bon Secours Health System in Ireland and sporting figures from the GAA will join together for a ground breaking symposium which will share nationally for the first time the best practices, protocols and treatment of concussion today.

 

Speaking at the announcement at Croke Park today Bill Maher said – “Ireland has a very proud sporting history and we take sport very seriously at all ages and in all communities. The awareness, identification and treatment of Concussion is very important and I am very proud to be working in conjunction with UPMC who are international leaders in this area and also the GAA who are showing considerable leadership in the identification and treatment of Concussion.

 

Our planned Concussion Symposium on 8 October, 2016 brings together experts in their field from across Ireland and the United States and I think it will be a landmark day for Concussion in Ireland – one that we all can look back on and be proud of our association with. I am really looking forward to the event as part of the Bon Secours continuous development of services and support to the community we serve to ensure we continue to deliver Advanced Medicine Exceptional Care”.

The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program is a global leader in testing, treating, and researching sports-related concussions. With over 17,000 patient visits each year, more than 30 staff members treat high school, college, and professional athletes from across the United States. UPMC’s program is a leading source for concussion research, with nearly 200 peer-reviewed concussion research studies. Centres throughout the United States have adopted the UPMC program's standard of concussion care.

Any level of a concussion can be a serious medical issue that requires prompt care by a health professional trained in managing concussions. To avoid repeat injury, it is crucial to manage concussions until complete recovery. The UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program uses an individualised treatment plan based on the patient’s specific needs and goals for recovery.

 

“No two concussions are exactly the same. We use a multidisciplinary team approach to help the brain recover and allow the patient to return to their sport, classroom, or other activities,” said Micky Collins, Ph.D., executive director, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. “We have made tremendous progress in the diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of this injury.”

 

“We are pleased to work with Bon Secours Health System to bring UPMC’s world-renowned expertise in concussion treatments to the people of Ireland,” said Charles Bogosta, President of UPMC International, which also operates a cancer centre in Ireland. “This partnership embodies our goal of bringing the best possible health care to patients close to home, wherever that may be.”

 

The GAA, which has been at the forefront of concussion awareness and education in sport in Ireland, is delighted to be associated with this event which will feature some of the world's leading experts on concussion diagnosis and treatment. The Association's Medical Scientific and Welfare Committee will be represented at the 5th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport later this year and this symposium will be an important opportunity for discussion in advance of the Berlin event. All current Senior Inter-County Gaelic Football and Hurling Team Doctors and Physios will be invited to the morning symposium which will be CPD accredited.

 

The afternoon session will also give the chance to coaches, parents and players to hear from the experts in this field as part of the GAA's ongoing concussion awareness and education campaign. Senior Inter-County All-Ireland wining players Michael Murphy (Donegal), Seamus Callinan (Tipperary) and Rena Buckley (Cork) will share their insights from their own playing experiences.

 

Uachtarán CLG, Aogán Ó Fearghaíl said “The GAA is proud to be associated with this event and we are grateful to the Bon Secours Health System for affording the opportunity to link with them and UPMC in bringing such a fantastic line up of speakers to Croke Park. Concussion awareness and education is a continuing process within the association and this Symposium will contribute to this process. UPMC are one of the world leaders in research in this area and it will be extremely interesting to hear what their experts have to say. It is great to see some of our local specialists also address the Symposium including

 

two members of the GAA’s Medical Scientific and Welfare Committee. It will be an opportunity for those in attendance to learn from national and international experts and will bring a greater understanding of the latest research taking place on concussion. Some of our coaches, players and their parents will also be given the fantastic opportunity to learn from these internationally renowned experts.”

Further information on concussion, including the GAA's Concussion Management Guidelines and Concussion E-learning course are available on the GAA website. http://learning.gaa.ie/Concussion