Chuck Noll Foundation sponsors first annual “Chuck Noll Foundation Lecture on Sports Related Trauma” in partnership with the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons

Newswise — Pittsburgh (April 15, 2019) The Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research today announced that it will sponsor its first annual lectureship — Chuck Noll Foundation Lecture on Sports Related Trauma — during this year’s AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care, which will be held at the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting on April 13-17, 2019, in San Diego.

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurosurgeons (CNS) are two of the most highly-respected medical associations representing thousands of neurosurgeons world-wide, dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurosurgery and providing the highest quality care to the public. The AANS/CNS Sections are specialized groups that focus on topics and subspecialty concentrations within neurosurgery and are made up of members of both groups.

This new sponsorship was initiated by nationally renowned neurosurgeons, Julian Bailes, MD, FAANS, and  Joseph Maroon, MD, FAANS(L), members of the Chuck Noll Foundation’s National Science Advisory Committee. Dr. Bailes is also the Chairperson of the AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care, which will host the new Chuck Noll Foundation lecture series.

“We are so pleased to be able to work together with the Chuck Noll Foundation to offer this excellent new lecture series to our members,” said Shelly D. Timmons, MD, PhD, FACS, FAANS, President of AANS and member of the Chuck Noll Foundation National Science Advisory Committee. “There is important ground-breaking research being conducted today in the area of traumatic brain injury by some of the best minds in our country. It is fitting that the Chuck Noll Foundation supports the work that would have been so important to Chuck Noll.”

Dr. Maroon will be the inaugural speaker and will present his talk entitled Concussion and CTE—Personal Reflection and Perspective. Dr. Maroon, Professor and Vice Chairman, Heindl Scholar in Neuroscience Department of Neurological Surgery University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, was the first-appointed neurosurgeon in the NFL, by Chuck Noll and Dan Rooney, owner of the Steelers. He has been a pioneer in the management of concussions and spinal injuries for the past 25 years, publishing extensively in this area of science.

“Chuck Noll was not only a coach, but was also a teacher and a pioneer in sports medicine management and injuries,” said Dr. Maroon.  “He knew the importance of identifying and treating traumatic brain injury properly and it was his commitment to player safety that ultimately led to the implementation of the ImPACT test, which is now one of the primary tools for assessing return to play in all contact sports. This lecture series will help us to continue the work that he inspired so many years ago.”

“This new lecture series is one more excellent way the Chuck Noll Foundation can pursue its mission of promoting breakthroughs in brain injury research and we are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Maroon as our inaugural speaker,” said Dr. Julian Bailes, Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and Co-Director of the NorthShore Neurological Institute in Chicago, Chairperson of the AANS/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care and member of the Chuck Noll Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board. “Dr. Maroon has one of the best minds in the field of neuroscience and while much research has been accomplished in the area of concussions and traumatic brain injury, there is still much to be done and Dr. Maroon’s work is critical to this field.”

Dr. Maroon will speak on Monday, April 15th at 2:30 PM in the Scientific Session VI and will be introduced by Dr. Julian Bailes.

The Chuck Noll Foundation was established in December 2016 through a seed grant from the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Chuck Noll, for whom the Foundation is named, was the beloved head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1969-1991, earning four Super Bowl titles during his tenure.  His career culminated with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Noll’s commitment to the well-being of his players ultimately led the Steelers to initiate the start up of the Foundation in Chuck Noll’s name.

More information on the Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research can be found at: www.chucknollfoundation.org.

About the 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting: Attended by neurosurgeons, neurosurgical residents, medical students, neuroscience nurses, clinical specialists, physician assistants, allied health professionals and other medical professionals, the AANS Annual Scientific Meeting is the largest gathering of neurosurgeons in the nation, with an emphasis on the field’s latest research and technological advances. The scientific presentations accepted for the 2019 event will represent cutting-edge examples of the incredible developments taking place within the field of neurosurgery. Find additional information about the 2019 AANS Annual Scientific Meeting and the meeting program here.

About the AANS: Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with more than 11,500 members worldwide. The AANS promotes the highest quality of patient care and advances the specialty of neurological surgery. Fellows of the AANS are board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, A.C. Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the spinal column, spinal cord, brain, nervous system and peripheral nerves.

For more information, visit www.AANS.org.