State Experts Serving on Concussion Research Advisory Board

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R.J. Elbin, from left, Damon Lipinski and Darrell Nesmith

Two concussion authorities with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock are providing their clinical expertise to the new Office for Sport Concussion Research at the University of Arkansas.

R.J. Elbin, assistant professor of exercise science, directs the office that will focus on teaching people involved in youth and high school sports how to recognize concussions. Elbin and two graduate assistants will also work with medical personnel to collect data on young athletes’ recovery from concussions to better understand the course of recovery from this injury.

Elbin, who joined the College of Education and Health Professions faculty last fall, received a doctorate in kinesiology from Michigan State University, and he held a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program. The Pittsburgh program was the first of its kind when it was started in 2000. It remains the largest such program and is considered an international leader in concussion research.

To date, Elbin has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles, presented more than 40 national and international presentations, and obtained funding from the National Football League Charities, Department of Defense, and the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment on sport-related concussion.

Damon Lipinski and Darrell Nesmith accepted Elbin’s invitation to serve on a Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board for the office that was established last month in the department of health, human performance and recreation at the U of A.

“The goal of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board is to work with local, state, and national organizations to promote concussion awareness in youth and high school sports and to promote the evidence-based assessment and management of sport-related concussion through clinical research efforts,” Elbin said.

Lipinski, a pediatric clinical neuropsychologist and UAMS assistant professor of pediatrics, directs the Sports Concussion Clinic at the Centers for Children operated by Arkansas Children’s Hospital and UAMS in Lowell. The clinic provides complete care for children, adolescents and young adults who have suffered a concussion or traumatic brain injury. He has directed the concussion clinic since 2011.

Lipinski earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Memphis and completed a Neuroscience Institute Fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis. He has provided numerous presentations to state and local groups about concussion awareness, management, prevention and care.

Nesmith, associate professor of pediatrics at UAMS since 2003, directs the concussion clinic and program for UAMS. He earned a medical degree from the University of Mississippi. He completed an adolescent medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and also has a master’s degree from UAB. He did his pediatric internship and residency at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital and continues to be on the medical staff of Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Nesmith also serves on the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee of the Arkansas Activities Association. He teaches courses on concussion for Arkansas athletes, concussions in high school sports and the school’s role in concussion management. He has presented continuing education programs for physicians on concussions and, like Lipinski and Elbin, has provided numerous invited presentations at state, local and regional meetings.