UD researchers to headline 'Concussions in Sports: Lecture and a Movie'

2:45 p.m., Jan. 6, 2016--The University of Delaware College of Health Sciences has partnered with Penn Cinema Riverfront in Wilmington for “Concussions in Sports: Lecture and a Movie” to be held at 6:20 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 14. 

Before a showing of the new Will Smith movie Concussion, faculty members Tom Buckley and Tom Kaminski of the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology will speak before an audience of coaches, athletes, parents, athletic directors, school administrators and other interested members of the public. 

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• June 6-9: Food and culture series
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• July 22: WWE Heatwave Tour
• Through Sept. 16: Women of color in academia

The pair will discuss UD’s concussion research, explain best practices, address head impact facts and misconceptions and take questions from the audience. 

Immediately following the discussion, Penn Cinema will show Concussion, in which Smith plays forensic pathologist and neuropathologist Bennet Omalu, who uncovered a link between repeated head trauma and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — a discovery that put Omalu at odds with the NFL.

The event is open to the public and the University community. The schedule is as follows:

• Arrive: 6 p.m.
• Lecture: 6:20 p.m.
• Showtime: 7 p.m. 

Whether it’s football, hockey, soccer, wrestling, or any youth sport, Buckley said he does not want parents to fear their children participating in athletics.

“Make sure you take a good look at the sports organization. Does the organization understand what concussions are? Do they have a plan in place to treat concussions? Kids need to learn technique – how to hit and how to get hit. It’s critical – but it needs to be done from an education point of view and not just hitting for the sake of hitting,” Buckley said.

Reserve a spot and learn more on the Lecture and a Movie event page. 

Those with questions can email Dante LaPenta of the College of Health Sciences at dlapenta@udel.edu.