Super Bowl champion becomes AAN spokesperson for TBI awareness

Kathy Mahdoubi | | Health Imaging | Molecular Imaging

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Brain Foundation announced yesterday that they have named former NFL champion Ben Utecht an official, nationwide spokesperson for the AAN. Utecht will now be charged with advocating awareness of sports concussions and their dangers.

Utecht won the 2014 Public Leadership in Neurology Award from the AAN in April after suffering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that led to the demise of his active football career.

"It is an incredible honor to be named a spokesperson for the American Academy of Neurology, the world's largest professional association of neurologists, and its foundation, the American Brain Foundation," said Utecht in a press release. "Together, they are committed to raising awareness about concussion and the need to support more research to advance our understanding of concussion, possible treatments, and eventual cures. My life has been impacted by traumatic brain injury and brain disease, challenging me and my family constantly. Brain disease threatens to steal from us what makes us human, and I will fight relentlessly to see that through research we can in fact find the origins of healing through the cures that are waiting to be discovered."

Since his transition from football, Utecht has been a poster-player speaking out about safety guidelines and recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of sports concussions and TBI, including a testimony this week before a special committee on aging for the U.S. Senate.

 

Kathy Mahdoubi

Related Content

Researchers receive grant worth millions to develop portable PET scanner
Why is the US still dependent on foreign medical isotope production?
Downed high-flux reactor could restart sooner than anticipated
Some nuc med departments are already feeling the strain of the isotope shortage
NorthStar opens facility to assist with development and distribution of vital radioisotopes
Lizard saliva could be key to spotting elusive pancreatic tumors

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business
Positron partners with Upbeat Cardiology Solutions to improve cardiac PET/CT access

Positron, a New York-based nuclear imaging company, will now provide Upbeat Cardiology Solutions with advanced PET/CT systems and services. 

Cardiovascular Business
Global shortage of nuclear imaging isotopes may be over

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

Cardiovascular Business
‘A huge win’: CMS significantly increases Medicare payments for cardiac CT

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.