What parents, coaches need to know about sports concussions

LANSING, MI – On the heels of ever-growing concerns about head injuries in athletics, two nationally known experts will present a free forum for parents, coaches, and others, “Kids, Sports, and Concussions: What You Need to Know.”

The Jan. 16 event, sponsored by the Sparrow/MSU Center for Innovation and Research, will feature Board-certified sports Neurologist Jeff Kutcher, M.D., and award-winning sports journalist and Michigan State University Professor Joanne C. Gerstner.

The pair authored a new book, “Back in the Game: Why Concussion Doesn’t Have to End Your Athletic Career.”

Concussions is one of the leading issues in sports. On Monday, the Sparrow Sports Medicine Practice reported seeing more than 150 new sports concussion cases in its first full year of operation in 2016.

The event will provide a real-world discussion on concussions from the medical, social, and pop-culture perspectives. The speakers will offer their perspective on what parents, coaches, medical practitioners and the public need to understand about concussion injuries.

The event will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Sparrow Hospital Auditorium, 1215 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing. The auditorium is in the hospital’s lower level. Dessert and beverages will be provided.

Reservations are appreciated but not necessary and can be made by contacting Sharon Baer at 517.364.5730 or Sharon.baer@sparrow.org.

The Sparrow MSU Center for Innovation and Research was created through a formal partnership agreement between Sparrow and MSU. MSU’s intellectual capital and Sparrow’s community-based clinicians work collaboratively to develop innovative approaches to high quality, safe care. The Center aims to transform the delivery of healthcare through the implementation and evaluation of research that improves Patient outcomes and lowers costs.

Choose Wisely. Choose Sparrow.