A new partnership announced today aims to help understand and mitigate the long-term effects of concussion. The partnership makes Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry the new home for the Canadian chapter of the Sports Legacy Institute (SLI Canada). Combining Western University’s leading expertise in medical research and education, with SLI Canada’s established reputation for concussion awareness, sets a new standard for the quality of education, research and healthcare related to concussions in sport.
“No other institution in Canada has such a broad range of experts dedicated to solving the problem of sports-related concussion,” said Tim Fleiszer, Executive Director of SLI Canada. “This partnership with Schulich Medicine & Dentistry will enable us to join together to operate outstanding education and prevention programs and perform cutting-edge research. This is a big step towards solving the concussion crisis in Canada.”
Established in 2012, SLI Canada is the first international chapter of the Boston-based Sports Legacy Institute. SLI Canada operates prevention, education and awareness programs across the country, including the SLI Community Educators (SLICE) program which teaches student-athletes about the dangers of head injuries. The Sports Legacy Institute is also world-renowned for its Brain Bank, a resource for researchers to study the donated brains of athletes in order to investigate the long-term effects of head trauma. Working in partnership with the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, SLI Canada aims to advance the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in Canadian athletes and other at-risk groups.
“Together with SLI Canada, we will be able to further build on the leading-edge work we are doing in this area,” said Dr. Michael J. Strong, Dean, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. “This collaboration makes us uniquely positioned to lead the way in concussion education and research.”
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and its partners at Robarts Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, its affiliated hospitals and the Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, are home to a dedicated group of individuals who are investigating a range of concussion-related questions. These initiatives include the development of therapeutic strategies to better understand the short- and long-term effects of concussion, and how we might better establish clinical indicators to determine when an injured athlete can safely return to play.
This new partnership was announced today as part of See the Line. See the Line is a one-of-a-kind education, awareness and fundraising initiative that combines the cumulative experience of world-class acute sport concussion clinical care and research leaders in London, with the aim of reducing the incidence of concussion, improving care through research, and educating athletes, coaches and parents about the serious impact of concussions. The initiative includes a continuing medical education component, public symposium and a fundraising gala, which this year celebrates Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic’s 40 years of leadership and pioneering excellence in the field of sport medicine.
See the Line is a collaborative initiative between Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry – including Robarts Research Institute and the Faculties of Health Sciences and Engineering, Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), St. Joseph’s Health Care London (SJHC), Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson), and Children’s Health Research Institute. www.seetheline.ca
MEDIA CONTACT: Crystal Mackay, Media Relations Officer, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University
, 519.661.2111 ext. 80387, c. 519.777.1573, crystal.mackay@schulich.uwo.ca
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ABOUT THE SCHULICH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University is one of Canada’s preeminent medical and dental schools. Established in 1881, it was one of the founding schools of Western University and is known for being the birthplace of family medicine in Canada. For more than 130 years, the School has demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and a passion for scientific discovery.
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