UC Merced doctor encourages education on brain injuries

Dr. Brandon Boggs, the medical director at UC Merced, has seen his fair share of sports-related brain injuries.

He landed at UC Merced in early 2012, as the university’s athletics program was starting up. Shortly after his arrival, he helped implement a concussion protocol, a process of training and testing designed to help student athletes recognize symptoms and recover.

Boggs, who also serves as executive director for health and counseling services at the university, has reached out to local high schools with the idea to offer tailored training for parents, coaches and students. Helping educate high schools is also Boggs’ way of giving back to his community. Boggs, a Merced native, graduated from Merced High, where he played football and wrestled.

He is still waiting to hear back about his offer and hopes coaches and parents will take the opportunity to learn about the dangers of head injuries.

The new film “Concussion,” which hit theaters Friday, may also help cast light on the matter. The movie stars Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist who makes it his mission to raise awareness about the dangers of football-related head trauma. Omalu’s findings on chronic trauma encephalopathy, a degenerative disease found in people who have suffered repeated blows to the head, sparked controversy when he linked it to head injuries in the National Football League.

Boggs hopes the movie will serve as a reminder for parents, athletes and coaches about the importance of doing research on prevention and treatment protocol.

“If each person is watching out for themselves, and we have polices and procedures in high schools, then we actually will make a difference,” Boggs said.

According to the Brain Injury Association, an advocacy organization, a 2015 poll showed that 90 percent of Americans who participated in the national survey could not correctly define a concussion. Seventy-eight percent did not know the symptoms. Of parents polled, 37 percent said they wouldn’t know what to do if their child suffered a concussion.

Every year, Boggs, with the help of the university’s athletics training staff, does a presentation for student athletes about awareness, symptoms and the importance of reporting these symptoms to their medical providers.

Education efforts include annual training at the beginning of the season and neuro-psychological testing, which takes a look at brain function. If a student athlete suffers a concussion later in the school year, that person’s brain activity then is compared to what was recorded earlier, Boggs explained.

“No athlete can return to play without medical clearance from the student health center,” Boggs said, noting that the program ensures students receive enough mental and physical rest after a mild traumatic brain injury.

Rest after a concussion is important in helping the brain heal, he explained. Students are asked to limit activities, including studying, until they get the OK from their doctors.

David Dunham, director of recreation and athletics, said Boggs’ help has been critical in keeping athletes safe and healthy.

“We don’t have football, but we do see concussions ... from soccer, volleyball, basketball: It’s in the nature of being an athlete,” said Dunham. “How we manage and deal with concussions in sports is critical.”

Dunham believes concussion danger awareness has reached a high. More people are paying attention to the consequences of such injuries and doing research on ways to reduce the risk of a concussion than ever before, he said. The new film, he said, may further that discussion.

But despite the heightened awareness, Boggs believes there is much more to be done in educating the public on brain injuries and seeking medical attention in a timely manner. The physician is part of the Central Valley Concussion Consortium, and while it’s a growing committee, when one thinks about how large the area from Tulare to Modesto is, more participation is needed, he said.

“We certainly need more people to steer management and education in the right way,” he said.

At UC Merced, Boggs said he looks forward to improving evaluation tools as technology emerges. He also expects to continue working with the community to keep athletes of all levels safe.

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 3:11 PM with the headline "UC Merced doctor encourages education on brain injuries."