Dr. Javier Cardenas at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix is doing a lot of research and outreach particularly in the area of sports related TBIs. I know him personally through my involvement with the Arizona Governor's Council for Spine and Head Injuries.

He created the Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, and has consulted with the NFL and NCAA to develop best practices for concussion prevention and management.

He was instrumental in helping to create a new helmet protocol for the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations. The rule states that every football player must return to the sidelines when their helmet comes off to have it inspected during the next play. The protocol has drastically decreased the number of helmets that have come off during the season.

He created Barrow Brainbook, the nation’s first mandated concussion education and test for student athletes. Under this program, Arizona became the first state to mandate that all male and female student athletes undergo concussion education and pass a formal test before play.