Gerard Gioia, PhD, receives national award for excellence in advocacy - Children's National

Gerard Gioia, PhD, director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery and Education (SCORE) Program at Children's National, has been selected by the National Academy of Neuropsychology to receive the 2026 Tresa Roebuck Spencer Award for Excellence in Advocacy. Dr. Gioia, a nationally recognized pediatric neuropsychologist and longtime advocate for children with brain injuries and neurological conditions, was formally recognized during the academy's annual meeting in Chicago.

This award honors an individual who has demonstrated dedication and excellence in advocating for neuropsychology as both a scientist and clinical practitioner. Recipients engage decision-makers and stakeholders beyond the field to promote brain science, increase public understanding of neuropsychology and inspire meaningful change.

"This recognition reflects the collective work of families, clinicians, researchers and advocates who have helped make children's brain health a public priority," said Dr. Gioia. "Our goal has always been to translate science into practical guidance that helps children recover safely and gives families, schools and communities the tools to support them."

About Dr. Gioia

Dr. Gioia is founder and emeritus chief of the division of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Children's National and a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. His clinical work focuses on caring for children with brain injuries and their families, particularly those affected by executive function disorders and pediatric concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).

With more than 215 scientific publications, Dr. Gioia has helped advance the understanding, evaluation and treatment of pediatric concussion. He has led several multisite studies of pediatric mild TBI funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, he developed tools to evaluate executive function and post-concussion symptoms and founded the SCORE Program, the nation's first pediatric concussion clinic. He also contributed to the CDC's HEADS UP concussion education toolkits, helping translate research into practical resources for families, schools and healthcare professionals.

Dr. Gioia serves as the neuropsychologist for multiple professional sports teams, including the Washington Capitals and the Baltimore Ravens, and he works with school systems and youth sports organizations across the Baltimore-Washington region. He advises governing bodies in ice hockey, lacrosse, football, rugby and soccer on concussion management and serves as the chair of the USA Football Medical Advisory Panel and is also a member of the Sport Science & Safety Committee of USA Lacrosse and the National Advisory Board of the Positive Coaching Alliance. A past president and fellow of the Sports Neuropsychology Society, Dr. Gioia received the organization's 2025 Harvey Levin Distinguished Career Award.