UNM to host national leader in sports medicine for community lecture on concussions

The University of New Mexico Department of Neurology will host a community lecture featuring Dr. Brian Hainline on Tuesday, April 15 from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Physics and Astronomy Interdisciplinary Science (PAĺS) Auditorium on the Albuquerque campus.

Hainline, a nationally recognized neurologist and leader in sports medicine, will speak on the evolving understanding of brain health in athletics and the policies that have shaped athlete safety at all levels of competition.

The event is open to the public and will bring together students, faculty, medical professionals and community members for a discussion on the long-term impacts of concussions and the importance of evidence-based approaches to care and prevention.

Hainline served as the NCAA's first chief medical officer from 2013 to 2024, where he helped reshape national standards for athlete health and safety. During his tenure, he founded and led the NCAA Sport Science Institute and played a key role in advancing concussion research, including the development of one of the largest concussion studies in history.

A clinical professor of neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Hainline specializes in sports neurology, pain medicine and mental health in sport. He has authored more than 100 scientific publications and helped develop international consensus guidelines on concussion care.

In addition to his work in collegiate athletics, Hainline has held leadership roles in tennis at both the national and international levels. He previously served as chief medical officer for the United States Tennis Association and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships and is the immediate past president of the U.S. Tennis Association

The visit provides a unique opportunity for UNM residents, fellows and the broader community to engage directly with a leading voice in sports neurology and athlete health.

The lecture will be held in the PAIS Auditorium and will be followed by an informal community conversation with light refreshments.