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Department of Orthopedics

School of Medicine

Welcome to the Colorado Concussion Research Laboratory

Lab Director, David Howell, PhD, ATC

  • Research
  • Howell Concussion Lab
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    Principal Investigator

    Lab Director

    David Howell, PHD, ATC

    David Howell, PhD, ATC

    The overarching goal of Dr. Howell’s research is to evaluate objective and quantitative measures that provide clinically relevant data for concussion management and to discover the physiologic underpinnings of post-concussion deficits. A concussion is a multifaceted and heterogeneous injury, so monitoring recovery and determining biological predictors of long-term outcomes remains challenging. Currently, Dr. Howell and his team are focused on establishing a framework to better understand and assess effective methods to allow athletes with a concussion to return to full sports participation in a safe manner. Outside of the office, Dr. Howell enjoys activities that are typical for a Colorado resident: fly-fishing, skiing, hiking, and exploring places that don’t get cell service.

     

    Title:

    Lead Researcher, Sports Medicine Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado
    Assistant Professor 
    Department of Orthopedics
    University of Colorado School of Medicine

    Director of Clinical Research 
    Colorado Program for Musculoskeletal Research 

    Department of Orthopedics
    University of Colorado School of Medicine

    Email:

    David.Howell@CUAnschutz.edu

    Primary research interests:
    Pediatric concussion; human movement analysis; youth athlete health
    Links to complete bibliography of published work:
    https://profiles.ucdenver.edu/display/15074432
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/david.howell.1/bibliography/public/

    Education :

    BA, Whitworth University, Spokane, WA
    MS, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
    PhD, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
    Post-Doc, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

    Associate Lab Director

    Julie C. Wilson, MD

    Julie C. Wilson, MD.

    Through her clinical practice and corresponding research, Dr. Wilson’s goal is to advance the clinical care of children and adolescents with concussions through research investigating methods to diagnosis, manage and reduce the risk of concussions and their subsequent effects. As the Co-Director of the Concussion Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Dr. Wilson provides a wealth of experience as someone who treats children with a concussion on a daily basis, conveying unique insights from both a clinician and patient/parent perspective to incorporate into our ongoing research studies. Outside of work, Dr. Wilson enjoys cycling, snowboarding, spending time with her dogs, and trying to find the best tea and ice cream shops in Colorado.

     

    Lab Members

    Doctoral Students

    Kate Smulligan, PT, DPT

    Kate Smulligan, PT, DPT

    Kate Smulligan is a Ph.D. candidate in the CU Rehabilitation Science program with a research interest in sports concussions. She is particularly interested in the interplay between the cervical spine and the vestibular and oculomotor systems, and how that impacts persistent symptoms following concussion. Kate began her career as a physical therapist specializing in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, and she brings her clinical expertise in this area to further the understanding of optimal assessment, treatment, and prevention of concussions.

    Matthew Wingerson

    Mathew Wingerson, MS

    Mathew Wingerson is a Ph.D. student in the CU Rehabilitation Science program with an interest in sport-related concussions. Mathew previously worked as a Research Assistant in the Colorado Concussion Laboratory (2020-2022). He graduated from Simpson College (IA) in 2019 with a degree in Psychology and MS in Applied Sport Psychology in 2021. Mathew’s research interests include psychosocial outcomes of sports injury, as well as sport psychology interventions during injury rehabilitation. Outside of being a Ph.D. student, Mathew enjoys sports, hiking, and reading.

    Research Professionals

     

    Madison (Madi) Brna, BSMadison (Madi) Brna, BS

    Madison (Madi) Brna, BS, is a research professional in the Sports Medicine Center at the Children’s Hospital Colorado working and assisting in clinical research coordination for Primary Care Sports Medicine Providers and the Howell Concussion Lab. Madi graduated from the University of Virginia (2022) where she studied Kinesiology. During her time as an undergrad, Madi worked with UVA Sports Medicine and was heavily involved in sports concussion research. She is excited to continue to explore the world of concussion and its integration with other areas of sports medicine research. She hopes to pursue higher education in medicine in the near future. Outside of research, Madi enjoys watching sports, running, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her dog Tabasco.

     

    Lindsey Kemp, BSLindsey Kemp, BS

    Lindsey  Kemp, BS, is a research professional in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus supporting and assisting in study coordination for Dr. David Howell and Dr. Julie Wilson's ongoing research studies. Lindsey graduated from East Carolina University (2018) with a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Multidisciplinary studies focused on Neuroscience. Prior to her work in the concussion lab, she worked on clinical immune monitoring of immuno-oncology therapies. She is excited to learn more about concussions and hopes to use prior knowledge to assist in the biological analyses of patient samples and data.

    Samantha Magliato-3x4Samantha Magliato, BS

    Samantha Magliato is a research professional in the Colorado Concussion Research Lab. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University in January 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in biomechanics and a minor in Chemistry. Throughout undergrad, Samantha was a competitive rower and continues to enjoy being active outdoors. Samantha is an aspiring physician-researcher in the field of orthopedics and sports medicine with interests in concussion and injury prevention

    Master's Students

    Ryan Lacgreca, BA

    Ryan LaGreca, BA

    Ryan LaGreca is in graduate school on the Anschutz Medical Campus in the Master of Science in Modern Human Anatomy program. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Integrative physiology and hopes to pursue a career in medicine as a PA. Ryan played soccer competitively and worked on research in the department of Physiology and Biophysics, Division of Cardiology at Anschutz as an undergraduate. As a Colorado native, he enjoys the outdoors and competing in Ironman triathlons in his free time.

     

    Undergraduate Students

    Samuel Messenger, BS

    Samuel Messenger, BS

    Samuel Messenger, BS, is a 2nd year MPH Student with a concentration in Epidemiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Since graduating with a BS in Athletic Training in 2018 from the University of Vermont, he has practiced as an Athletic Trainer in Colorado, Louisiana, and Vermont, working with collegiate and secondary school athletes and in post-concussive treatment programs. He is most interested in how exercise affects concussion rehabilitation and how socioeconomic factors may influence recovery from brain injuries. Outside of the lab, he enjoys camping, playing and listening to music, and rooting for the New York Jets.

     

    Physical Therapy Students

    Lab Alumni

    Morgan Potter, Research Assistant (2017-2019). Current: Ph.D. Student, University of Delaware

    Tatiana Patismas, Medical Resident (2019-2020). Current: Sports Medicine Fellow, Children’s Hospital Colorado.

    Katie Van Deventer, Medical Student (2019-2020). Current: Medical Resident, UC-Irvine.

    Julia Southard, Undergraduate Intern, Regis University (2019).

    Corrine Seehusen, Research Assistant (2019-2021). Current: Medical Student, University of New England.

    Linda Neely, Master’s Student (2021-2022). Current: Physical Therapy Assistant, University of Colorado Health System.

    Casey Little, Research Assistant (2021-2022). Current: Medical Student, University of Virginia

    Jake Rademacher, Undergraduate Intern (2022-2023).

     

     

    Orthopedics (SOM)

    CU Anschutz

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    12631 East 17th Avenue

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    303-724-2955

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