Prominent Boston-Area Doctors Head Panel To Find NFL's New Chief Medical Officer
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- The NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell may have shunned Boston University researchers in past studies, but they've gone back to the B.U. well to find the league's new medical leader.
As part of a search for a chief medical officer who would work full-time with team medical staffs, the players union, and various league committees, the league tabbed Dr. Robert Cantu from the B.U. School of Medicine to serve on a panel of experts who will conduct the search. The leader of the panel, Dr. Betsy Nabel, is the President of Brigham and Women's Healthcare in Boston and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical.
To refresh your memory, the NFL made headlines in May when the New York Times reported on a Congressional study that found the league tried to influence a major concussion study by rescinding grants previously given to various research facilities. A major portion of the research that the league reportedly attempted to "discredit" was from the work of Dr. Robert A. Stern, a neuropsychologist who is the Director of Clinical Research for the B.U. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center.
Imagine Dr. Stern became a candidate for CMO of the NFL ... It would be one heck of a turnaround.
"In recognition of this priority [on the health of players] and the increasing complexity of our work, we intend to hire a highly credentialed physician to serve as Chief Medical Officer and work in the league office on a full-time basis," Goodell wrote in a memo to all 32 NFL teams.
Dr. Stern co-founded the B.U. CTE Center along with Director Dr. Ann McKee; either one would certainly have the credentials to lead the league on a positive path toward better understanding head trauma and improving the health and safety of players.
The NFL has always had a contentious relationship with B.U.'s research - mainly because the C.T.E. Center served to expose the serious health concerns and risks associated with professional football. It's good to see that they finally appear ready to work together.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
