CTE: The Role of the Athletic Trainer in Education and Risk Reduction
Includes a Live Web Event on 07/30/2026 at 9:00 AM (CDT)
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Register
- Non-member - $25
- Member - Free!
- Student - Free!
- Certified Student - Free!
- Retired - $15
Live Webinar Hosted by NATA in Collaboration with the Concussion & CTE Foundation
July 30, 2026 | 9:00–10:00 a.m. CT
Unable to attend live? The recording will be available on demand within a few days following the webinar.
Abstract:
The National Institutes of Health now recognizes CTE as a progressive brain disease that can cause dementia and that is caused in part by repetitive head impacts (RHI). Research-to-date suggests CTE the odds of developing CTE are associated with exposure to RHI. However, education about CTE is not yet institutionalized for athletic trainers, coaches, athletes, or parents, and CTE risk reduction is not prioritized.
This course will provide athletic trainers with the latest updates on CTE research, provide a foundation for serving as CTE community educators, and provide actionable steps athletic trainers can take to implement CTE risk reduction within their professional practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Summarize the current state of CTE research, including the NIH’s recognition of CTE as a progressive brain disease caused in part by repetitive head impacts (RHI), and explain the neuropathological criteria used to diagnose CTE.
- Identify evidence-based strategies for reducing repetitive head impact exposure in sport, including contact limitation protocols and rule modifications, and apply these strategies within their professional practice setting.
- Demonstrate the ability to educate athletes, coaches, and parents about CTE risk factors, early warning signs of chronic neurological disease, and the importance of head impact reduction as part of a comprehensive athlete safety program.
Level:
Advanced
Domain(s):
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy
Domain 2: Assessment Evaluation and Diagnosis
Domain 5: Health Care Administration and Professional Responsibility
CEUs:
1.0 Category A
Keywords:
CTE, dementia, brain injury, head impact
Enhanced Access On-Demand Course Expiration:
Access to this course will expire at the end of the membership year on December 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
For full details, refer to the Expiration Date Policy on our FAQ page.
Robert Cantu, MD
Currently Dr. Cantu’s professional responsibilities include Medical Director and Director of Clinical Research, Dr. Robert C. Cantu Concussion Center, Chief of Neurosurgery Service and Director of Sports Medicine at Emerson Health in Concord, MA; Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Clinical Therapeutics Leader AD-CTE Center Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA; Founding member and Medical Director Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA; Medical Director National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, Chapel Hill, NC; Vice President and Chairman of Scientific Advisory Committee, National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE); Member NFLPA Mackey-White Health and Safety Committee and Co-chair of the equipment committee; NCAA Concussion Safety Advisory Group Member and NCAA Student-Athletic Concussion Injury Litigation Committee (Medical Science Committee); Member of the World Rugby Concussion Working Group.
He has authored over 580 scientific publications, including 34 books on neurology and sports medicine. A past president and spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine, he has participated in numerous nationally televised sports programs. He has served as associate editor of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise and Exercise and Sports Science Review, and on the editorial boards of The Physician and Sports Medicine, Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, Journal of Athletic Training, Neurosurgery, and World Neurosurgery.
Daniel Daneshvar, MD, PhD
Christopher Nowinski, PhD
Chris Nowinski, Ph.D., is the founding CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation and co-founder of the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center, where he is leading a global conversation on concussions, CTE, and the future of sports.
After an All-Ivy football career at Harvard, he joined the WWE where he was the youngest Hardcore Champion in history before a 2003 kick to the chin caused career-ending post-concussion syndrome. Researching how to overcome his symptoms, he uncovered buried research showing concussions were far more serious than perceived in the culture at that time. He wrote the 2006 book Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis calling for change in concussion care and research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Dr. Nowinski’s research and advocacy normalized brain donation among athletes in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, helping drive the adoption of concussion protocols worldwide. He is now focused on advancing CTE prevention protocols across global sports organizations. He earned his Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Boston University School of Medicine in 2017 and has authored more than 65 scientific publications.
