September 06, 2014

The Concussion Epidemic in Youth Sports

Millions of school-aged kids love participating in sports. But parents should be aware that collision sports involve the risk of concussions and head injury. We speak with a top neurosurgeon about the risks. Then, a new study reveals that Americans waste an astonishing 40 percent of food.

Episode Segments:

InfoTrak: Concussions and Our Kids Concussions are a not-so-silent epidemic among school-age athletes. Robert Cantu, MD, author of Concussions and Our Kids: America's Leading Expert on How to Protect Young Athletes and Keep Sports Safe discussed the most common causes of concussions and explained which sports are the most dangerous. He talked about the long-term ramifications of brain trauma injuries and offered ideas for reforms that would reduce concussions in youth sports.
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InfoTrak: Wasted Food Dana Gunders, Project Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council's Food and Agriculture program in San Francisco was the lead author of a report that found that 40 percent of the nation’s food supply--valued at $165 billion--goes uneaten each year. She outlined the economic and environmental impacts of food waste, and what can be done to fight this growing problem. She discussed misconceptions surrounding expiration dates and said most of them actually are indicators of food quality, not necessarily food safety.
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InfoTrak: Success Express for Teens Roger Leslie is an award-winning teacher, and author of Success Express for Teens. He believes that teens need to set goals in order to succeed in later life. He talked about the importance of young people learning the value of good citizenship and time management. He offered suggestions of how teens can determine their personal strengths and take smart risks.
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Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Robert Cantu, MD In 1960, he received his B.A. degree from the University of California Berkley where he pitched on the varsity baseball team. Jointly, in medical school and graduate school, he received his M.A. degree in endocrinology in 1962, and in 1963, his M.D. from the University of California Medical School in San Francisco. Following a surgical internship at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City in 1963-1964, he began a neurosurgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and simultaneous position of research fellow in physiology at Harvard Medical School. Upon completion of his residency in 1968, he joined the neurosurgery staff at MGH, where his practice and laboratory were located, while assuming the position of acting assistant director of neurosurgery and director of pediatric neurosurgery at Boston City Hospital. After five yeas of academic neurosurgery with Harvard hospitals, Dr. Cantu entered private neurosurgery practice at the suburban Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, where he currently serves as Chairman Department of Surgery, Chief Neurosurgical Service and Director Service of Sports Medicine. Currently Dr. Cantu’s professional responsibilities include those of Clinical Professor Department of Neurosurgery and Co-Director Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; Founding member and Chairman Medical Advisory Board Sports Legacy Institute, Waltham, MA; Adjunct Professor Exercise and Sport Science and Medical Director National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; Co-Director, Neurologic Sports Injury Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Chief of Neurosurgery Service, Chairman Department of Surgery, and Director of Sports Medicine at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts, Neurosurgical Consultant Boston Eagles football team, and Neurosurgical Consultant Boston Cannons professional soccer team. Dr. Cantu also consults with numerous NFL, NHL and NBA teams. He has authored over 357 scientific publications, including 28 books on neurology and sports medicine, in addition to numerous book chapters, peer-reviewed papers, abstracts and free communications, and educational videos. He has served as associate editor of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise and Exercise and Sports Science Review, and on the editorial board of The Physician and Sports Medicine, Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, and Journal of Athletic Training. In 2003 Dr. Cantu became the section head for the Sports Medicine Section of Neurosurgery. More about Dr. Cantu

Dana Gunders Dana Gunders is a Project Scientist, with the Natural Resources Defense Council's Food and Agriculture program in San Francisco. Dana's Blog

Roger Leslie I was born into a close-knit Polish-American family on May 5, 1961. Growing up in Dearborn Heights, Michigan filled my childhood with unforgettable experiences that shaped who I am and that continue to influence what I write. My dad my hero and role model instilled in me a love for reading and a desire to succeed. My mom my shining example of how joyful life can be taught me to experience each day with passion and to record the meaningful moments so they live on. Thanks to them, I knew before I reached high school that I was born to be a writer. In 1976, my family moved to Houston, Texas, where I excelled in academics, became a pretty good competitive swimmer, and immersed myself in writing short stories, poetry, and, before graduating high school, novels. After earning my BA in English Education at the University of Houston, I planned to teach for three years and then pursue a career as a full-time writer. Until I began working at Galena Park High School, I had no idea how much I would love teaching or how much all those great students would enhance my life. Thanks to them, I won many teaching awards from the community (North Channel Chamber of Commerce), the district (1988-1989 GPISD Teacher of the Year), and universities (University of Texas and Texas A & M). Galena Park also became the subject of my first published book, which I co-authored with Sue Elkins Edwards. The 1990s were literally a whirlwind experience. While I was inside it, my house was hit by a tornado. Although I temporarily lost the house, I ended up writing an article about the disaster that became my first magazine cover story. Meantime, I had several teaching articles, essays, a play, and some poetry published. After earning an MA in creative writing from Antioch University and a library science certification from University of Houston-Clear Lake, I went from classroom teacher to school librarian. With Dr. Patricia Potter Wilson, I co-wrote a series of library programming books that set me on a course toward being a full-time author. Professionally, I write both fiction and non-fiction, edit others’ manuscripts, coach and teach writing to adults and teens, and visit schools to share motivational concepts from my book, The Success Express. Personally, I share my life with my partner, Jerry, our wonderfully loving families, and Rex and Joey, the two best dogs in creation. Roger's Website