DR. GERARD GIOIA OF CHILDREN'S NATIONAL HOSPTIAL NAMED TO USA FOOTBALL'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
INDIANAPOLIS – USA Football, the sport’s national governing body and a member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, announced today that Chief of Pediatric Neuropsychology at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., DR. GERARD GIOIA has been named to its board of directors.
In addition to his work at Children’s National, Dr. Gioia is a professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine, a member of the National Advisory Board of the Positive Coaching Alliance and is a former president of the Sports Neuropsychology Society, which generates and disseminates knowledge regarding brain health, injury, and safety as it applies to sports and promotes the welfare of athletes at all developmental levels.
Dr. Gioia also serves as the chairman of USA Football’s Medical Advisory Panel and was part of the organization’s Football Development Model Council. His interests as a researcher include the clinical manifestation of executive dysfunction in children and the identification of post-concussion outcomes in children.
USA Football’s board of directors includes leaders in athletics, education and medicine. The board guides USA Football and helps establish important programs to grow the sport and raise standards of play, safety and education for the good of youth and high school athletes and adult amateurs.
“We are pleased to have Dr. Gioia continue to serve USA Football and America’s youth football family as a member of our board,” said USA Football CEO & Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK. “Dr. Gioia stands among the most knowledgeable and trusted neuropsychologists in the country, recognized for providing world-class care with immense expertise. His commitment to children’s health and well-being further strengthens our work in advancing 21st-century youth football.”
“I’m excited to join USA Football’s board,” Dr. Gioia said. “I believe in the organization’s emphasis to lift children’s physical, social and emotional health through the fun of a terrific team sport. Another hallmark of smarter youth sports – which is seen in USA Football’s work and that of other strong national governing bodies – is reducing injury risk while optimizing the benefits of sport participation. I very much look forward to offering direction and guidance as a board member.”
Last year, USA Football released eight recommendations to advance smarter play through new training and practice standards based on its Football Development Model (FDM). USA Football’s recommendations for youth play are supported by the American College for Sports Medicine, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute and the Sports Neuropsychology Society.
Since 2013, nearly 1 million USA Football Youth Coach Certifications have been completed by coaches in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 10 foreign countries across four continents. In addition, more than 20,000 flag and tackle athletes have participated in USA Football’s U.S. National Team program since 2007.
USA Football’s Board of Directors
- General Peter W. Chiarelli, U.S. Army (Retired), Chairman
- Todd Berry, American Football Coaches Association
- Mike Golic, Westwood One Radio
- Dr. Gerard Gioia, Children's National Hospital
- Roger Goodell*, National Football League
- Sheila Hamp, Detroit Lions
- Oliver Luck, Private Investor
- Kelly Mehrtens, The Trust powered by the NFL Players Association
- Mark Murphy, Green Bay Packers
- Dr. Karissa Niehoff, National Federation of State High School Associations
- Elizabeth Okey^, Wintrust Financial Corporation
- Dr. Allen Sills, National Football League
- Brad Smithey^, Victoria (Texas) West High School
- Pete Ward, Indianapolis Colts
- Kevin Warren, Big Ten Conference
- Rachel Worsham^, Falls Church (Va.) George C. Marshall High School
*Ex Officio Member
^U.S. National Team Alumni
About USA Football: USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance, unify and grow the sport. As the sport’s national governing body, member of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and organizer of the U.S. National Team for international competition, USA Football partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school, and other amateur players.