Welcome to Sports Concussion Institute- Conferences/Continuing Education

Tony L. Strickland, M.S., Ph.D., (Institute Director).
Dr. Strickland is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with considerable experience in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of concussion and related disorders. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He earned M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Behavioral Medicine) at the University of Georgia. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship and research practicum in psychopharmacology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; and a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the Semel Neuropsychiatric Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, the American Psychological Association Division 50 (Addictions), and the American College of Professional Neuropsychology. Dr. Strickland is a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology. He directs the Concussion Management Demonstration Program for USA Boxing. Dr. Strickland’s research seeks to better characterize traumatic brain injury, dementia, and related neurobehavioral disorders across the life span. Dr. Strickland utilizes multi-project investigations that employ brain imaging, neuropsychological, and other neurobehavioral assessments to pursue two overarching research themes: (1) the understanding of potential differential expression of neurobehavioral disorders among underserved populations across the life span, and (2) the identification of effective assessment and diagnosis, and potentially promising treatment interventions to be explored in future clinical service and research. An underlying focus of his work is the development of a research program consisting of experienced and committed professionals conducting innovative clinical neuroscience investigations that attract scientists from regional, national, and international communities.
He has been the principal investigator of a number of National Institute of Health supported research investigations, and has managed a large number of other projects primarily related to clinical neuroscience. He is the author of numerous research articles and has presented nationally and internationally.

Arthur P. Kowell, M.D., Ph.D., (Institute Director of Neurology)
Dr. Kowell is a board-certified neurologist and clinical neurophysiologist. He earned his medical degree and doctorate of philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. Dr. Kowell completed his medical internship in 1975 and neurology residency in 1978, both at UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Kowell is currently a Clinical Professor of Neurology at UCLA and a partner in Encino Neurological Medical Group, Encino, California. His specialty areas of interest and practice include: brain injury, clinical neurophysiology, and neurobehavioral problems including violent and aggressive behavior.

Vernon B. Williams, M.D., (Director, Pain Management Clinic and Sports Neurology)
Dr. Williams is a board-certified neurologist with an interventional and multidisciplinary sub-specialty in Pain Management. Dr. Williams earned his medical degree in 1992 at the University of Michigan as a member of its prestigious Inteflex accelerated medical program. His neurology residency training at the University of Maryland was followed by a pain fellowship at Johns Hopkins University. Since 1998, Dr. Williams has directed the Neurology and Pain Management Services with the world-renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. He is a consultant to multiple area professional, college, and high school sports teams including the Los Angeles Kings, Galaxy, Lakers, Avengers and Dodgers, the Anaheim Ducks and Angels, as well as Loyola University. Dr. Williams’ primary areas of expertise include: Sports neurology, concussion, headache, and pain management. He serves on the Pain Section board of the American Academy of Neurology and actively educates physicians, community groups and the lay public through local and national lectures, publications, and as a print and television media consultant.

James E. Rosenberg, M.D. (Director of Neuropsychiatry)
Dr. Rosenberg is a board-certified psychiatrist with subspecialty expertise in the areas of neuropsychiatry, psychopharmacology and the effects of psychiatric disorders and medications on athletic performance. Dr. Rosenberg received his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine; completed an internship in medicine, surgery and neurology at the Virginia Mason Clinic in Seattle, WA; a psychiatry residency at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute; and a fellowship in forensic psychiatry at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Rosenberg serves as a consultant to multiple organizations, including the Medical Board of California. Formerly, he was Assistant Director of Mental Health and Chief of Psychiatric Intensive Care at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, a major UCLA teaching hospital. He served on the Executive Council of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Dr. Rosenberg is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Tony M. Wong, Ph.D., ABPP-CN (Director of Cognitive Rehabilitation)
Dr. Wong is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in 1982, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in 1988. He is currently an Associate Professor of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and Director of Neuropsychology at Unity Health System in Rochester, New York. His specialty areas of interest and practice include: sports and non-sports related concussion/mild traumatic brain injury; brain injury rehabilitation and treatment; and assessment of cognitive and behavioral problems associated with various neurologic disorders.

Perry R. Lubens, M.D. (Director of Pediatric Neurology)
Dr. Lubens is a board certified pediatric neurologist and clinical pediatric neurophysiologist. He earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan. He completed his pediatric training at Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1979. Following this he was a fellow in the clinical neurophysiology at UCLA in 1980. He is currently an associate clinical professor at UCI and an attending pediatric neurologist at MIller Children's Hospital in Long Beach. He is also the medical director of the neurodiagnostic laboratory at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. He has special areas of interest in epilepsy, brain injury, school learning, and behavior problems.

Martin D. Levine, M.D., (Consulting Neurologist)
Martin D. Levine, M.D., (Consulting Neurologist) Martin D. Levine, M.D. is a board certified neurologist with additional full residency training in psychiatry from U.C.L.A. Dr. Levine is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at U.C.L.A. and is the founding partner in Encino Neurological Medical Group. His areas of interest include: brain injury, Neuropsychiatry and epilepsy as well as neuro pharmacology of behavior.

Jim L. Huether, MBA. (Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy)
Jim Huether received his Masters in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University with a dual emphasis in marketing and finance. Jim completed his undergraduate studies from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in business law and management. Jim is responsible for the corporate development, strategic planning and marketing for the Sports Concussion Institute. Jim has previously worked with Anschutz Entertainment Group, Staples Center and Citigroup Smith Barney, and has considerable knowledge and experience in corporate development and strategy, finance and marketing.

Gloria Rodriguez Adams, RN, MSG (Institute Clinical Manager)
Ms. Rodriguez-Adams received her nursing training at King’s County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York, and a Master of Science in Gerontology from the University of Laverne. Gloria’s nursing experience has involved extensive work in community health care settings and long term care. She is currently responsible for coordinating the clinical aspects of the Sports Concussion Institute and its clinics. Her specialty interests include providing support, training and education to families and health care providers caring for individuals with a dementing process.

Michele R. Cooley, M.Ed., Ph.D., (Institute Child Clinical Psychologist and Life Coach)
Dr. Cooley is a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating and preventing anxiety disorders in youth and adults. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Virginia, in 1992 and completed her post-doctoral training at the Medical University of South Carolina in 1994. Currently, Dr. Cooley is an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Cooley’s specialty areas of interest and practice include anxiety disorders and other internalizing disorders, as well as major disorders of childhood. Dr. Cooley has published and co-authored over twenty-five treatment manuals, journal articles, and book chapters pertaining to the assessment, treatment, and prevention of anxiety, exposure to violence, and disorders of childhood and adolescence.

Barry D. Jordan, M.D., M.P.H. (Neurological Consultant)
Dr. Jordan is a board certified neurologist with specialized interests in sports neurology, Alzheimer’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Jordan is currently the Chief Medical Officer of the New York State Athletic Commission and a team physician for U.S.A. Boxing. He is also an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and serves as the Director of the Brain Injury Program at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, New York. Dr. Jordan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in neurophysiology and obtained his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jordan completed an internship in internal medicine at U.C.L.A. Medical Center and performed his neurology residency training at the New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in public health at Cornell University Medical College, a clinical neurology fellowship at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, a fellowship in sports neurology at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and a fellowship in behavioral neurology at U.C.L.A. Medical Center.

Kevin Uchida, LAc, OMD. (Acupuncture Specialist)
Dr. Uchida is a licensed acupuncturist with a specialty in orthopedics, pain management and stress-related disorders. Dr. Uchida received his MS in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at Samra University of Oriental Medicine, Los Angeles, and his Doctorate of Oriental Medicine at South Baylo University of Oriental Medicine, Anaheim. He was Clinical Supervisor at Samra University and on the Board of Directors of the California State Oriental Medical Association. He is currently an Instructor in the Department of Acupuncture at South Baylo University, and Clinical Supervisor at Yosan University, Los Angeles.