About The Author

Dustin Fink is a certified athletic trainer (ATC) working in Central Illinois. His experience with concussions and TBI in athletics extends 19+ years as a professional, and another eight as either a student athletic trainer or athlete himself. Having sustained multiple concussions and beginning to feel the effects years later and seeing kids at the high school level report concussions on a more frequent rate, this has become his passion. Add to that he would like to see his three kids grow up and play full-contact/collision sports (if they choose) in a safer environment.

“The true issue of this ‘concussion crisis’ is not the actual injury, rather it is the mismanagement of the injury that has led us to where we are now.”

“Education is the key to realizing and minimizing the dangers of head injuries in sports, in particular the adolescent athlete.”

“As evidence, we have seen a spike in the awareness and treatment of head injuries from such global icons as the National Football League, Major League Baseball and the NCAA. By developing this blog it is the hopes that we can create a community for support, education and communication for this rising epidemic.”

*See Disclaimer for more specifics

I WISH TO STATE IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD OUTLAW OR “WUSS DOWN” CONTACT SPORTS!!! WE JUST NEED TO BE EDUCATED AS TO PREVENT LONG TERM EFFECTS AND DEATHS. INCLUDING SHIFTING THE FOCUS TO PROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE INJURY.

Dustin’s Education

Bachelor of Science – Biology with a Sports Medicine Emphasis (that is what is was called then)
1998 Colorado State University-Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado
Minors; Kinesiology, Athletic Training & Coaching

Masters of Science – Health and Exercise Sciences with Sports Psychology Emphasis
2000 Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado
Thesis; Correlation Between State Anxiety and Locus of Control

Dustin’s Experience

High School Athlete (well tried anyway) – 1991-1994
- Football, Baseball, Basketball (cut all 4 years)
High School Student Athletic Trainer – 1993-1994
- Basketball
Walk-on Baseball player at CSU-P (one semester) – 1994
Student Athletic Trainer, CSU-P – 1995-1998
- Sports Covered: M & W Soccer, Wrestling, Baseball and Softball
Intern Athletic Trainer, Colorado Rockies – 1997
Student Athletic Trainer (Club Sports/Intramural Sports), CSU – 1998-2000
- Sports Covered: Lacrosse, Rugby, Baseball
Staff Athletic Trainer, Local Hospital, Decatur, IL
- Outsourced to area high school
- Lecturer for Continuing Education on Concussions
- Sports Covered: Football, Volleyball, B&G Cross Country, B&G Tennis, B&G Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball, Softball, Track and Field, B&G Soccer
Illinois High School Association
- Player Safety Council 2016-2017
- Sports Medicine Advisory Committee 2017-present