Third time local entrepreneur has been recognized for his groundbreaking work in last eight months
CHICAGO, IL (June 15, 2016) – The Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) will honor Steve Devick, CEO and inventor of King-Devick Test in association with Mayo Clinic (K-D Test), and producer of the award-winning documentary Head Games: The Global Concussion Crisis, for his notable contributions to concussion awareness at its annual Chicago Awards to be held Thursday, June 23rd at the University Club of Chicago. The Concussion Legacy Foundation (formerly the Sports Legacy Institute) is dedicated to advancing the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups. Former Chicago Bear and member of the Super Bowl Championship ’85 team Gary Fencik will co-host the event.
“Steve has already changed the way that concussions are viewed and now he is changing the way concussions are diagnosed. He is actively creating a safer future for athletes of all ages in every corner of the world,” said Chris Nowinski, co-founder of the CLF.
It’s the third time in the past eight months Devick has been recognized for his work in advancing concussion awareness.
This past April at the Brain Trust:Pathways to InnoVAtion showcase in Washington, DC, Devick was selected from highly competitive application process to present K-D Test at the event. Presented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a national leader in brain health advancement and the largest medical research organization in the country, the two-day event brought together an unprecedented and diverse summit gathering of world-class brain health leadership and expertise.
And last October, Devick was named a winner of the 14th annual Chicago Innovation Awards, which is the Chicago area’s foremost recognition of the most innovative new products or services brought to market or to public service each year.
K-D Test is a quick, accurate and reliable test takes two minutes to administer on the sidelines. It requires athletes to read single digit numbers (Rapid Number Naming) displayed on an iPad, Android or Surface tablet following suspected head injury. Results are then compared to a pre-season baseline score. Any worsening of performance in time and/or errors indicates the athlete should be removed-from-play for further evaluation. The tablet-based test can be administered by parents, coaches, athletic trainers and medical professionals to aid with the detection of concussions – suspected, unwitnessed and/or unreported.
Today, Devick and his team work with organizations and athletes of all ages around the world who continue to recognize the value of K-D Test in screening for head trauma. The University of Florida, University of Miami and University of Pennsylvania all use K-D Test while the NHL implemented a twelve team pilot study during the 2015-16 hockey season. Most recently the Canadian Football League (CFL) and Major League Lacrosse mandated use of K-D Test on their sidelines.
Concussion Legacy Foundation Annual Chicago Honors
June 23, 2016
University Club of Chicago
76 E. Monroe Street
Chicago, IL
5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
