Footballs concussion crisis, got himself on a lot of tv shows, and took the chris nowinski cte show on the road. Although clinical assessments can determine encephalopathy and dementia, and new neuroimaging methods may aid in the detection of. Bennet omalu, doctor behind concussion movie, wants to enhance the lives of football players dr. Bennet omalu published papers showing the brains of two former nfl players including mike webster had suffered serious degenerative brain disease, pellmans group attacked omalu s work. The doctor who inspired the movie concussion truth doesnt. He is a forensic pathologist and investigates the specific cause and manner of death, particularly in cases where it has not occurred by natural causes. Bennet omalu, the forensic pathologist who first identified cte in a pro football player and is played by will smith in concussion. How bennet omalu, doctor of concussion fame, built a. Omalus david and goliath battle with the national football league over telling the truth about cte. Book by concussion doctor is recommended reading for.
Getty images it is a mutual appreciation and smith has written the forward for omalus book, truth doesnt have a side, which is published today. Omalu told her about a day in september 2002, where, in a dingy morgue in downtown pittsburgh, he picked up a scalpel and made a discovery that would rattle america in ways hed never intended. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Omalu is a boardcertified doctor in four different fields of brain study anatomic, clinical, forensic, and neuropathology and is perhaps one of the most knowledgeable physicians in the. Concussion book gail borden public library district. New york times bestseller now a major motion picture starring will smith, concussion is the riveting, unlikely story of dr. The truth about will smiths concussion and bennet omalu. Bennet begrudgingly attends medical school as his father dictates and then decides to move to america.
Be the very first to download this publication concussion, by jeanne marie laskas as well as let checked out by surface. Read excerpts from the book in the atlantic and the wall street journal. The book concussion had come out and was doing very well, making the new york times best seller list. Bennet omalu biography facts, childhood, family life. Aug 09, 2017 bennet omalu and actor will smith credit. The book was released in november 2015 and will smith portrayed dr. Bennet omalu speaks on consequences of concussions. Aug 11, 2017 bennet omalu, the neuropathologist portrayed by will smith in the 2015 awardnominated film concussion, may not understand one of our countrys biggest athletic obsessions, but he understands. Bennet omalu accused sheriffcoroner steve moore of routinely interfering with death investigations to protect law enforcement officers. Cte doctor bennet omalu has profited selling distorted. A maddening, wellconstructed tale of medical discovery and corporate coverup, set in morgues, laboratories, courtrooms, and football fields. Omalu was the first to identify, describe and name chronic traumatic encephalopathy cte as a disease entity in football players and wrestlers. Special report chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a national football league player bennet i.
Bennet omalu biography affair, married, wife, ethnicity. Bennet omalu, who discovered cte, is concerned that recent attention given to the condition has obscured a larger truth about the brain health of football players. Bennet omalu in the film, which was released christmas day, 2015. Bennet omalu in 2009, while reporting a story for gqa story that would go on to inspire the major motion picture concussion. Bennet omalu name new something doctors a child who plays a game of football for one season without any documented concussion several months after that season, if you subject his brain to sophisticated psychological testing and radiological testing, functional mris, there is evidence of brain damage. Bennet omalus discovery of a new degenerative brain. Bennet omalu, the pathologist who made one of the most significant medical.
Oct 30, 2017 if you saw the film concussion, starring will smith, you know that bennet omalu is the unlikely figure who rocked the foundation of the national football league and all of football with his. Bennet ifeakandu omalu born september 30, 1968 is a nigerian american physician, forensic pathologist, and neuropathologist who was the first to discover and publish findings of chronic traumatic encephalopathy cte in american football players while working at the allegheny county coroners office in pittsburgh. His respect toward lifeless bodies is rooted in his medical training, his deeply held christian beliefs, and his innate compassion, arising from a childhood marked by violence and deprivation following the civil war of the late 1960s and early 1970s in his. Concussion is a 2015 american biographical sports drama film directed and written by peter landesman, based on the expose game brain by jeanne marie laskas, published in 2009 by gq magazine. In 2002, he discovered the presence of a degenerative disease in the brain of former pro football player mike webster, naming the condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy cte. Bennet omalu doctor, medical professional biography. Bennet omalu forced football to reckon with head trauma. Concussion the story is credible and speaks well to the issue of profit over quality of life for athletes and their families. Bennet omalu, the pathologist who made one of the most significant medical discoveries of the twentyfirst century, a discovery that challenges the existence of americas favorite sport and puts omalu in the crosshairs of footballs most powerful. Bennet omalu and his battle to raise awareness about the issue of brain damage in retired nfl players. Nov 24, 2015 praise for concussion a gripping medical mystery and a dazzling portrait of the young scientist no one wanted to listen to. Bennet omalus battle against the nfl is classic david and goliath stuff, and jeanne marie laskas. Born in nigeria in 1968, bennet omalu graduated from the university of nigerias medical school, before continuing his training in the united states. He is currently the chief medical examiner of san joaquin county, california, and is the president and medical director of bennet omalu pathology.
Apr 07, 2020 bennet omalu biography affair, married, wife, ethnicity, nationality, salary, net worth married biography who is bennet omalu. The movie also depicted the relationship between dr. Because i poured out my heart in this book, and there was a reason why i did that. Concussion concussion is the story of neuropathologist bennet omalu who, while conducting an autopsy on former pittsburgh steeler center mike webster, found something in websters brain similar to alzheimers disease that he christened chronic traumatic encephalopathy. How bennet omalu, doctor of concussion fame, built a career on distorted science. Join facebook to connect with bennet omalu and others you may know. A nigerian immigrant, omalu made a home for himself in the united states, working. Bennet omalus battle against the nfl is classic david and goliath.
The body on the slab in front of him belonged to a. Laskas book is focused on bennet omalu, a nigerianborn american emigrant who works as a forensic pathologist in allegheny county, pennsylvania. Bennet omalu is, some might say, living the american dream. Bennet omalu in truth doesnt have a side studies examining the rates of brain disease among athletes who played other sports have produced mixed results.
Football dementia, depression, and death bennet omalu, md on. Bennet omalu name new something doctors a child who plays a game of football for one season without any documented concussion several months after that season, if you subject his brain to sophisticated psychological testing and radiological testing, functional mris. He is also a professor at the university of california and. Bennet omalu, a nigerian born doctor, who, as a forensic pathologist discovered a link between repetitive football injuries and brain injury. New york times bestseller the riveting, unlikely story of dr.
Jeanne marie laskas in 2002, forensic pathologist dr. Omalu told her about a day in september 2002, when, in a dingy morgue in downtown pittsburgh, he picked up a scalpel and made a discovery that would rattle america in ways hed. The world is a better place with doctors like bennet omalu in it. Advance praise for concussion a gripping medical mystery and a dazzling portrait of the young scientist no one wanted to listen to. The article was later expanded by laskas into a book, concussion penguin random house, 2015, and adapted into a drama film of the same name. Nigeriaborn bennet omalu is perhaps an unlikely hero, a medical doctor boardcertified in four areas of pathology, anatomic, clinical, forensic, and neuropathology, and a wellrounded specialist in death. In truth doesnt have a side, bennet omalu, the doctor who inspired the 2015 film concussion, shares insights that will change how you view your familys involvement in contact sports. Bennet omalu knew little about pro football, and he had never heard of mike webster until he met the former longtime pittsburgh steelers. Concussion by jeanne marie laskas goodreads share book. Bennet omalu, the pathologist who made one of the most significant medical discoveries of the twentyfirst century, a discovery that challenges the existence of americas favorite sport and puts omalu in the crosshairs of footballs most powerful corporation. Bennet omalu, the neuropathologist portrayed by will smith in the 2015 awardnominated film concussion, may not understand one of our countrys biggest athletic obsessions, but. Omalus efforts to study and publicize cte in the face of nfl opposition were reported in a gq magazine article in 2009 by journalist jeanne marie laskas. The current thought in finding a cure is to develop a medication that would prevent the buildup of tau proteins in the brain, which is the characteristic component of cte.
Bennet omalu, a nigerian american pathologist portrayed by will smith in the 2015 film, concussion, is partly responsible for the most important sports story of the 21st century. Bennet omalu, the pathologist who first identified cte in professional football players, a discovery that challenges the existence of americas favorite sport and puts omalu in the crosshairs of footballs most powerful corporation. Jul 29, 2019 bennet omalu discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy in former football players, sparking years of denial from the nfl and the creation of a movie about his lifes work. Jeanne marie laskas first met the young forensic pathologist dr. Bennet omalu a nigerianamerican physician, forensic pathologist, and neuropathologist. Bennet omalu spotlights a profoundly inconvenient truth. Who is bennet omalu and why did his concussion discovery send.
This is a riveting story of finding new life in america, new strength within the heart, and renewed faith in gods call to speak the truth no matter what. With the release of concussion on december 25, heres a look at the real story of dr. He was the first person to discover chronic traumatic encephalopathy cte while working at the allegheny county. Rebecca skloot, author of the immortal life of henrietta lacks the story of dr. Bennet omalu, is a nigerian american physician, neuropathologist, and forensic pathologist. Bennet omalus battle against the nfl is classic david and goliath stuff, and jeanne marie laskasone of my favorite writers on earth. Bennet omalu, md, mba, mph, a nigerianborn forensic pathologist and neuropathologist, brings an almost sacred reverence to his work. At the climactic moment of concussion, a docudrama out christmas day about the young coroner in pittsburgh who took on the nfl, the fbi turns up. Nov 24, 2015 a maddening, wellconstructed tale of medical discovery and corporate coverup, set in morgues, laboratories, courtrooms, and football fields. Bennet omalu was brought to light by the 2016 movie, concussion, where movie star will smith portrayed the life of the doctor as he discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy cte in nfl players. Jeanne marie laskas is the author of seven books, including concussion, hidden america, and the exact same moon. Will smiths new film was ripped from the headlines. While we were promoting the movie concussion, i was in new york for one week.
Bennet omalu discovered and named chronic traumatic encephalopathy cte. Dec 28, 2015 but omalu was certain that people dont go crazy for no reason, laskas wrote in game brain, the 2009 gq article which spawned both the book and the movie concussion. Bennet omalu became famous after telling the world hed discovered cte. Omalu was awarded a webmd health heroes 2015 award for his discovery of cte and raising awareness to the disease. I respect wholly the persistence of dr omalu and his principles in going forward with disclosure against the wishes of many. Her writing has appeared in gq, esquire, the new york times magazine, o. Oct 06, 2015 concussion is a powerful and thought provoking story. The most damning quotes from league of denial, the nfl. Concussion doctor bennet omalu resigns, says sheriff. Jeanne marie laskas is the author of seven books, including concussion, hidden. A nigerian immigrant, omalu made a home for himself in the united states, working as a pathologist in pittsburgh. Bennet omalu picked up a scalpel in a pittsburgh morgue and made a discovery that would rattle america. A forensic pathologist, omalu conducted the autopsy of pittsburgh steelers center mike webster, which led to his discovery of a new disease that he named chronic traumatic.
How the discovery of cte shifted thinking behind concussion. This book is gripping, eyeopening, and full of heart. Then one day i woke up early to prepare for an interview. And thats where the second half of this book takes you. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him. Bennet omalu discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy in former football players, sparking years of denial from the nfl and the creation of a movie about his lifes work. Bennet omalu was already an adult when he had his first concussion. One day in 2002 the fiftyyear old body of former pittsburgh steeler and hall of famer mike webster was laid on a cold table in front of pathologist dr. The doctor who inspired the movie concussion truth doesn. Rebecca skloot, author of the immortal life of henrietta lacksthe story of dr. Cte is coming to light with each new story about an athletes concussion problem. It is really simple to read this book concussion, by jeanne marie laskas since you do not need to bring this printed concussion, by jeanne marie laskas almost everywhere.
Omalu told her about a day in september 2002, when, in a. Concussion and millions of other books are available for instant access. He was playing with his kids in his lodi home about four years ago when his feet slipped on the carpet and he went down, the back of his head slamming into the floor. He wrote a meticulously researched book, head games. Concussion is a powerful and thought provoking story. Bennet omalu, the focus of the 2015 film concussion, is the author of truth doesnt have a side. Bennet omalu proclaims truth doesnt have a side pro. He has investigated over 12,000 cases, but one changed his life forever. Soon to be a major motion picture starring will smith, concussion is the riveting, unlikely story of dr. Bennet omalu biography affair, married, wife, ethnicity, nationality, salary, net worth married biography who is bennet omalu. If you saw the film concussion, starring will smith, you know that bennet omalu is the unlikely figure who rocked the foundation of the national football league and all of football with his. This case draws attention to a disease that remains inadequately studied in the cohort of professional football players, with unknown true prevalence rates. Bennet omalu in 2009, while reporting a story for gq that would go on to inspire the movie concussion. In 2015, omalus life and work were chronicled in a book and film, both titled concussion.
Departments of pathology and epidemiology, university of pittsburgh. The nfl doesnt want you to hear his story, but jeanne marie laskas makes it unforgettable. Bennet omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of cte, a footballrelated brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Praise for concussion a gripping medical mystery and a dazzling portrait of the young scientist no one wanted to listen to. A scene early in the movie concussion shows forensic pathologist and neuropathologist bennet omalu, md, played by will smith, driving a car as the reflection of an airliner passes across the windshield.
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