Ryan Blaney “Fund-A-Fellow” Fellows Graduate from UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program
Salisbury, NC – The Ryan Blaney Family Foundation created the “Fund-A-Fellow” program in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Sports Medicine Concussion Program in 2021. Through this initiative, the RBFF provided funding for two postdoctoral fellows to join the Concussion Program in August 2021.
The two fellows included Bindal Makwana Mehmel, PhD, and Ted Albrecht, PsyD. Dr. Mehmel joined the program after earning her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Idaho State University and completed an APA-accredited internship at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in 2021. Her clinical and research interests include examining tools utilized in the assessment and management of sport-related concussion. Dr. Albrecht earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Alliant International University while completing concentrated training in neuropsychology and completed an APA-accredited internship at the Gulf Coast Veterans Healthcare System in 2021. His clinical and research interests include assessment and the interventional use of tools for recovery from sport-related injury and concussion.
During their fellowship, the fellows were under the guidance of Dr. Micky Collins, the clinical and executive director of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Throughout the year, the Concussion Program sees over 17,000 patients, providing plenty of experience for the fellows. Their duties primarily consist of neuropsychological evaluations of pediatric and adult athletes, along with extended batteries as needed. The fellows begin with a one-month training intensive working closely with Dr. Collins. They then proceed to enter the regular clinical rotation. Fellows spent 80% of their time on clinical work and 20% of their time focusing on research.
The fellows were evaluated multiple times a year by supervisors. They were able to take advantage of several different learning experiences such as Monthly Grand Rounds, Monthly Research Meetings, Mentored Research Opportunities, Journal Reviews, and Professional Presentations.
Now that the “Blaney Fellows” have completed their fellowship with the Concussion Program, they’re headed onto their next journey, where they will use their education and continue to make an impact in the medical field. Dr. Mehmel is headed to the Moss Rehabilitation Hospital as a Clinical Neuropsychologist treating concussion patients. Dr. Albrecht will be at the Rehab Institute of Washington as a Clinical Neuropsychologist treating concussion patients.
The Ryan Blaney Family Foundation is so proud of Dr. Mehmel and Dr. Albrecht. We can’t thank them enough for wanting to make a difference in the lives of concussion patients. We look forward to continuing watching them succeed.
