Methodist Concussion Center

Leadership

Howard S. Derman, M.D. - Neurologist

Co-Director, Concussion Center

Dr. Howard S. Derman is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Weill Cornell Medical College and founding member of the Neurological Institute (NI) of The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. In Spring 2010, Derman and several colleagues at the Neurological Institute established the Methodist Concussion Center. Derman is a concussion specialist for the Houston Dynamo and Houston Texans.

Derman received his B.S. degree from Syracuse University and his M.D. degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois. After a one year medical internship at the University of Connecticut, he spent two years in Neurology training at Duke University Medical Center in Durham North, Carolina. He then served as the Chief Resident in Neurology at the Baylor College of Medicine.

Since 1979, Derman has been in active clinical practice in Neurology at The Methodist Hospital. He has a special interest in the treatment of migraine headaches, concussions and other pain syndromes affecting the nervous system. Derman’s research includes new approaches to treatment of headaches. He is also involved in several research projects which include both the causes of concussions and programs to get athletes to return to play.

Kenneth Podell, Ph.D., FACPN - Neuropsychologist

Co-Director, Methodist Concussion Center

Dr. Kenneth Podell is a board-certified neuropsychologist and co-director of the Methodist Concussion Center in Houston.

Podell specializes in the assessment and treatment of individuals who have sustained brain injury or disease, with particular expertise in sports concussion, traumatic brain injury and dementia. He serves as a team neuropsychological consultant for the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Houston Dynamo and Rice University Athletics.

Prior to joining Methodist, Podell served as the director of the division of neuropsychology and co-director of the Sports Concussion Clinic at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, MI. He led the Sports Concussion Safety Program, evaluating thousands of Detroit-area high school and collegiate athletes with sports-related concussions. Podell also served as a neuropsychological consultantto the Detroit Lions, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers.

Among Podell’s many accomplishments, he played a key role in the development of ImPACT® (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), a renowned computer-based assessment system for sports-related concussions. ImPACT® is used by the National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball, as well as many youth and amateur sports programs.

Podell presents internationally and publishes in the areas of sports concussion and computerized assessment of concussions, traumatic brain injury and dementia.

Podell received an M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology at The City University of New York. He completed his pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training in neuropsychology at The Medical College of Pennsylvania. Podell has held academic appointments at Wayne State University in Michigan, The Medical College of Pennsylvania, and the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada.