Concussion & Brain Injury Clinic
Cutting-edge brain injury treatment customized for every patient.
What We Do
The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Concussion & Brain Injury Clinic specializes in treating the consequences of concussion, including:
- Physical (headache, dizziness, insomnia, vision changes)
- Emotional (irritability, anxiety, depression)
- Thinking (trouble with focus, memory, word finding)
Our goal is to help patients manage the disease to live richer and fuller lives.
Who We Are
The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Concussion & Brain Injury Clinic team members include:
- Neurologists
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation specialists
- Psychiatrists
- Neuropsychologists
- Therapists
- Physical
- Occupational
- Speech
NeuroPerformance Innovation Center (NPIC)
The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute NeuroPerformance Innovation Center (NPIC) provides cutting-edge treatment for brain injuries while studying and creating innovative methods to enhance athletic performance and recovery. We provide state–of–the–art therapies and treatment to multimillion dollar athletes and survivors of domestic violence alike. On any given day, back-to-back patients could be a professional football player and a domestic violence survivor with no money and no home. Both patients will receive the exact same care.
Research
- Vision testing
- Gait and balance assessments
- Cognitive evaluations
- Sleep tracking
- Mood surveys
- Recovery therapy – float tanks and photobiomodulation (red light therapy)
The NPIC is also involved in several research studies collaborating with the NFL, NCAA Football, and WVU Athletics.
Meet some of our patients
Celena's Story: Concussion Care for Domestic Violence Survivors
Celena Henry is a survivor of domestic violence who suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries, including repeated concussions, during years of abuse. After her family doctor referred her for neurological care, she connected with Dr. Cárdenas and the concussion and brain injury clinic team, at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI), home to a specialized concussion program built specifically for domestic violence survivors.
Celena shares her story of injury, diagnosis and recovery, and she describes how the RNI’s multidisciplinary team approach gave her hope during one of the hardest periods of her life.
The RNI’s program works with hospital social workers, emergency departments and caseworkers across West Virginia, in partnership with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, to identify and support survivors dealing with head injuries.
Jonathan's Story: Hit by a Drunk Driver, Now Relearning to Walk
At WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Jonathan worked with Dr. Cárdenas and a team of therapists on physical and cognitive rehabilitation, relearning skills including walking and problem-solving.
His family describes his progress as dramatic and credits the team’s approach for helping him rebuild his life after being turned away elsewhere.
“When everybody said no, this place said yes.”
Clinical Leadership
See all faculty
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
Referrals and appointment requests
RNI Concussion and Brain Injury Clinic patients have several options for scheduling and completing appointments. All patient referrals will be coordinated by our support staff. Appointment options include local in-person visits, telemedicine visits, and out-of-town visits.
If you need to refer a patient or schedule an appointment, please call 304-598-6127.
If you are a healthcare provider and would like to consult with our concussion team, please call our Medical Access Referral System (MARS) at (800) 982-6277.