Interview with Mark Lovell-ImPACT Founder, Concussion Testing

Mark Lovell PhD is an internationally recognized concussion expert for his development of neurocognitive testing programs and groundbreaking research.  His experience with concussions began first-hand with a car accident in high school and an undiagnosed concussion. After graduating from Northern Michigan University with a B.S. in psychology/biology, he earned a Ph.D. in neuropsychology from the Chicago Medical School. Lovell is founder of ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing).

Developed in the early 1990's by Dr. Mark Lovell and Dr. Joseph Maroon, ImPACT has become a standard tool used in clinical management of concussions for athletes. Dr. Maroon, the Pittsburgh Steelers' neurosurgeon, sought with Lovell to devise a test that could be used to establish baseline data for the Steelers.  Maroon wanted a test to assess brain function after a concussion. Existing neuropsyche exams took hours to complete, but the new pencil/paper test took only 20 minutes to administer. Known at the time as the Pittsburgh Steelers Battery Test, in 1993 Maroon and Lovell baseline tested 27 Pittsburgh Steelers.  With ongoing research to evolve and refine the test and software development to computerize it, ImPACT Applications, Inc. was co-founded by Mark Lovell, Joseph Maroon and Michael Collins in 2002.

Dr. Lovell developed the first league wide neuropsychological testing programs for the NFL and the NHL. Dr. Lovell remains a neuropsychological consultant for several organizations througout the world including, but not limited to, the NFL Players Association, NHL, Irish Rugby, USA Women's Olympic Hockey team, the WWE and the US Ski and Snowboard team.

From 2000-2011 Lovell was founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Sports Medicine Concussion Program. He currently serves as Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer for Impact Applications, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.