Massey Dialogues: Brain Injury in Sport

This panel will work to dig deeper on the issue of brain injuries in sports. Featuring conversations between Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Dryden, sports broadcaster Arash Madani and Junior Fellow and concussion researcher Sandhya Mylabathula. Moderated by Quadrangle Society Member Steve Paikin.

This event will be broadcast online and is free and open to all – there is no login or registration required to tune in. Click here to watch the livestream.

Every problem is about awareness: if only we knew, if only we knew better, if only we were certain, if only we were absolutely certain – then we would do something, then how could we not.

While politicians and team owners throw softballs on the issue of brain injuries in sports, how do we act to ensure safety for athletes? What threshold needs to be reached for the public to demand an end to permitting injuries?

Scientists do the work, media tells the story, decision-makers take this awareness, and act. Except their actions aren’t equal to the problem.

Why? What can we – scientists, media, the public, decision-makers – do?

The jokes over.

Ken Dryden was a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1970s, during which time the team won six Stanley Cups. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, was a Member of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister, and is the author of several books.   

Steve Paikin has hosted “The Agenda” on tvo for the past 16 years. He has the Order of Canada and Order of Ontario for completely inexplicable reasons.  

Arash Madani has been with Sportsnet since 2009, covering a gamut of sports – from Hockey Night In Canada to the Olympics, as well as multiple World Series, NBA Finals and Super Bowls.
Passionate about storytelling and play-by-play, Madani has travelled the world, doing live events, sideline reporting and producing both news items and features for the network. In 2017 he received the George Gross Award as Canada’s top sports broadcaster. From Roger Federer to Usain Bolt, David Beckham and Derek Jeter, Madani has interviewed some of the biggest newsmakers in sports. Prior to his time at Sportsnet, Madani was with The Score after stints in sports radio, daily newspapers and twice as a public relations director for CFL teams.  

Sandhya Mylabathula, PhD Candidate, MSc. researches concussions as a returning CIHR Fellow in Public Health Policy. Sandhya co-developed a national concussion strategy, consulted on and informed provincial concussion policy, and co-delivered a TEDx talk on her concussion policy and advocacy work. She was recognized as one of the top 50 most influential Torontonians for her contributions. Also a science communicator and one half of The STEAM Sisters, she enjoys sharing her passion for science through outreach and digital media productions. Sandhya loves sport – especially hockey– and also enjoys learning languages and playing the violin/sitar.