Distinguished Achievement Award in Business

Shannon Bauman ’96

In 2005, Shannon Bauman became a doctor specializing in sports medicine.

Then she became a patient.

In 2012, Shannon was playing ice hockey when she received a direct blow to the head and sustained a serious concussion. Her recovery was slow, difficult and frustrating. She was forced to take a leave of absence from her practice. In the course of coping with this major life challenge, however, she was inspired to turn adversity into opportunity, and she immersed herself in the study and treatment of concussions.

Dr. Bauman examined existing models of care and began to form her vision for a different treatment approach — one for which she would be a “guinea pig” in her own recovery. Her model was a physician-led interdisciplinary team which brought together physical and occupational therapists, MDs, athletic therapists, neuro- optometrists and dietitians to provide comprehensive care and treatment under one roof.

After making a complete recovery from her own concussion, Dr. Bauman created Concussion North in Canada, the first clinic to apply her new methods. Today the clinic sees over 1,000 patients a year, and Dr. Bauman is recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on concussion management.

She co-authored the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport and multiple Ontario Provincial Concussion guidelines for diagnosis, management and return to school and play. She was invited to present for the Canadian equivalent of a Federal Congressional Committee focused on improving concussion care in Canada.

She recently presented her research at the World Concussion Consensus Conference in Amsterdam to assist in updating recommended international guidelines.

Additionally, Dr. Bauman serves as a medical advisor on concussions to Parachute Canada and the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation. She is a leading researcher on sport-related concussions and factors that influence recovery times. She has been invited to speak about Concussion North’s model in Washington, Berlin, Croatia, and in various interviews for Sports Illustrated and newspapers. Her research has been published in internationally peer reviewed journals (British Journal of Sports Medicine, and Journal of Concussion). She recently relocated to Iowa, where she has already been asked to help the state update its concussion guidelines.

Courageous in overcoming her own medical crisis, Dr. Bauman has become a compassionate trailblazer in developing new, more effective concussion treatments for others — a process that she says has filled her with hope and joy. Her inspiring personal and professional journey makes her a fitting recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award in Business.