Leave Your Mark

Send a textThis week on the Leave Your Mark Podcast, we sit down with Jason Mihalik, one of the most influential voices in concussion research and clinical brain health today.Jason is a full professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Director of the Matthew Gfeller Center, and CEO of the THRIVE Program. His work lives at the intersection of sport, military service, and clinical care—helping athletes, service members, veterans, and first responders recover, perform, and thrive.With more than 185 peer-reviewed publications and over $30 million in research funding, Jason has helped shape the world's understanding of concussion, recovery, resilience, and long-term neurological health. But what makes this conversation special is not just the science—it’s the humanity behind it.We talk about his journey from Montreal and hockey to athletic therapy to becoming a global leader in concussion research. We explore how concussion care has evolved, why balance matters in youth sport conversations,