The Doctors of USC will participate in the NFL Neurological Care Program


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The NFL and the NFL Alumni Association have come together to aid retired NFL players with neurological conditions with the help of the Doctors of USC.

The NFL Neurological Care Program, announced March 24, aims to improve the quality of life for retired players. Neurological specialists will be available to treat former players at five medical schools around the country.

Along with the Doctors of USC, the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Mount Sinai in New York, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and the University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis will have a team of neurological specialists trained to help retired players.

Jeffrey Victoroff, Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology, and Carol McCleary, Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, will lead the team of doctors from USC who will provide care for players under the league’s retirement plan.

Former players with medical coverage will use their own plans to receive treatment, whereas those without medical coverage can apply to the NFL Player Care Foundation for a grant.

“As long as they are still breathing, there is an opportunity for treatment and recovery,” George Martin, NFL Alumni Association executive director told NFL.com.

Martin testified before a Congressional committee in Washington about the neurological issues for retired players, thus prompting the creation of a program dedicated to helping those individuals.

“A lot of alumni are concerned that in the not-too-distant future they’ll forget where they parked their car as a precursor to larger problems,” Martin said.

The Doctors of USC, with about 500 physicians and specialists, place the same emphasis on quality of life as this program as they are dedicated to “providing the highest possible level of care and the best quality of life for patients” according to USCUniversityHospital.org.

The NFL Players Association is not currently involved with the program, but Martin said that the NFL Alumni Association will continue to reach out to the union.