KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

MEET our keynote speakers

Leigh Steinberg

Leigh is a legendary sports agent, entrepreneur, and the founder and Chairman of Steinberg Sports and Entertainment. Often credited as the real-life inspiration for the Oscar-winning film Jerry Maguire, he has represented over 300 professional athletes across football, basketball, baseball, hockey, boxing, golf, and more, including a record eight number-one NFL draft picks and 12 Hall of Famers.

With a career spanning over five decades, Leigh has negotiated more than $4 billion in contracts and directed over $1 billion to charitable causes worldwide. Beyond his groundbreaking work in sports representation, he is a passionate advocate for athlete health, brain injury research, and philanthropy, founding a nonprofit dedicated to concussion and brain health.

Leigh’s influence extends from the playing field to global media, philanthropy, and brain health advocacy, making him a powerful voice on athlete well-being and social impact.

Frank Larkin

Frank J. Larkin is a decorated Navy SEAL veteran, former U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms, and lifelong public servant whose career has spanned the Secret Service, law enforcement, and national security. But it’s his personal mission that sets him apart. After the heartbreaking loss of his son Ryan, a decorated Navy SEAL who died by suicide from undiagnosed blast-induced brain injury, Larkin has become one of the nation’s most outspoken and passionate advocates for veteran brain health.

Today, Larkin leads a national movement to shine a light on the invisible wounds of war—raising awareness of blast trauma, fighting for better diagnostics, and demanding access to life-saving treatments for veterans. With the rare combination of elite military experience and a father’s resolve, Larkin brings urgency, insight, and hope to the fight for America’s warriors.

Dr. Daniel P. Perl

Dr. Daniel P. Perl is a leading neuropathologist with over four decades of groundbreaking research on neurodegenerative disorders and brain trauma. A graduate of Columbia College and the State University of New York, he trained at Yale University and has held esteemed positions at Brown University, the University of Vermont, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he led the Neuropathology Division for 24 years.

Currently, Dr. Perl directs the DoD/USU Brain Tissue Repository at the Uniformed Services University, focusing on the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and blast exposure in military personnel. His team’s discovery of interface astroglial scarring has revolutionized understanding of blast-induced brain damage, while his work on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has shaped diagnostic criteria for the disease.

Dr. Perl has authored over 380 publications and received numerous awards, including the Meritorious Achievement Award from the American Association of Neuropathologists in 2021, honoring his lifelong contributions to brain health research.