Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Nathan E. Kegel, PhD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Program Director, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Fellowship

Education & Training

  • BS, University of Pittsburgh
  • MSEd, Duquesne University
  • PhD, Duquesne University
  • Fellowship: Neuropsychology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program

Representative Publications

  1. Gillie B, Eagle SR, Trbovich A, Vazio V, Kegel N, Collins MW, Kontos AP (2020). Clinical predictors of Post-injury Anxiety in Adolescent Patients following Concussion. Applied Neuropsychology: Child. 
  2. Eagle SR, Puligilla A, Fazio-Sumrok V, Kegel N, Collins MW, Kontos AP. (2020) Association of time to initial clinic visit with prolonged recovery in pediatric patients with concussion. Journal of Neurosurgery- Pediatrics. 
  3. Kontos AP, Elbin RJ, Sufrinko A, Womble M, Said A, Fazio-Sumrok V, French J, Kegel N, Puskar A, Sherry N, Holland C, & Collins MW (2020). A new concussion Clinical Profiles Screening (CP-Screen) Tool: Preliminary evidence. Neurosurgery. 87(2), 348-356. 
  4. Linsenmeyer M, Combs J, Kegel NE, Franzese K (2020). Chiari malformation in the concussion clinic: Diagnosis and management of confounding and overlapping symptoms – A clinical vignette. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
  5. Sufrinko, A, Kegel, N, Mucha, A, Collins, M, & Kontos, A.P (2019). History of high motion sickness susceptibility predicts vestibular dysfunction following sport/recreation-related concussion. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 29(4), 318-323.
  6. Kontos, A.P., Sufrinko, A.S., Womble, M., & Kegel, N. (2016). Neuropsychological Assessment Following Concussion: An Evidence-based Review of the Role of Neuropsychological Assessment Pre- and Post-Concussion. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 20(6):38.
  7. Elbin, R.J., Knox, J., Kegel, N., Lowder, H.B., French, J., Burkhart, S., Collins, M.W., & Kontos, A.P. (2016). Assessing Concussion Symptoms in Adolescent Athletes Following Sport-Related Concussion: A Comparison of Four Different Approaches. Applied Neuropsychology: Child. 5(4):294-302
  8. Elbin, R.J., Kontos, A.P., Kegel, N., Johnson, E., Burkhart, S., & Schatz, P. (2013). Individual and Combined Effects of LD and ADHD on Computerized Neurocognitive Concussion Test Performance: Evidence for Separate Norms. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 28(5), 476-484.
  9. Sandel, N., Lovell, M., Kegel, N., Collins, M., & Kontos, A. (2012). The relationship of symptoms and neurocognitive performance to perceived recovery from sports-related concussion in adolescent athletes. Applied Neuropsychology Child, 0, 1-6.
  10. Kegel, N. E. & Lovell, M. R. (2012). Methods of formal assessment of concussion. In J. Apps & K. Walter (Eds.), Handbook of pediatric concussion. New York: Springer.
  11. Elbin, R.J., Burkhart, S., Fazio, V., Fanelli, L., Kegel, N., Kontos, A. P. (2012). Prospective study of the neurocognitive effects of concussion among youth football. Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Journal, 173. 
  12. Kegel, N. E. & Lovell, M. R. (2011). Sports-related concussion: Identification and return-to-play decision making. In F. Zollman (Ed.), Management of traumatic brain injury. New York: Demos Medical Publishing.
  13. Johnson, E. W., Kegel, N. E., & Collins, M. W. (2011). Neuropsychological assessment of sport-related concussion. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 30(1), 73-88.
  14. Fazio, V. C., Collins, M. W., Pardini, J. E., Johnson, E., Kegel, N., & Lovell, M. R. (2010). The Importance of Academic Accommodations for Cognitive Rest in Recovery from Concussion. Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Journal, 171.

Research Interests

1. Use of neuropsychological testing in assessment and management of sports-related concussion

2. Development of neurocognitive assessment methods for pediatric population

3. Risk factors related to protracted recovery from concussion (e.g. migraine, motionsensitivity, occurrence and timing of repeated concussion)

4. Usefulness and efficacy of academic accommodations following concussion