Rugby & Concussion: an update from Amsterdam Consensus by Dr Jamie Kearns UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic

Concussion – an update from Amsterdam Consensus - a talk by Dr Jamie Kearns, Consultant Sports Medicine Physician, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic & Munster Rugby.

UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic recently hosted an online evening for rugby players, parents and coaches - A full recording is now available, click PLAY above.

SSC Sports Medicine Physicians discussed the causes and prevention of common rugby injuries in both the men’s and women’s games and also provided an update on the latest information relating to concussions.

Please feel free to share this link with colleagues and friends - This event is open to the public and not restricted to Rugby players, as many of the items discussed crossover into other sports.    • Rugby & Concussion: an update from Am...  

This event consisted of three presentations and a live Q&A session with the following clinicians:

‘Common injuries in Rugby 7s’
Dr Stuart O’Flanagan, Consultant Sports Medicine Physician, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic & Leinster Rugby

‘Common Injuries in Women’s Rugby’
Dr Matt Cosgrave, Consultant Sports Medicine Physician, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic & Connacht Rugby

‘Concussion – an update from Amsterdam Consensus’
Dr Jamie Kearns, Consultant Sports Medicine Physician, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic & Munster Rugby

Dr Jamie Kearns. (MB BCh CAO, MSc (SEM), PgDip (Med US), MRCPI, MICGP, FFSEM, MFSEM (UK) Sports & Exercise Medicine Physician.

Dr Jamie Kearns is originally from Dublin. He qualified from UCD in 2006 with an honours degree as well as a BMedSci. He went on to complete basic specialist training in medicine in Galway and completed an MRCPI in 2009. As part of his BST, he undertook a six-month visiting rotation at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. He subsequently completed a Masters in Sports and Exercise Medicine from NUI Galway in 2011, graduating with a 1st Class Honours.

Dr Kearns proceeded to vocational training in general practice and was awarded MICGP in 2013. Having worked in full-time General Practice with a specialist interest in sports and orthopaedic medicine, Dr Kearns began specialist training in Sports and Exercise Medicine in 2021 and completed his training in 2023. During his specialist training, he undertook post-graduate training in Medical Ultrasound at AECC University College, Bournemouth. He has also been awarded membership to the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine UK. Since 2018, Dr Kearns has been the Head of Medical for Munster Rugby. He has worked as a team doctor for Connacht Rugby and the Ireland Men’s senior rugby team, as well as the independent match day doctor for senior internationals, including the upcoming six nations.

Dr Kearns also has experience working with the FAI joining the Ireland Women’s Senior team in 2012 and working with the U19’s Men’s team thereafter. He was awarded FFSEM (Irl) in 2017 and was elected to the Board of the FSEM in 2018. He was PCS manager until his entry onto the Specialist Training Scheme and still sits on the subcommittee for Fellowship and Membership. He is also undertaking research in collaboration with the University of Limerick into blood biomarkers in concussion within elite-level rugby. He has a number of publications in this area and neurology.

Contact Details

Suite: Sports Medicine Department
Phone: +353 1 526 2030
Email: [email protected]