Mary Hawkins

Mary Hawkins has served in several health disciplines for nearly 50 years and draws from her skills in critical care, fitness, education, respiratory therapy, research, physical therapy and rehabilitation, neonatal intensive care, biofeedback, and hospice care. Her doctoral research examined bio-behavioral strategies for cardiac practices in healthcare systems. She has taught these self-regulation strategies internationally as a whole-hearted health model for individual and organizational leadership and wellness. Hawkins is the widow of Ross “Rip” Hawkins, the first middle linebacker drafted to the Minnesota Vikings (1961-1965), who succumbed to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in 2015. As his care partner, she became a passionate educator and advocate for neurocognitive wellness, especially for NFL players and their significant others facing the fifth quarter challenges of gridiron dementia.