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The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University invites stakeholders in the health of NFL players to discuss the urgent challenges facing this community and their families.

Hearts & Minds: Optimizing Health for NFL Players & Their Families

February 5, 2026
8:30am-1:30pm PST

Presidio Officers’ Club
Ortega Ballroom

50 Moraga Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94129

Register to attend in person.

Schedule of Events:

  • 8:30am: Full Buffet Breakfast
  • 8:45am: Introductory Remarks
  • 9:05am: Chronic Pain Roundtable and Q&A
  • 10:00am: Strengthening Cardiovascular Resilience and Q&A
  • 11:00am: Break
  • 11:15am: Safeguarding Mental Health for NFL Players and Q&A
  • 12:15pm: Closing Remarks
  • 12:20 – 1:30pm: Full Buffet Lunch and Resources Fair

Disclosures:

John Farquhar is CEO of HeartFlow and they are a public for profit company.

Adam Tenforde receives research support and is the co-principal investigator for the Football Players Health Study at Harvard and performs research supported by American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (bone density research), Uniform Health Service (Achilles), and MTEC/Department of Defense (bone stress injuries with shockwave). He is an unpaid medical advisor for NFL Alumni Health. He is a paid consultant for State Farm Insurance, and consultant for Strava, Elev8, and LiteSport. He receives industry support from Enovis, Sanuwave and Storz for equipment use for research studies on treatment of tendinopathy, knee osteoarthritis and bone stress injuries.

Allan Mishra is the founder of VyVerse.com, receives royalties from Blue Engine Biologics IP, and serves on the editorial board of Biologic Orthopedics.Jim Kovach serves as an advisor to HeartFlow Inc.  and as an advisor to NFL Alumni Health.  He has also worked collaboratively with the Football Player’s Health Study at Harvard University.

Ross Zafonte serves on the scientific advisory board of Myomo, and onecare.ai, evaluates patients in the Massachusetts General Hospital Brain and Body–TRUST Programme, which is funded by the NFL Players Association and receives grants from the NIH.

Herman Taylor receives grant funding from the NFLPA, and serves as an advisor and consultant for Apple, Google, and Microsoft.

Chronic Pain Roundtable Speakers

Alicia Whittington, PhD, MPH, MS (Moderator)
Director of Engagement and Health Equity Research
Football Players Health Study

Co-Investigator
Family Experiences Managing Football Lives (FEM-FL)

Adam Tenforde, MD
Co-Investigator, In-Person Assessments
Football Players Health Study

Allan Mishra, MD
Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Orthopedic Surgery
Stanford University

Jaime Garza, MD, DDS, FACS
Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Professor of Otolaryngology, & Director of Human Regenerative Cell Trials
Tulane University School of Medicine

Professor of Surgery and Professor of Otolaryngology
University of Texas – San Antonio

Hye-Jin Clark, MD
Chief Resident Physician, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Stanford University

Strengthening Cardiovascular Resilience Speakers

Jim Kovach, MD, JD (Moderator)
Chief Innovation Officer, Aggie Square
UC-Davis Sacramento Innovation Center

Director of Translational Entrepreneurship and Industry Research Relationships
University of California – Davis

John Farquhar
President, Chief Executive Officer
Heartflow

Herman Taylor, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA
Co-Investigator
Football Players Health Study

Endowed Professor, Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute
Morehouse School of Medicine

Telisa Spikes, PhD, RN
Assistant Professor
Emory University

Safeguarding Mental Health for NFL Players Speakers

Ross Zafonte, DO (Moderator)
Principal Investigator
Football Players Health Study

Executive Vice Dean
University of Missouri School of Medicine

Rachel Grashow, PhD
Director of Epidemiological Research Initiatives
Football Players Health Study

Co-Investigator
Family Experiences Managing Football Lives (FEM-FL)

Senior Research Scientist
Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health

Ciara Dockery, PhD
Clinical Psychologist

Takeo Spikes
Author and Entrepreneur
Behind the Mask Podcast

Former NFL Linebacker
Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and San Diego Chargers