Michael Apuzzo, affectionately referred to as Dr. "A", can be considered the original modern day Sports Neurosurgeon. He has volunteered his time and expertise with USC Athletics for nearly four decades. He is retiring from USC in July and will embark on the next chapter of his life. I am forever grateful for his contributions to USC Athletics, which preceded me long before I arrived over 21 years ago.  Dr. Apuzzo did not serve USC to fill time or self promote. In fact, it was the exact opposite. Dr. Apuzzo is recognized as one of the world's best known and respected neurological surgeons. Among his enormous accomplishments at USC Keck School of Medicine and the LA County General Hospital, he revolutionized approaches to brain surgery, merged technologies to improve invasive and non-invasive techniques, and proved a true academician. An author of over 800 peer reviewed journal articles, he has written books on Brain Surgery and served as the editor for the most prominent neurosurgical journals to advance the field of neurological surgery from an academic perspective. Dr. A has mentored countless neurosurgical residents, faculty physicians, athletic trainers and athletic equipment managers to push themselves to be extraordinary.Â
Doctor A is also our "original" team neurosurgeon at USC. He volunteered his time and expertise long before the emergence of topics like dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, post concussive syndrome and other long-term effects due to brain injury. Due to his leadership, USC Athletic Medicine has always been on the cutting edge of sport-related neurological issues. Serving as a neurological consultant for the New York Giants for 16 years and the National Football League Committee on Head and Spinal Trauma, he established the exchange of the most current evidence based concepts for player safety with USC and those organizations. Dr. Apuzzo was appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to give the 2007 keynote address on the topic of concussion to all NFL medical personnel.
On behalf of USC Athletics, I want to recognize Dr. Apuzzo publicly with this article. He is a fantastic doctor who put his patients first, a scientist who modernized brain surgery with technological advances, an academic whose contributions will live forever and an amazing human being with a warm spirit. Dr. Apuzzo recognizes the potential in all people who cross his path to become extraordinary. I wish Dr. A the best in the next chapter of his life as he transitions back to his home state of Connecticut and his continued involvement with our program from his distinguished adjunct faculty position at the Yale School of Medicine. Thank you Dr. A, you are a giant in your field, a mentor to all of us and a true friend. Fight On!
