my background actually starts in special education. I started volunteering
in special education as a high school student, um went through high school
, not sure what I was going to do, but everybody else around me had noted
that I was spending a lot of time volunteering in that department and
volunteering for special olympics. So this commitment to issues of
concussion and athletic medicine is really comprehensive. He cares not
only about the clinical care that he provides, uh but he's also very
committed in the education and research that he's doing. And in fact I
would argue that his education is just as important as the research he's
doing every opportunity I get. I try to do something related with ASU and
this year we started a new program in which we are providing sideline
consultations or athletes who have suffered a concussion or possibly any
other head injury. It is an honor and a privilege to work with Dr Cardenas.
He is inspirational in his efforts to collaborate with all of the
partners within the community. He is at the forefront of policy on
concussion treatment and identification and he always finds a way to get
it done. I think heavier understands the importance and the legacy of
community service and how important that is to Arizona and to the health
and well being of Arizonans have somebody that is truly dedicated and
committed to making a difference. He's passionate about all the things
that he gets involved in. You know, jumps in with both feet, you know,
from the start, we're very fortunate here at Arizona State to have him as
a referral source and uh on the sidelines with us as a consultant and does
allow us our coaching staff and the university to allow the parents of our
student athletes to understand that we're at the height of taking care of
these conditions and ensuring the safety of their student athletes. Uh
it's wonderful to get this award, especially from what I consider family
and that's my S. U. Family go devils.