Robert Cantu
Professor of Neurosurgery at BUSM
- Education
- M.D., University of California Medical School in San Francisco
- Office
- Emerson Hospital, 310 Baker Avenue, Concord, MA 01742
- rcantu@emersonhosp.org
- Phone
- 978-287-8250
Chief of Neurosurgery and Director of Sports Medicine at Emerson Hospital
Currently Dr. Cantu’s professional responsibilities include those of Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, Clinical Therapeutics leader AD-CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; Founding member and Medical Director Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston, MA; Medical Director and Director of Clinical Research at the Cantu Concussion Center at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Massachusetts; Senior Advisor NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee; Member NFLPA Mackey-White Health and Safety Committee and Co-chair of the Equipment Committee. Dr. Cantu also consults with numerous NFL, NHL and NBA teams.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Dr. Cantu is Medical Director of the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, an ongoing registry instituted in 1982 for data collection and analysis of spine and head injuries. From this data important contributions have been made in sport safety and accident reduction; most notably football rule changes concerning tackling and blocking with the head, the establishment of football helmet standards, improved on-the-field medical care, and coaching techniques. He also serves as President and Chairman of Scientific Advisory Committee, on the Board of Trustees as Vice President of NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment).
Dr. Cantu’s 2009 media appearances include, among others, testimony before Congress on the NFL and Concussions, CNN with Lou Dobbs on the NFL Congressional Hearings, CNN Saturday Morning Live’s Head Injuries in Football, and 60 Minutes’ Concussions and Head Injuries in Football. Dr. Cantu is also a member of the Nation Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athlete Concussion Injury Litigation (Medical Science Committee), a member of the NCAA Concussion Safety Advisory Group, a member of the World Rugby Concussion Working Group, United Kingdom.
- Profile Types
- Administrative Core and Faculty