Katherine Breedlove PhD, LAT, ATC

Harvard Medical School / Brigham and Women's Hospital

Katherine Morigaki Breedlove, PhD, ATC, is an Instructor of Radiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where she conducts research at the intersection of neuroimaging, sports medicine, and brain injury science. Trained as both a neuroscientist and certified athletic trainer, Dr. Breedlove brings a rare interdisciplinary perspective to the study of sport-related concussion and neurotrauma. A significant portion of her scholarship focuses on football helmet safety and impact force attenuation. Her published work includes studies evaluating aftermarket helmet add on devices such as the Guardian Cap, demonstrating how these coverings influence linear acceleration and Gadd Severity Index values during drop test impacts. She has also contributed research on helmet force attenuation in collegiate football players, examining how helmet properties relate to head impact exposure and neurocognitive outcomes. Additional work explores how helmet facemask design affects impact behavior during standardized drop tests. Collectively, her helmet related research has informed ongoing discussions about equipment design, athlete safety, and risk mitigation in contact sports. Before transitioning fully into research, Dr. Breedlove practiced as a clinical athletic trainer across multiple levels, from high school athletes to professional football. This hands on clinical experience continues to inform her scientific approach, grounding her research questions in real world athlete needs and injury patterns.

Sessions by Katherine