Meet Dr. Lisa Manderino
Director of Concussion Care · UPMC Fellowship-Trained Neuropsychologist
Dr. Lisa Manderino is the Director of Concussion Care at Aptiva Health and one of fewer than 40 neuropsychologists in the United States to complete fellowship training at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program in Pittsburgh — the program where modern concussion care was developed. She sees patients in Louisville, Elizabethtown, Mt. Washington, and (beginning May 21, 2026) Indianapolis.
Established in 2000, the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program is the first and largest research and clinical program focused on the diagnosis, evaluation and management of sports-related mild traumatic brain injury in athletes of all levels. Dr. Manderino received extensive training at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program and has worked with elite athletes, to youths and every day people suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Quick Facts
Specialty: Clinical Neuropsychology · Concussion Diagnosis & Treatment
Title: Director of Concussion Care, Aptiva Health
Fellowship: UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program · Pittsburgh, PA
PhD: Kent State University · Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology Concentration
Licensed in: Kentucky and Indiana
Treats: Sport-related and non-sport concussions, post-concussion syndrome, traumatic brain injury — youth athletes through adults 60+
Locations: Louisville (Concussion & Sports Medicine Institute) · Elizabethtown · Mt. Washington · Indianapolis (beginning May 21, 2026)
Active Researcher: Peer-reviewed publications in Science and Medicine in Football, Journal of Athletic Training, American Journal of Sports Medicine, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, and others
Accepting New Patients: Yes
Schedule: Online or call 502-909-0772
About Dr. Manderino
Dr. Lisa Manderino is among the most credentialed concussion specialists practicing in Kentucky and Indiana. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program — the original and largest research and clinical concussion program in the world, established in 2000 and led by Dr. Michael "Micky" Collins and Dr. Anthony Kontos, two of the most recognized names in concussion medicine. Approximately one neuropsychology fellowship slot opens at UPMC each year. Fewer than 40 neuropsychologists nationwide have completed it.
UPMC is where modern concussion care was built. The clinical model that today treats elite professional athletes, U.S. military service members, Olympic competitors, and youth athletes alike — active recovery, individualized treatment based on symptom subtypes, vestibular and ocular rehabilitation, neurocognitive training — was largely developed and refined inside that program. Dr. Manderino trained directly inside it, evaluating and treating patients across the full spectrum of concussion presentation.
She joined Aptiva Health's Concussion & Sports Medicine Institute in October 2022 and now serves as Director of Concussion Care, leading the practice's neuropsychological evaluation and treatment program for concussion patients across the company's Kentucky and Indiana footprint. Her patients range from youth athletes through professional and collegiate competitors, motor vehicle accident survivors, workers' compensation patients, and adults 60 and older — a population she has specifically researched and published on.
Dr. Manderino remains an active researcher. In addition to peer-reviewed publications in Science and Medicine in Football, the Journal of Athletic Training, the American Journal of Sports Medicine, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, and the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, she co-authored the Concussion chapter in the textbook Sideline Management in Sports, and continues to publish multi-author concussion research with colleagues at UPMC and other major concussion programs nationally. Her PhD dissertation examined cognitive functioning under hypoxic stress following mild traumatic brain injury — a question relevant to athletes returning to competition at altitude and to military and aviation populations.
She earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a Neuropsychology concentration from Kent State University under Dr. John Gunstad and her undergraduate degree in Psychology (with minors in Biology and Neuroscience) from Lake Forest College. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Kentucky and Indiana and a member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, the Sports Neuropsychology Society, and the American Psychological Association.
Concussion Services & Conditions Treated
Conditions Treated:
Sport-Related Concussion (Youth, High School, Collegiate, Professional)
Motor Vehicle Accident-Related Concussion
Non-Sport Concussions (Falls, Workplace Injury, Assault)
Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS)
Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms
Vestibular Symptoms After Concussion
Cognitive Symptoms After Concussion (Memory, Attention, Processing Speed)
Mood Symptoms After Concussion (Depression, Anxiety, Irritability)
Sleep Disturbance Following Concussion
Post-Traumatic Migraine
Concussion in Older Adults (60+)
Concussion with Pre-Existing ADHD or Learning Differences
Concussion Services Provided:
ImPACT Testing (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) — baseline and post-injury
Concussion Symptom Subtype Assessment (vestibular, ocular, cognitive, mood, sleep, post-traumatic migraine)
Vestibular Rehabilitation Referral & Coordination
Return-to-Learn Coordination for Student-Athletes
Coordination with Primary Care, Athletic Trainers, Schools, and Employers
Two UPMC Fellowship-Trained Neuropsychologists at Aptiva Health
Aptiva Health is the only practice in Kentucky to employ two neuropsychologists who completed their concussion fellowships at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program — Dr. Lisa Manderino (Director of Concussion Care) and Dr. Nathan Ramirez. Both trained at UPMC under Dr. Michael Collins and Dr. Anthony Kontos. Together they bring the standardized clinical approach used by Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, U.S. Department of Defense, and Olympic concussion programs directly to patients across Kentucky and southern Indiana — without a flight to Pittsburgh.
For patients, this matters in three concrete ways. First, capacity: same-week appointments are available at multiple Aptiva concussion locations, which means faster evaluation when symptoms are fresh and recovery outcomes are most sensitive to early intervention. Second, depth: complex cases — post-concussion syndrome, multi-concussion histories, comorbid ADHD or learning differences, mood-driven recovery delays, vestibular and ocular subtypes — are reviewed and treated by clinicians whose training was specifically built for them. Third, continuity: Dr. Ramirez and Dr. Manderino coordinate care across Aptiva's vestibular physical therapy, mental wellness, sports medicine, and on-site imaging teams, so a patient's full recovery happens under one roof.
UPMC Fellowship Training: Why It Matters for Concussion Patients
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program was the first dedicated concussion clinic in the world. Established in 2000 by Dr. Michael "Micky" Collins and colleagues, the program has evaluated and treated more than 25,000 concussion patients, conducted hundreds of peer-reviewed studies, and trained the small group of clinicians who now run concussion programs at the highest level of professional sports, the U.S. Department of Defense, and academic medical centers across the country.
Most concussion-care providers are trained as primary-care sports medicine physicians, athletic trainers, neurologists, or general neuropsychologists who learned concussion care later in their careers. Dr. Manderino is one of the few clinicians who trained inside the program where the field's evidence base was built — under the direct mentorship of Dr. Michael Collins and Dr. Anthony Kontos.
What this means for patients in Louisville, Elizabethtown, Mt. Washington, and Indianapolis: the same clinical model the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the U.S. Department of Defense, and Olympic athletes receive at UPMC is the model Dr. Manderino delivers locally — without a flight to Pittsburgh.
A Modern, Active-Recovery Approach to Concussion Care
The old advice for concussion was rest. Sit in a dark room, avoid screens, wait. The current evidence — including research Dr. Manderino has published — shows the opposite. Prescribed strict rest after concussion can actually worsen symptoms, especially in younger patients and athletes. Active recovery, individualized treatment, and early targeted rehabilitation produce better outcomes faster.
Modern concussion care begins by identifying which symptom clusters a patient is experiencing — vestibular, ocular, cognitive, mood, sleep, or post-traumatic migraine — because each cluster responds to different treatments:
A patient with primarily vestibular and ocular symptoms benefits most from vestibular rehabilitation and progressive visual exercises.
A patient with primarily mood and sleep symptoms benefits most from cognitive-behavioral interventions and sleep hygiene work.
A patient with primarily cognitive symptoms benefits most from neurocognitive training and academic accommodations.
A patient with post-traumatic migraine benefits most from headache-targeted medical management.
Dr. Manderino evaluates every concussion patient against this subtype framework, builds an individualized treatment plan, and coordinates care across Aptiva Health's multi-specialty team — vestibular physical therapy, mental wellness, primary care, sports medicine, and on-site imaging — under one roof.
Education and Training
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sports Medicine Neuropsychology — UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program · Pittsburgh, PA · 2020–2022 · Mentors: Dr. Michael Collins, Dr. Anthony Kontos
PhD, Clinical Psychology — Neuropsychology Concentration — Kent State University · Kent, OH · 2014–2020 · Dissertation: Cognitive Functioning Under Hypoxic Stress After mTBI · Advisor: John Gunstad, PhD
MA, Clinical Psychology — Neuropsychology Concentration — Kent State University · Kent, OH · 2014–2017 · Thesis: Performance of the ImPACT Protocol Validity Indices · Advisor: John Gunstad, PhD
BA, Psychology — Lake Forest College · Lake Forest, IL · 2010–2014 · Biology Minor · Neuroscience Minor · Dean's List · Varsity Mascot · Advisor: Terry D. Blumenthal, PhD
Specialized Training & Certifications
ImPACT Test Administration Credentialing
Cognitive Rehabilitation Training (ACRM Workshop, 2020)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Training (2018)
Unified Protocol Training (Unified Protocol Institute, 2018)
Level 3 Certification, Interpersonal Psychotherapy Institute (2017)
Licensure & Memberships
Licensed Clinical Psychologist — Kentucky and Indiana
National Academy of Neuropsychology (NAN)
Sports Neuropsychology Society
American Psychological Association (APA)
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications
Dr. Manderino's published research focuses on concussion identification, treatment, and recovery in athletes, civilians, and older adults.
Manderino, L.M., & Gunstad, J. (2017). Performance of the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing protocol validity indices. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 33(5), 596–605.
Manderino, L.M., & Gunstad, J. (2017). Collegiate student-athletes with history of ADHD or academic difficulties are more likely to produce an invalid protocol on baseline ImPACT testing. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 28(2), 111–117.
Anderson, J.F., Carroll, M., Azcarate-Peril, M.A., Doerfler, B., Heiberg, L., Pet, C., Steiffel, K., Manderino, L.M., & Gunstad, J. (2017). A preliminary examination of gut microbiota, sleep, and cognitive function in healthy older adults. Sleep Medicine.
Carroll, M., Azcarate-Peril, M.A., Doerfler, B., Heiberg, L., Pet, C., Steiffel, K., Manderino, L.M., & Gunstad, J. (2017). Preliminary evidence for an association between the composition of the gut microbiome and cognitive function in neurologically healthy older adults. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 24(6), 600–605.
Sanborn, V., Azcarate-Peril, M.A., Updegraff, J., Manderino, L., & Gunstad, J. (2020). Randomized clinical trial examining the impact of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG probiotic supplementation on cognitive functioning in middle-aged and older adults. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 16, 2765–2777.
Stelmokas, J., Rochette, A., Spencer, R., Manderino, L.M., Sciaky, A., Hampstead, B.M., Hogikyan, R., & Alexander, N. Psychometric evaluation of the Hopkins Rehabilitation Engagement Rating Scale in Post-Acute physical therapy services. Rehabilitation Psychology.
Spitznagel, M.B., Manderino, L.M., & Heinberg, L. (2016). Liver fibrosis predicts cognitive function following bariatric surgery: A preliminary investigation. Obesity, 24(10), 2086–2089.
Spitznagel, M.B., Hawkins, M., Alosco, M., Galioto, R., Garcia, S., Miller, L., Manderino, L., & Gunstad, J. (2016). Cognitive function predicts 24-month weight loss success following bariatric surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 12(10), 1898–1906.
Alosco, M., Manderino, L.M., Schmidtbauer, M., Galioto, R., & Gunstad, J. (2017). A randomized clinical trial examining the impact of LDL apheresis on cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 7, 152–156.
Manderino, L.M., et al. Sideline Management in Sports — Concussion chapter (lead author).
A complete publication list is available on Dr. Manderino's CV and Google Scholar profile.
Where Dr. Manderino Treats Patients
Louisville, KY - Concussion & Sports Medicine Institute - 3611 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218 - Tel: 502-909-0772 Convenient for patients across Greater Louisville, Jefferson County, Oldham County, and southern Indiana.
Elizabethtown, KY - Aptiva Health Orthopedics - 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 - Tel: 270-506-4888. Serving Hardin County, Larue County, Meade County, and the Greater Elizabethtown region.
Mt. Washington, KY - Aptiva Health Orthopedics - 737 N Hwy 31E Bypass, Suite 2, Mt. Washington, KY 40047 - Tel: 502-909-0772.Serving Bullitt County, southern Jefferson County, Spencer County, and Shepherdsville.
Indianapolis, IN (Beginning May 21, 2026) - Aptiva Health of Indiana - 6801 Gray Road, Indianapolis, IN 46237 - Tel: 463-303-0501. Bringing UPMC fellowship-trained concussion care to the Indianapolis metro. Accepting new patients beginning May 21, 2026.
How to Schedule a Concussion Consultation
Most patients see Dr. Manderino after a sports injury, motor vehicle accident, fall, workplace incident, or assault — either as a self-referral, on referral from a primary care physician, athletic trainer, or emergency department, or for a second opinion when prior concussion care has not produced recovery. Many parents bring children or teens after a youth-sport or high-school-sport concussion. A growing number of older adults (60+) come in after falls.
A first consultation includes a full history of the injury and pre-injury medical and academic history, a focused neurological and vestibular examination, ImPACT testing where appropriate, and a written individualized treatment plan with clear next steps. Aptiva Health offers same-day imaging at multiple Kentucky locations when needed.
Dr. Manderino sees patients on commercial insurance, Medicare, Kentucky and Indiana Medicaid, workers' compensation, auto-accident coverage (PIP and MedPay), attorney lien arrangements, and cash-pay terms.
Schedule An Appointment Today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head, face, or neck — or by a hit to the body that transmits force to the head — resulting in temporary disruption of brain function. Concussions can occur with or without loss of consciousness. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, balance problems, light or sound sensitivity, mood changes, sleep disturbance, and difficulty with memory, attention, or concentration.
When should I see a concussion specialist?
If concussion symptoms persist beyond 3–5 days, are severe at any point, or are interfering with school, work, sport, or daily activities, a specialist evaluation is recommended. Earlier targeted treatment generally produces faster recovery. Aptiva Health offers same-week appointments at all four locations.
What is ImPACT testing?
ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) is a computerized neurocognitive test that measures attention, memory, processing speed, and reaction time. It is used to establish a baseline of brain function before a concussion and to evaluate cognitive recovery after one. Dr. Manderino is ImPACT-credentialed and has published peer-reviewed research on the test's validity indices.
Where did Dr. Manderino complete her concussion fellowship?
Dr. Manderino completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program in Pittsburgh — the first and largest dedicated concussion program in the world, led by Dr. Michael Collins and Dr. Anthony Kontos. Fewer than 40 neuropsychologists nationally have completed this fellowship.
Should I rest in a dark room after a concussion?
No. Current evidence — including research Dr. Manderino has co-authored — shows that prescribed strict rest after concussion can actually worsen symptoms, particularly in younger patients and athletes. Modern concussion care begins with light activity, symptom-targeted treatment, and progressive return to school, work, and sport.
Does Dr. Manderino treat children, teens, and high school athletes?
Yes. Dr. Manderino treats concussion patients across the lifespan — from youth athletes and high school students through collegiate, professional, and adult patients. Her UPMC fellowship included extensive pediatric and adolescent concussion training, and she coordinates return-to-learn plans with schools and athletic trainers.
Does Dr. Manderino see older adults with concussion?
Yes. Dr. Manderino has specifically researched and published on concussion in adults age 60 and older. Older adults with concussion frequently report greater balance concerns, mood changes, and cognitive symptoms, and benefit from the same individualized active-recovery approach used for younger patients.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is required for most patients. Many self-refer after a sports injury, fall, motor vehicle accident, or workplace incident. Some insurance plans require a primary-care referral; Aptiva's billing team verifies insurance and referral requirements before the first visit.
What is post-concussion syndrome and can it be treated?
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) refers to concussion symptoms that persist beyond the typical recovery window — often weeks or months. It is treatable. Dr. Manderino's subtype-based assessment identifies which residual symptoms (vestibular, ocular, cognitive, mood, sleep, or migraine) are driving the case, and matches the patient to the targeted rehabilitation that addresses each cluster.
Can Dr. Manderino clear me to return to sports, school, or work?
Yes. Return-to-sport, return-to-learn, and return-to-work clearance is a core part of Dr. Manderino's practice. Clearance is based on resolution of symptoms, neurocognitive recovery on testing, and a graduated reintroduction protocol — not on a fixed calendar.
Does Dr. Manderino handle workers' compensation and auto accident cases?
Yes. Aptiva Health treats concussion patients on workers' compensation, auto accident coverage (PIP and MedPay), attorney lien arrangements, commercial insurance, Medicare, and Kentucky and Indiana Medicaid. Dr. Manderino provides the detailed neuropsychological documentation that adjusters, attorneys, employers, and case managers require.
What insurance does Dr. Manderino accept?
Aptiva Health accepts most major medical insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Kentucky Medicaid (Passport Molina, United Healthcare Medicaid, Anthem Medicaid, Aetna Better Health, CareSource), Indiana Medicaid, workers' compensation, auto-accident coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay arrangements. Call 502-909-0772 for benefit verification.