The overall goal of Dr. Master’s research is to better understand concussion and its effects on children from a developmental perspective, and to find optimal ways of caring for children with concussion in order to maximize their future potential. Identifying both objective and physiologic measures of acute concussion while delineating the clinical translation of such measures in the diagnosis and management of concussion is an urgent unmet need in the field.

A particular research emphasis has been identifying vision and vestibular deficits following concussion, both to diagnose deficits following concussion, as well as identifying potential targets for intervention for those with prolonged symptoms. These vestibular and vision deficits following concussion are not typically identified with a “routine physical examination” or even a “routine neurologic or vision examination.” Her goal has been to disseminate this knowledge based on clinical evidence and experience, in order to improve the ability of clinicians to identify these deficits in children with concussion so they may better manage their clinical care.

In collaboration with interdisciplinary partners at CHOP and colleagues at The University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Master characterizes the clinical entity of pediatric and adolescent concussion, its epidemiology and care patterns, its physical and clinical manifestations and its outcomes, and how those outcomes may be improved with targeted treatments.

Dr. Master practices both primary care sports medicine and academic general pediatrics and cares for children across the spectrum of childhood. Her work co-founding and co-leading the Minds Matters Concussion Program at CHOP has been focused on improving our understanding of concussion with the goal of improving care and outcomes for children with concussion.