Ohio State Tillman Scholar advocates for concussion patients

Ohio State Tillman Scholar advocates for concussion patients

T.J. Beach is 1 of 48 scholars representing service members, veterans, military spouses

Thomas "T.J." Beach, an 8-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, is The Ohio State University's 12th Tillman Scholar. Now, the central Ohio native is merging his experience in the armed forces with his education as an athletic trainer to help law enforcement and others recover from concussions.

"This means I get to join an incredible group of individuals, veterans and spouses, and to see the impacts that they have made in different realms of research with veterans as well as active service members," Beach said. "As someone that's been in academia now for the last seven years, going on eight years, I have the opportunity to learn from individuals that have had similar experiences that I have."

Beach is one of 48 scholars representing service members, veterans and military spouses chosen this year.

The program, part of the Pat Tillman Foundation, supports active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses through education, lifelong leadership development, and a community of peers and mentors to help them impact their community and the world. Tillman, the award's namesake, was an NFL standout who left his football career to join the Army Rangers in the wake of 9/11.

Beach served in both field artillery and as a Marine security guard. He began exploring research into concussions following his experiences with colleagues suffering brain injuries in the service - and specifically because he worked on cannons, which have a loud concussive blast.

"I want to be that voice from my research, being able to disseminate, being able to talk and being able to be an example to other veterans that it's OK for us to go into research," he said.

Following his service in the Marines, Beach pursued degrees in athletic training at Ohio State and the University of South Carolina. He said he was humbled by how openly athletes discussed their injuries and by how readily they allowed athletic trainers to set up care plans.

Beach is now a PhD student in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, exploring the value of embedding athletic trainer care with law enforcement officers (LEOs).

LEOs typically do not have agency-level policies for returning to duty after a head injury, he said. Beach is developing research to show evidence of the longitudinal effects of a brain injury on law enforcement personnel to advocate for policy reform and healthcare interventions to protect those who protect our community every day.

Jaclyn Caccese, an associate professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and a member of Ohio State's Chronic Brain Injury Program, is one of Beach's advisors. She said he is a worthy recipient of the award.

"T.J. brings a remarkably rare and valuable perspective to our lab, connecting his firsthand military experience with his research. His work developing TBI recognition, management and return-to-duty protocols for law enforcement is filling a critical gap in first-responder care," she said. "As a Tillman Scholar, he embodies the exact bridge we need between scientific research and the real-world protection of our community. Receiving the Tillman Scholarship is a well-deserved recognition of his leadership and dedication to protecting and serving those who protect and serve."

Beach is in his second year as a PhD student. He hopes to refine his research project and work toward graduation in the next three years - and then put his research and experience toward helping law enforcement.

"I feel very similar to them a lot of times," he said. "A lot of them are veterans. That really helps when I work with this population and I'm able to have that conversation where they're like, 'Hey, it's OK that something is not OK, but we're here to help you with that process."

More Ohio State News