Dr. Melissa Womble is a fellowship-trained neuropsychologist with specialization in sport concussion management. She serves as director of the Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Program and co-director of the Inova Concussion Program.

Dr. Womble joined Inova Medical Group after completing a neuropsychology post-doctoral fellowship within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Dr. Womble obtained her doctorate in combined-integrated clinical and counseling psychology from the University of South Alabama in Mobile after completing a predoctoral internship at Henry Ford Medical Center in Detroit.

Her goal is to provide patients of all ages and abilities with top-notch care following sport-related concussion and additionally for sports performance enhancement needs.

Her research focuses on individual differences and risk factors influencing recovery following sport-related concussion, the influence of specific treatment factors and behavioral management strategies on concussion outcomes, test-retest reliability, and the influence/presentation of anxiety following concussion. Dr. Womble has authored or coauthored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and delivered more than 60 professional presentations on sport-related concussion at national and international conferences. Dr. Womble was the 2014 recipient of the National Academy of Neuropsychology’s Outstanding Dissertation Award for her work in concussion research.

Dr. Womble has presented at national conferences and published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, many of which are listed below.

Video Features

• USA9 Great Morning Washington Video: Concussion Safety for Students and Athletes. August 2016.
• USA9 Great Morning Washington: Takeaway Tips to Keep your Child Safe from Concussion. August 2016.

Expert Commentary / Podcasts

• Ask the Doctor: Understanding Concussions and the Importance of Pre-Season Concussion Screening in Athletes  (air date 5/6/17)
  In this episode of Inova’s  “Ask the Doctor,” Neuropsychologist and Director of the Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Dr. Melissa Womble along with Inova Athletic Trainers, Eric Castor and Brett Gustman help to educate listeners on the signs and symptoms of a concussion, as well as the importance of having athletes complete baseline testing  before their sports season begins.
• Ask the Doctor: Vestibular Therapy for Concussion Patients (air date 4/14/17)
  In this episode of Inova's "Ask the Doctor," Neuropsychologist and Director of the Inova Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Dr. Melissa Womble and Dr. Sheri Fedor, Physical Therapist, Director of the Inova Vestibular Concussion Program explain why vestibular therapy is a part of a multidisciplinary team approach used when treating concussion patients.
• Ask the Doctor: Concussion
  The following 3-part podcast series features Dr. Jessica Wertz and Dr. Melissa Womble discussing how a concussion occurs, the evaluation, treatment and key components to recovery.
  -- Concussion – Part 1 (air date 11/12/16)
  -- Concussion – Part 2 (air date 11/19/16)
  -- Concussion – Part 3 (air date 11/26/16)
• ESPN Answering The Bell – Concussions Part 2 (air date 10/25/16)
  Dr. Melissa Womble and Stephania Bell discuss neurocognitive testing and the five phases of the NFL concussion protocol

Featured Articles and Blog Posts

• Concussion Recovery: When Should You See a Doctor? May 2019.
• Mind Games: Concussions, CTE and Sports. August 2017.
• Acute Management of Concussion: The Role of Regulation versus Rest. Summer 2016.
• Winning mindset: Sports psych & the athlete. September 2016.
• Concussions in American Football. American Journal of Orthopedics. September 2016.
• Test-Retest Reliability of Computerized Neurocognitive Testing in Youth Ice Hockey Players. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. April 2016.
• Neuropsychological Assessment Following Concussion: an Evidence-Based Review of the Role of the Neuropsychological Assessment Pre- and Post- Concussion. Current Pain and Headache Reports. June 2016.
• Intraoperative MRI for deep brain stimulation lead placement in Parkinson's disease: 1 year motor and neuropsychological outcomes. Journal of Neurology Publication. June 2016.
• Logistic regression function for detection of suspicious performance during baseline evaluations using concussion vital signs. Applied Neuropsychology. 2015.

Other Articles and Presentations

• Articles and Presentations

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