Brian Vernau, MD, FAAP, CAQSM
Areas of expertise: Pediatric and adolescent injuries and injury prevention, Concussions, Overuse injuries, Medical issues in athletes, Exercise intolerance, Exercise in chronic illness, Lacrosse athletes
Locations: Specialty Care, King of Prussia, Specialty Care & Surgery Center, Brandywine Valley, Middleman Family Pavilion
About Brian Vernau, MD, FAAP, CAQSM
Brian Vernau, MD, FAAP, CAQSM, is a pediatric sports medicine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the Orthopedic Center and the Sports Medicine and Performance Center.
Dr. Vernau specializes in treating sprains, strains, concussions and overuse injuries in youth athletes. He focuses on movement patterns and injury prevention to keep athletes on the field in the future.
Dr. Vernau treats athletes with chronic medical conditions that may affect their athletic performance. He has a special interest in athletes with medical conditions such as difficulty breathing (exercise induced asthma, vocal cord dysfunction), colds, flu, and other illnesses, abdominal pain or reflux, hemophilia, cancer survivors, and athletic skin conditions. Exercise is medicine, even if you have a history of hemophilia, cancer, sickle cell disease, lung disease, gastrointestinal issues, or skin conditions! Dr. Vernau enjoys helping these athletes find activities that are safe to participate in, given their medical condition.
Dr. Vernau is the team physician at Kennett High School. He also provides medical coverage at lacrosse and soccer tournaments throughout the Philadelphia region year-round.
He works primarily in Glen Mills, PA, at the CHOP Specialty Care & Surgery Center, Brandywine Valley, and at the Specialty Care & Surgery Center, King of Prussia.
Dr. Vernau completed his undergraduate studies and medical degree at Penn State University. He completed his pediatric residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where he received the Arnold Gold Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award. He completed his fellowship training in sports medicine at CHOP.
He lectures extensively throughout the region about medical conditions in athletes, concussions, and injury prevention in youth sports. He serves on the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine educational committee. He is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness and the American College of Sports Medicine. He is active in the community in lacrosse and roller hockey and as a very novice runner.
Titles
Pediatric Sports Medicine Specialist
Certifications
Pediatrics – American Board of Pediatrics
Sports Medicine – American Board of Pediatrics
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
2013-present, American College of Sports Medicine
2013-present, American Academy of Pediatrics
- 2013-present, Member, Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness
2013-present, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
- 2014-present, Member, Education Committee
Editorial and Academic Positions
Editorial Positions
2015-present, Case Reviewer, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
Education & training
Medical Degree
MD - Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, University Park, PA
Residency
Pediatrics - Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus OH
Fellowship
Pediatric Sports Medicine - The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia PA
Publications
Publications
2023
Vernau BT, Haider MN, Fleming A, Leddy JJ, Willer BS, Storey EP, Grady MF, Mannix R, Meehan W, Master CL.: Exercise-Induced Vision Dysfunction Early After Sport-Related Concussion Is Associated With Persistent Postconcussive Symptoms. Clin J Sport Med Mar 2023.
2021
Leddy JJ, Master CL, Mannix R, Wiebe DJ, Grady MF, Meehan WP, Storey EP, Vernau BT, Brown NJ, Hunt D, Mohammed F, Mallon A, Rownd K, Arbogast KB, Cunningham A, Haider MN, Mayer AR, Willer BS.: Early targeted heart rate aerobic exercise versus placebo stretching for sport-related concussion in adolescents: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 5(11): 792-799, Nov 2021.
2018
Vernau BT, Stephenson DJ. “Delayed Onset Abducens Palsy in a Concussed Child.” Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2018;17(1):20-22.
2015
Vernau BT, Grady MF, Goodman A, Wiebe DJ, Basta L, Park Y, Arbogast KB, Master CL. Oculomotor and Neurocognitive Assessment of Youth Ice Hockey Players: Baseline Associations and Observations After Concussion. Dev Neuropsychol. 2015 Jan;40(1):7-11.
“Just a contusion?” Kidney laceration in a Collegiate Football Player, Published to AAP Sports Medicine Case Studies