IHMC Ocala evening lecture set for May 21

Dr. Theresa Currier Thomas [Photo courtesy IHMC]

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Posted May 5, 2026 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), including common forms of closed head injury such as concussion, is often assumed to be a short-term condition. Yet many individuals experience symptoms that persist or emerge later, including changes in mood, stress sensitivity, sleep and cognitive function.

In her lecture on May 21 at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition campus in downtown Ocala, Dr. Theresa Currier Thomas will discuss the invisible aftermath of concussion(s), which in the past impacted a close family member.

By connecting laboratory discoveries to real-world symptoms, the lecture will aim to explain why individuals may not feel “back to normal” despite appearing physically recovered and how a deeper understanding of brain function may lead to more effective approaches for improving long-term brain health and resilience.

Thomas is an associate professor in the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair within the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. She received her B.S. in agricultural biotechnology from the University of Kentucky, followed by a Ph.D. in anatomy and neurobiology and postdoctoral training in brain injury research at the University of Kentucky Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center.

Prior to moving to Florida, she directed the Translational Neurotrauma and Neurochemistry Research Laboratory and held faculty and research appointments at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Phoenix VA Health Care System. Her research examines the biological processes that drive late-onset and persistent symptoms after traumatic brain injury, with a focus on identifying early interventions to reduce long-term severity. She also studies how neuroendocrine dysfunction, particularly disruption of the stress response, influences recovery and rehabilitation outcomes.

Thomas serves on the executive committee of the National Neurotrauma Society and leads initiatives to support training and career development in neurotrauma research.

“I am deeply committed to mentorship, advocacy and building a strong neurotrauma community,” she shared via email. “I’ve helped develop several mentorship and networking programs, including one that has connected more than 340 trainees and professionals across 11 countries, 96 institutions and 29 states. Supporting career development and creating meaningful connections within the field is something I take seriously.

To learn more about the doctor, the “Gazette” did a Q&A with her.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Richmond, Kentucky, but I was raised in a small rural town called Beattyville. When I was about 7, my parents separated and my mother moved us to the Louisville area. I spent the school year in Louisville and weekends and summers back in Beattyville, so I grew up experiencing both rural and city life.

What kind of youth/young adult were you?

I was very observant and curious about people — why they behave the way they do and what drives their decisions. That curiosity is still at the core of what I do today. As a young adult, I was also very goal oriented. I worked after school at Taco Bell to save money for my senior trip to France, which was especially meaningful because of my French-Canadian heritage. Travel and cultural exchange were always part of family conversations growing up. 

When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up?

I didn’t — at least not early on. A research career wasn’t even on my radar growing up. In high school, I considered medicine, veterinary school and several lines of research, but nothing really fit. I just knew there were a lot of paths I didn’t want and I was still searching for the one that made sense.

What put you on your current path?

My path started somewhat unexpectedly. After my trip to France, I was encouraged to apply for an agricultural internship there the following summer. During that experience, a faculty mentor invited me to join her lab back in the U.S. and that was my first exposure to research. From that point on, I continued working in labs and eventually found my way to neuroscience.

But what truly committed me to this field was personal.

During my postdoctoral training, I took a neurotrauma course and learned about chronic symptoms following concussion. It immediately connected to my own life. When my mother was pregnant with my older brother, she was in a serious car accident — her head hit the windshield, and she fractured vertebrae in her neck. At the hospital, she was asked basic questions, answered them correctly and was sent home.

No one talked about long-term consequences.

She returned home with a head injury, a young child, a newborn and very little support. Growing up, I saw the effects — chronic headaches, depression, irritability and subtle but meaningful cognitive changes. At the time, those behaviors were misunderstood and often dismissed. This was very isolating for my mom. Looking back now, they are consistent with what we recognize as long-term effects of brain injury.

What’s most striking is that this is still happening. Even today, many people are told they’re “fine” if initial tests look normal, without meaningful education about what could develop later.

That realization changed the direction of my career.

My work now focuses on understanding why these long-term symptoms develop — particularly the role of brain circuits, hormones and stress — and identifying interventions that could prevent or reduce their severity. My goal isn’t just to study brain injury, but to change how we recognize and treat it.

How did you become connected to IHMC?

I recently moved to Tampa to join the University of South Florida after working at Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. I was recruited, in part, to work on a clinical trial evaluating hyperbaric oxygen therapy in veterans and active-duty military members with chronic traumatic brain injury, specifically to replicate some of the findings we see clinically in our preclinical models.

A colleague in Phoenix connected me with Dominik D’Agostino, who is actively working with hyperbaric oxygen chambers in preclinical models. He introduced me to IHMC because of our overlapping research interests in brain health, metabolism and performance. 

Please share with us about family, favorite activities, etc.

Right now, I’m in the process of relocating my husband and our dog to Tampa and we’re hoping to have everyone settled by the beginning of June.

Outside of work, I enjoy bourbon tastings, cooking, traveling and leadership development.

I also spend a lot of time thinking about how lifestyle factors — like nutrition, stress and daily habits — affect brain health, which closely ties into both my research and how I live my day-to-day life.

Each IHMC evening lecture begins with a catered reception at 5:30 p.m. Seating is limited so an RSVP is suggested and may be made through ihmc-20260521.eventbrite.com or by calling (850) 202-4415.