KiDZ Neuroscience Center

05/18/2026

05/15/2026

Let's give a warm round of congratulations to our latest UConcussion fellow, Caroline DuBois-Weber, who presented her research on concussion incidence and recovery outcomes in female flag football athletes this week at the 8th Annual University of Miami Sports Medicine Institute Research Day and at yesterday's Florida Brain Injury Research Symposium at the McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida.

Also sending a shoutout to one of our former UConcussion staff members, Dr. Jonathan Siegel, who was present at the UF event.

05/11/2026

Another new WalkSafe & BikeSafe research paper has been published!

This time, Ryan Hellinger, Karan Belday, Dr. Michelina Witte, and Dr. Gillian Hotz bring us the study "Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crashes with Motor Vehicles by the Childhood Opportunity Index;" exploring childhood crash incidence and severity in low SES areas.

The paper is available through the American Academy of Pediatrics Journal at: https://lnkd.in/eD52wPHT

01/13/2026

NEW STUDY ALERT! Our team has been hard at work piloting a new WalkSafe and BikeSafe effort to educate youths about safer multimodal roads, using 3D-printed modular pieces and interactive media.

"Development of a Novel Pedestrian and Bicyclists Injury Prevention Tool: A Pilot Study" is now available to read at Health Promotion Practice Journal: https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399251394703

Thank you to our fantastic team of Dr. Mickey Witte, Ryan Hellinger, Carolina Gomez, Luke O'Neil and Dr. Gillian Hotz for leading the scientific and educational elements of this initiative.

11/21/2025

11/20/2025

Last night marked a celebration of 20 years of the UHealth WalkSafe Program with a special screening of Wicked: For Good - an Emerald City anniversary.

WalkSafe has reduced pediatric pedestrian injuries by 70% in Miami-Dade County and continues strong two decades later as part of the KiDZ Neuroscience Center and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.

Thank you to everyone who came out in support and to walk the yellow brick road with us.

P.S.: If you missed the event and want to help make a difference for youth safety, consider our Friends of Safe Steps, which benefits both the WalkSafe and BikeSafe Programs: https://kidznc.org/donate

Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Ransom Everglades School
Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
Safe Routes Partnership

09/25/2025

Join the University of Miami KiDZ Neuroscience Center for a Focus Group Research Discussion

09/12/2025

We're back with the Hotz Spot Podcast!

Youth active mobility is the focus this month as Dr. Gillian Hotz interviews Kori Johnson, Senior Program & Engagement Manager at Safe Routes Partnership, the US national non-profit - now in its 20th year - supporting children walking and biking to schools, parks, and destinations in their neighborhood.

https://kidzneurosciencecenter.com/hotzspot/

Kori and Dr. Hotz discuss the importance of community engagement, the joy of seeing children exploring their neighborhoods, applying Safe Routes to School in both urban and rural settings, the application of through the WalkSafe and BikeSafe programs, and the upcoming virtual Safe Routes conference.

Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization Miami-Dade County Public Schools Miami-Dade Parks Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis & The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis Florida Department of Transportation FDOT Southeast Florida

The Hotz Spot Podcast explores the world of youth injury prevention with the director of the University of Miami KiDZ Neuroscience Center, Dr. Gillian Hotz, and a diverse collection of guests throughout the fields of medicine, sports transportation, and the sciences. Together, Dr. Hotz and her guest...