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Dr. Bennet Omalu

Dr. Bennet Omalu

Keynote Speaker: First to Discover & Diagnose Chronic Brain Damage in NFL Athletes; Subject of 2015 Film "Concussion"

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    Live Event Fee: $30,000 - $50,000
    Virtual Event Fee: $30,000 - $50,000
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Dr. Bennet Omalu Biography

Dr. Bennet Omalu, born in Eastern Nigeria during the civil war in 1968, faced many challenges in his early life. His family, living as refugees, were under constant fire by the Nigerian Air Force, and he suffered from war-related undernutrition during his first two years. Despite these hardships, Omalu entered medical school at the young age of 15 and became a physician by 21.

During his tenure at the Allegheny County Coroner's office in Pittsburgh in 2002, Dr. Omalu made a significant career breakthrough. He was the first doctor to discover and identify chronic brain damage, which he named Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), as a major factor in the deaths of some professional athletes. This discovery came to light following an autopsy he conducted on Mike Webster, a renowned Center in NFL history, who had died at age 50. Over the next five years, Dr. Omalu identified CTE in eight more deceased NFL players, including Terry Long, Justin Strzelczyk, Andre Waters, and Tom McHale. He was also the first to discover CTE in military veterans diagnosed with PTSD, as well as professional wrestlers.

Despite his groundbreaking findings, Dr. Omalu's work was initially dismissed and even ridiculed by his professional peers, the NFL, and the sports industry at large. The NFL's Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee even called for the retraction of his findings, but Dr. Omalu persevered in his pursuit of truth. It wasn't until 2009, seven years after his initial discovery, that his research on CTE began to gain acceptance in the scientific community.

In recognition of his work, Dr. Omalu received the American Medical Association's Distinguished Service Award in 2016. His pioneering research has revolutionized neuroscience, sports medicine and safety, and the study of all types of brain trauma. His life and work were chronicled in a book and film, both titled "Concussion," released in 2015. Dr. Omalu has also authored other books on the subject, including "Play Hard, Die Young: Football Dementia, Depression, and Death" (2008), and "Truth Doesn't Have a Side: My Alarming Discovery About the Danger of Contact Sports" (2017).

Currently, Dr. Omalu is the President and Medical Director of Bennet Omalu Pathology, the Chief Medical Examiner for San Joaquin County, California, and a Professor at the University of California, Davis, in the Department of Medical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Despite achieving naturalized U.S. citizenship in 2015, he has faced controversies in his professional life, including disputes with the county sheriff over death investigations, leading to his resignation as chief medical examiner. Regardless, he continues his important work in pathology and brain injury research.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Dr. Bennet Omalu and other top speakers and celebrities.

Dr. Bennet Omalu Speaking Topics

Dr. Bennet Omalu brings to the stage a rare combination of humility and fervor, as he shares his story of going from humble beginnings in war-torn Nigeria to becoming one of the biggest disrupters in the history of sports and medicine. He details the challenges he faced taking on the NFL and other top US franchises to ensure that the truth—and risk—of chronic brain damage was known, understood, accepted, and at all costs, prevented. He also discusses the biases and obstacles he overcame as an African immigrant staunchly committed to studying medicine in the U.S. and rising to the top of his field, despite all odds.

Don't Break the Rules, Change the Game: How Bennet Omalu single-handedly changed American football, Professional sports, and how the world perceives traumatic brain injuries

Dream the Dream Bigger: How to conquer personal weaknesses by never losing sight of your goals and true potential

Overcoming Biases in Every Endeavor

The Mustard Seed Effect: How small steps can spark major change

Dr. Bennet Omalu Videos

Check Out Dr Bennet Omalu, Nigerian-Born Physician Blazing The ...
Dr. Bennet Omalu On Football And Traumatic Brain Injury | NowThis
Brain Health and Resilience: Fireside Chat

How do I book Dr. Bennet Omalu to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dr. Bennet Omalu for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dr. Bennet Omalu, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dr. Bennet Omalu or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Dr. Bennet Omalu for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Dr. Bennet Omalu, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Dr. Bennet Omalu are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $30,000 - $50,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dr. Bennet Omalu, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Dr. Bennet Omalu speak about?

Dr. Bennet Omalu is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Health, Inspirational, Mental Health, Healthcare, Technology, Football and Sports.

Where does Dr. Bennet Omalu travel from?

Dr. Bennet Omalu generally travels from Sacramento, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Dr. Bennet Omalu?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dr. Bennet Omalu for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dr. Bennet Omalu for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dr. Bennet Omalu or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Dr. Bennet Omalu is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Health, Inspirational and Mental Health. The estimated speaking fee range to book Dr. Bennet Omalu for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $30,000 - $50,000. Dr. Bennet Omalu generally travels from Sacramento, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Michael Oher, Cris Carter and Rebekah Gregory. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dr. Bennet Omalu for an upcoming event.

Dr. Bennet Omalu Speaking Topics

  • Dr. Bennet Omalu brings to the stage a rare combination of humility and fervor, as he shares his story of going from humble beginnings in war-torn Nigeria to becoming one of the biggest disrupters in the history of sports and medicine. He details the challenges he faced taking on the NFL and other top US franchises to ensure that the truth—and risk—of chronic brain damage was known, understood, accepted, and at all costs, prevented. He also discusses the biases and obstacles he overcame as an African immigrant staunchly committed to studying medicine in the U.S. and rising to the top of his field, despite all odds.

    Don't Break the Rules, Change the Game: How Bennet Omalu single-handedly changed American football, Professional sports, and how the world perceives traumatic brain injuries

    Dream the Dream Bigger: How to conquer personal weaknesses by never losing sight of your goals and true potential

    Overcoming Biases in Every Endeavor

    The Mustard Seed Effect: How small steps can spark major change

Dr. Bennet Omalu Videos

Check Out Dr Bennet Omalu, Nigerian-Born Physician Blazing The ...
Dr. Bennet Omalu On Football And Traumatic Brain Injury | NowThis
Brain Health and Resilience: Fireside Chat
Dr Bennet Omalu | Full Address and Q&A | Oxford Union

Dr. Bennet Omalu News

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