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9 voices from the 2026 Symposium

Explore the perspectives, experiences, and insights shared by nine inspiring voices at the 2026 Symposium. Discover the ideas and conversations shaping the future of sport and athlete development.

Dr. Sara Hickmann is a Clinical Performance Psychologist for the Los Angeles Kings professional hockey team. She has a private practice in San Diego called Blue Mind Psychological Services, which is dedicated to being in, on or near the water as a way of enhancing mental health. Prior to working for the Kings and LA Clippers Basketball team, Dr. Hickmann was an embedded Psychologist for Naval Special Warfare Group ONE in Coronado and worked directly to support the Navy SEALS and support staff. She taught a “Sleep for Performance” course to the incoming operators for 4 years.

Dr. Hickmann was the Clinical and Sport Psychologist on the medical staff of the New York Jets Football team, the Brooklyn Nets Basketball team and the Sport Psychologist for the AGUA Club Swim Team in NYC. She served as the Director of Player Assistance Services in the Player Development Department at the National Football League (NFL) for 5 years and worked with players, coaches and club staff to help them with off the field success. Dr. Hickmann has given over 100 professional presentations in her career, including to Head Coaches for the NFL/NBA. Some of the main areas of her focus have been on performance psychology, transitions and stress, dealing with injuries and teaching meditation and mindfulness skills.

Dr. Hickmann received her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA, her M.A. in Sport Psychology from San Diego State, and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program at Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital and is currently a licensed clinical psychologist in the states of New York and New Jersey.

Dr. Hickmann worked in college athletics for approximately 30 years: she was a consultant to the Seton Hall and Rutgers University Athletics Departments, she was the academic advisor for the football team at San Diego State University, served as a Health Educator in the Athletics Department at the University of Virginia, and coordinated the academic program for the Athletics Department at the University of San Diego. Dr. Hickmann's doctoral dissertation was entitled, “Impulsivity as Predictor of Athletic Success and Negative Consequences in NFL Football Players.” She has attended numerous trainings in the prevention, treatment and understanding of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and specializes in helping athletes manage attention and focus issues, including those formally diagnosed with ADHD.

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9 voices from the 2026 Symposium

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