Dr. McKee is a leading authority on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease.

CTE is most commonly found in athletes participating in boxing, American football, ice hockey, other contact sports, and military service.

[5] In 2013, she reported that she had found evidence of CTE in over 70 of the athletes that she examined, including three NHL enforcers and 18 NFL players.

Dr. McKee has presented her findings to National Football League officials and testified before the United States House Judiciary Committee.

Chris Borland, a former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers who retired at the age of 24 due to brain injury concerns spurred by Dr. McKee's research, said "She may have saved my life.