St. Louis, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis Athletics Department launches the Center of Excellence initiative comprised of five core areas dedicated to build and prepare Scholar-Champions for both today and beyond. Sports Performance, Sports Medicine, Nutrition, Enrichment Services and the soon-to-be-launched Well-Being Suite collectively will provide a competitive advantage to WashU student-athletes who want to become, and graduate, Scholar-Champions.
"WashU features a world-class education and an athletic home to stellar coaches and motivated student-athletes that embody a culture of intellectual curiosity and a winning mentality," said Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the John M. Schael Director of Athletics Anthony J. Azama. "This collective approach, the Center of Excellence, seeks to fully maximize the student-athletes' potential of competitive excellence in spite of fierce competition, while continuing to define and take advantage of opportunities moving forward." The end goal, in addition to attracting the very best, is to provide the experience, resources and roadmap for student-athletes to cultivate their talents to maximize future value beyond their four years of undergraduate study."
Over the next several days, we will highlight each of the five core areas that comprise the Center of Excellence. Each core area allows WashU Athletics to tangibly differentiate itself among competing institutions. Today's featured area is Sports Medicine.
Sports Medicine
WashU Sports Medicine features five full-time licensed athletic trainers – the largest staff WashU has had to date – to provide prevention, recognition and rehabilitation of athletic injuries.
"The recognition by the athletic department administration and the University of the need to invest in the whole student-athlete is incredible," said Head Athletic Trainer Chris Schultheiss. "We will now be able to care for and address all of the needs of our student-athletes in one place. This will allow us to provide a previously unprecedented level of care and will allow for the best outcomes in all aspects of their health and well-being. The COE will position this University and athletic department as a model for placing the welfare of the student-athlete at the forefront of the athletic experience."
The 4,000 square foot sports medicine facility features two doctors' exam offices where student-athletes are able to receive further evaluation and treatment from one of the seven doctors on the sports medicine team, which includes orthopedic doctors, a physiatrist and a chiropractor.
- Dr. Matthew Smith, Dr. Matthew Matava – Orthopedic Surgery
- Focus on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment (both surgical and non-surgical) of disorders of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and bones.
- Dr. Mark Halstead, Dr. Kayla Daniel – General Team Physicians
- Specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of general medical, concussive and orthopedic issues.
- Dr. Nathan Olafsen – Pain Management
- Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of complex neurologic or musculoskeletal injuries.
- Dr. Scott Hallums – Chiropractic
- Specializes in supportive therapies (massage, trigger point, soft tissue techniques and muscle rehabilitation) to assist healing and wellness.
- Tyler Puricelli – Pedorthist
- Clinician who is trained in management and treatment of conditions of the foot, ankle and lower extremities requiring fitting, fabricating and adjusting of pedorthic devices.
"Sports Medicines' partnership with WashU physicians who also work with local professional sports teams has provided a competitive advantage to the development and growth of student-athletes' preparation for play and the proper process for returning to play, while staying on the cutting edge of medical technology," said Azama.
The sports medicine facility also contains an AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill which uses a lifting effect to ease the impact on the lower body. It uses a differential air pressure technique, developed by NASA, to lift the user and allow them to walk or run at a fraction of their body weight. The AlterG is used to rehabilitate lower extremity injuries with less pain and less impact, prevents falls during training while rehabilitating and to develop and maintain aerobic fitness while rehabbing from injuring or surgery, as well as a host of other things. Additionally, there is a hydrotherapy area with two polar-plunge pools and an underwater treadmill.
"The investments that the administration has made in sports medicine has not only allowed our Scholar-Champions to receive a high level of care with the latest therapeutic and rehabilitative tools, but has also given them a competitive edge as they are able to come back fast and more prepared than the students they are competing against," said Schultheiss.
