Dec. 5, 2024
STEVENS POINT – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Marshfield Clinic Health System have renewed their partnership for official sports medicine care through June 2027. This renewal builds on the high quality of comprehensive sports medicine care provided to student-athletes.
This medical model allows the athletic training staff, who are health system employees, provide seamless access to the entire system of services including team physician Dr. Chad Giles and team surgeon Dr. Jeffery Rossow.
There are seven full-time and several casual licensed athletic trainers supporting 26 collegiate teams of approximately 800 students. This level of support provides a dedicated athletic trainer for practices and events plus daily personalized care on campus. Athletes have full access to a highly trained sports medicine team. Dr. Giles and Dr. Rossow provide office hours on campus, in the training room or through field event coverage when attending games.
“We provide a full approach to sports medicine care including mental health support, rehabilitation services (including post operative return to play), efficient referral process," said Brock Reichardt, athletic training services manager.
The sports medicine team treats a wide range of injuries and illnesses including, but not limited to concussions, cardiovascular issues, orthopedic injuries, acute emergencies, eating disorders, viral illnesses, bacterial illnesses, skin disorders, lacerations, surgical cases, mental health, and other injuries and illnesses.
“Our continued partnership with Marshfield Clinic Health System merges two vital organizations in Central Wisconsin," said UW-Stevens Point Athletic Director Brad Duckworth. “UW-Stevens Point Athletics strives to provide our student-athletes the best experience in NCAA Division III athletics and having quality health care is an essential component. The world-renowned health care from Marshfield Clinic Health System gives our student athletes the best chance to compete at the highest level. I couldn't be more grateful for our continued partnership."
With this seamless access to care, the sports medicine team can be active with preventive resources, including early identification of injury and provide a rapid response to care and recovery. This partnership continues the trailblazing medical model.
“This is a unique model at the Division III level," said Aaron Homolka, director of rehabilitation services. “No other Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) school has a robust network of dedicated athletic trainers and team physicians working on campus."
The athletic training program is another example of the close partnerships the Health System and UWSP have developed in the last several years. In 2018, the two organizations announced a partnership to advance the development of the health care workforce by providing new education and training opportunities for students.
