Wilson Memorial Hospital has expanded their healthcare service line to include sports medicine and athletic training services. By the start of the 2010 fall high school sports season, Wilson Memorial will be the official sports medicine provider for the following four Shelby County schools: Sidney High School, Lehman Catholic High School, Fort Loramie High School and Anna High School. Wilson Memorial will provide full time athletic training coverage for each of the school’s athletic programs and access to the hospital’s comprehensive orthopedic and sports medicine services.
“This partnership is a natural extension of our relationship with the community,” said Tom Boecker, president and CEO. “It will create safer playing conditions for our student athletes while providing improved local access to top quality healthcare services.”
Sports medicine is a medical specialty that applies medical and scientific knowledge to prevent, recognize, manage, and rehabilitate injuries related to athletic activity. The athletic trainers placed within each of the four schools will be certified and licensed athletic trainers (ATC/LAT) and are highly skilled sports medicine professionals. They will manage the care and prevention of athletic injury for each school’s student athletes and serve as the liaison between physicians, coaches, parents and athletes.
Overseeing the Wilson Memorial Sports Medicine (WMSM) program is Matthew Heckler, D.O., orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist with Orthopedic Associates of Southwestern Ohio (OASWO). Dr. Heckler and the OASWO group have a Sidney office located on the Wilson Memorial campus to provide convenient, high quality, orthopedic care to the community.
“I am honored to serve as medical director of WMSM,” said Dr. Heckler. “But, the strength of this program is fueled by our athletic trainers, local coaches, and athletic directors. It really is a partnership between all entities in order to provide the elite level care the local athletes deserve and trust.”
Dr. Heckler has a special interest in the sports medicine field and has served as the team physician for many professional sports teams, including: MLB Minnesota Twins; NFL Minnesota Vikings; NBA Minnesota Timberwolves; NHL Minnesota Wild; WNBA Minnesota Lynx; and NLL Minnesota Swarm. Currently, he serves as the head team physician for the newly formed Dayton Dutch Lions Soccer Club, a professional soccer organization affiliated with the Dutch National Champions FC Twente club.
“Wilson Memorial’s mission is to provide community leadership by assuring access to the highest quality, comprehensive healthcare services,” said Boecker. “The new sports medicine program will do just that and provide convenient, close-to-home care for our student athletes.”
For more information about the Wilson Memorial Sport Medicine program, please call (937) 498-5548 or visit wilsonhealth.org.