Tradition. Values. Excellence. These three words define the University of Georgia Athletic Association and its official healthcare provider, St. Mary's Health Care System.

"St. Mary's is proud to be part of the team keeping the Bulldogs strong, healthy and in the game," says Tom Fitz, St. Mary's President and CEO. "We are honored that the coaches and staff trust us to be their partner in caring for UGA's student-athletes."

St. Mary's has been the Bulldogs' official health care provider since 1999. The Athletic Association chose St. Mary's after a competitive process, and has chosen St. Mary's continuously ever since.

"Excellence doesn't just happen; you have to work for it," says UGA Head Football Coach Mark Richt, who also served as honorary chairperson of the Campaign for St. Mary's.

"Whether on the football field or in the operating room, excellence demands vision, dedication and hard work. It takes faith in your mission, values and people. St. Mary's has all those qualities. That's why St. Mary's is the official health care provider for the University of Georgia Athletic Association."

Helping athletes stay healthy

The first priority for UGA's athletic training staff is keeping the athletes healthy. St. Mary's helps UGAA Director of Sports Medicine Ron Courson through a wide variety of services, including:

• Clinical training: St. Mary's offers continuing education for athletic trainers in areas such as CPR, first aid, advanced cardiac life support, physical therapy and a newly created course in basic emergency medical care.
• Research. Working with the athletic training program, the UGA Department of Kinesiology and Athens Orthopedic Clinic, St. Mary's helps advance the science of sports medicine. One recent study focused on ways to better evaluate the severity of concussions in high school athletes.
• Scholarship. St. Mary's encourages students to excel, and has established a $1,000 scholarship - the Mark Christensen Spirit of St. Mary's Award - for an athletic training student who delivers service in a personalized and compassionate manner.
• Surgical observation. St. Mary's hosts opportunities for athletic training students to observe surgeries, giving them better knowledge of injuries and surgical treatments.
• Patient visits. Athletes visit patients at St. Mary's Hospital to offer encouragement, pose for pictures, and sign autographs. The visits are great for patients, but often have a profound effect on the athletes, too.

"Some of the athletes have been touched by the strength and determination of the patients they have met at St. Mary's," says Lyn Wilkinson, St. Mary's Director of Radiology and liaison to UGAA. "Meeting someone who has to fight for life every single day can have a powerful effect on a young man or woman who's always been able to take good health for granted."

Helping athletes in need

Occasionally, athletes get a personal reminder of the importance of good health. Whatever the problem, from an injury on the field to a bad case of the flu, St. Mary's is ready to help.

• On the field. Brandon Hicks, M.D., a specialist in emergency medicine at St. Mary's, is on the sidelines at every home football game to provide emergency care for any player.
• Behind the hedges. St. Mary's provides diagnostic services and triage at Sanford Stadium, including fully digital x-ray technology. These services are provided not only to the 'Dawgs but to any player who needs care.
• Around the stadium. St. Mary's Emergency Medical Services is on the scene at nearly all UGA athletic venues to provide care to athletes and spectators for everything from scrapes to strokes.
• At the hospital. St. Mary's state-of-the-art diagnostic, surgical, nursing and rehabilitative capabilities help physicians diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions.
• After discharge. St. Mary's works closely with UGAA staff to create individualized care plans and outpatient rehabilitation to help athletes make the fullest possible recovery.

"We are here to go the extra mile," says Eliana Jordan, Emergency Center patient services associate. "They may be athletes, but they are also someone's child, and many of them are hundreds of miles from home. We want them to know that there is someone they can turn to if they need anything."

That same level of care is available for all patients who need it, Jordan adds. "Our goal is to give everyone the same treatment. If someone is alone or scared, we work to make them comfortable and let them know that we are here to help them."

"St. Mary's does a tremendous job with our student-athletes," Courson says, "delivering high quality care with highly trained staff in a timely and compassionate manner. They play a pivotal role in keeping our student-athletes healthy, allowing them to compete at the highest levels. We're proud to have St. Mary's on our team!"