Syracuse University athletes will have their health care, injuries and rehabilitation all handled by Upstate Medical University. The 7-year agreement includes marketing for Upstate coupled with SU athletics.
Syracuse women's lacrosse player Molly Guzik got a taste of that care when she cracked a bone in her foot last summer. The team athletic training staff couldn’t identify the problem. “The hardest part for me over these past eight weeks, was the first six weeks when I couldn't put any weight on my foot whatsoever,” said Guzik. “… the upstate staff and Kat, they were really reassuring to me, and they were really helpful in getting me to the point where I am (now), two days out of my boot.”
Guzik’s experience will be the new norm for all of Syracuse’s student athletes. The deal covers traditional athletic healthcare, such as orthopedics and sports medicine, and will expand each player's access to mental health services as well.
Director of Athletics Bryan Blair noted there is a lot of talk about money in college athletics, but this puts the athletes’ wellness front and center.
“Today is about our 550 student athletes having the best care possible, and I think in today's world you have a lot of (other universities) that just try to outspend everybody, and certainly we want to spend and be competitive. But you got to out care, you got to out people, and you got to out team the other team.”
Under the deal, Upstate providers will have decision making power over athlete treatment. That promise comes from the U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health, which advocates for an unbiased look at player well-being.
“My focus is making sure every decision about an athlete’s health and wellness rests with the medical team, not with the pressures of a season or a schedule. That standard is what this partnership makes possible,” said Dr. Chris Tanski, chief medical officer for the program.
There will also be sport-specific care to improve diagnoses of injuries, and guide rehabilitation.
Upstate will gain sponsorship opportunities, including branding within stadiums, representation on various media during games, and in print sources.
