Big South Conducts First-Ever League-Wide Health Summit
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – The Big South Conference and High Point University jointly hosted the first-ever conference-wide Health Summit today on HPU’s campus. The event featured presentations by NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline as well as High Point professor Dr. Eric Hegedus, and provided education and updates on student-athlete health and wellness issues to Big South member institutional health professionals, coaches and administrators.
“The health and wellness of our student-athletes is our highest priority,” stated Big South Commissioner Kyle Kallander. “The Big South Student-Athlete Health Summit helps to provide resources to assist our members in providing outstanding and up-to-date care. We are grateful for the participation of NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline, and Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at High Point University Eric Hegedus and his team.”
Athletic trainers and other sports medicine personnel from all 10 Big South member institutions attended Monday’s Health Summit. Dr. Hainline began the day with a presentation on concussions, mental health, cardiac health, doping and recreational drug use, and data analytics and informatics.
The afternoon session featured Dr. Hegedus’ study and findings on comprehensive screening. Other speakers included Dr. Kevin Ford on predictors of ACL injuries, Dr. Jamey Smoliga on the causes of dyspnea in athletes, Dr. Alexis Wright on FAI, and Dr. Steve Dischiavi on the proximal control of the lower extremity.
Dr. Hainline has been actively involved in sports medicine for more than 25 years. He co-authored Drugs and the Athlete, and played a pivotal role in the development of drug testing and education protocols worldwide. He has served on the New York State Athletic Commission, the United States Olympic Committee’s Sports Medicine Committee and was a founding member of the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Neurology Sports Neurology Section, where he serves as vice chair. Dr. Hainline has been instrumental in the development of health and safety standards in tennis, both nationally and internationally. He was chief medical officer of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships for 16 years, and then served as chief medical officer of the United States Tennis Association before moving to the NCAA.
Dr. Hegedus has had a notable 24-year career as a leader and innovator in physical therapist education, research, and clinical practice and is founding Chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Department at High Point University. Dr. Hegedus also is founder and director of Targeted Enhanced Athletic Movement (TEAM). TEAM is a community-based health and wellness program designed to improve athletic performance and prevent injury.