Fellows are doctors who are receiving specialized graduate medical education in a subspecialty. They already have completed medical school and graduate training, or residency, in a primary specialty.

“We’re delighted to be able to train more doctors for careers in sports medicine,” said Dr. Eric Coris, director of the University of South Florida’s Sports Medicine Division, co-director of the fellowship, and associate professor of family medicine. “With a population that is aging but also more active, there’s an incredible need for more physicians who can care for people with athletic injuries and help them stay healthy and active.”

The fellowship program will be based at the Turley Family Health Center in Clearwater. The health center, operated by Morton Plant Mease, provides comprehensive health care services to a diverse group of patients without regard to a patient’s ability to pay.

“The program will offer the fellows the opportunity to learn in various training environments,” said Dr. Sean Bryan, co-director of the fellowship and a USF affiliate associate professor of family medicine.

“This is a best of both worlds situation,” Dr. Bryan said. “Imagine having the resources of a strong community health system and a major academic health center at your disposal.”
Fellows will receive training from USF primary care sports medicine faculty as well as from USF and community orthopedic surgeons, cardiologists, other specialists and allied health professionals, Dr. Bryan said.

“We understand that to provide the best care for athletes, you need a multi-disciplinary team approach,” he said.

As part of their training, the fellows will help support community sports events and activities, including the St. Anthony’s Triathlon and the Morton Plant Mease Triathlon. They’ll also help care for students in USF Athletics, under the supervision of USF faculty members.

“We’re fortunate to have access to a wide range of athletes in high school, Division I college, professional baseball, football and multiple triathlons. This will provide significant depth to our training,” Dr. Bryan said.

Core faculty members for the fellowship will include: Dr. Bryan; Dr. Coris; Dr. Ted Farrar, associate director of the fellowship; and Dr. Michelle Pescasio, assistant director of the fellowship.

The USF College of Medicine created the USF Sports Medicine Institute, which is dedicated to caring for athletes of all ages and skill levels, as well as people who are physically active at home and at work. The institute’s providers offer diagnosis and treatment of all athletic injuries, as well as expert pre-sports participation exams.

Nationally recognized for health care excellence, Morton Plant Mease Health Care is dedicated to providing community owned health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. Morton Plant Mease Health Care is comprised of the following hospitals – Morton Plant, Clearwater; Mease Dunedin, Dunedin; Mease Countryside, Safety Harbor and Morton Plant North Bay, New Port Richey.

About USF Health
USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $360 million in research grants and contracts last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

About Morton Plant Mease
Nationally recognized for health care excellence, Morton Plant Mease Health Care is dedicated to providing community owned health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care. Morton Plant Mease Health Care is comprised of the following hospitals – Morton Plant, Clearwater; Mease Dunedin, Dunedin; Mease Countryside, Safety Harbor and Morton Plant North Bay, New Port Richey.

Barbara Morris, assistant director of the SMART Institute, presents Coach of the Year Award to Gaither HS Coach Thomas Payne.

The Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma Institute held its first annual SMART Appreciation Event for coaches, parents, athletic trainers and their families June 2 at the USF Health Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare. Inaugural awards were presented for Coach of the Year, Parent of the Year, and Comeback Athlete of the Year to those receiving the most nominations from the SMART certified athletic trainers working in the Hillsborough County high schools.

Thomas Payne, a defensive backs football coach for Gaither High School, was recognized as 2009 Coach of the Year. This award was given to a coach who supported the school’s athletic trainer, allowed them to complete their responsibilities and accepted decisions regarding student athletes’ health.

“Coach Payne truly understood the importance of an athletic trainer in the secondary setting and supported the SMART sports safety mission,” said Barbara Morris, MS, ATC, assistant director of the SMART Institute. “He donated large amounts of athletic training supplies to Vicki Kean, the SMART ATC at Gaither. And, during the fall sports banquet, he left during the ceremony to search for a florist so that Vicki and her USF athletic training student could be presented with flowers as a token of the team’s appreciation.”

Chap Celerin, a parent from Brandon High School, was named Parent of the Year for supporting the delivery of athletic training services to the school’s student athletes. Celerin was cited for enthusiastically and quickly assisting the SMART athletic trainer at Brandon, without interfering with the athletic trainer’s job responsibilities.

Demetrice Devlin, a student at Blake High School, won the Comeback Athlete of the Year award. Devlin suffered a potentially career-ending injury during the third football game of the season, and through hard work, dedication, a positive attitude and proper rehabilitation guidance from SMART athletic trainer Sharvettye Frazier, he returned to play the last few games of the season.

Attendees had the opportunity to meet USF Health orthopedic surgeons and USF Bulls team physicians and to tour the Morsani Center.

Morris with Parent of the Year Chap Celerin (Brandon HS)

Morris with Comeback Athlete of the Year Demetrice Devlin, a student at Blake HS.

David Leffers, MD

University of South Florida orthopedic surgeon David Leffers, MD, a widely-recognized authority in sports medicine, has been appointed chair of the USF Health Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

Dr. Leffers takes over for Robert Pedowitz, MD, who established and led the fledgling department through its pivotal growth during his two-year tenure. Dr. Pedowitz has accepted a position as Orthopaedic Surgery Chair at his alma mater, the University of California-Los Angeles, which has a nationally ranked top 10 medical school.

“There are many heroes in the story of orthopedics at USF, Dr. Leffers and Dr. Pedowitz among them,” said Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, CEO for USF Health and dean of the College of Medicine. “Four years ago USF Athletics Director Doug Woolard made it clear he wanted USF doctors to be the team doctors for the USF Bulls. To make that happen Dr. Leffers joined the College of Medicine. Dr. Pedowitz arrived to build the department, and Dr. Doug Letson built the new residency program, which became an instant success. I can’t thank all of them enough.”

“USF and the Tampa Bay community are my home. I welcome the challenge of working with an excellent group of faculty to advance the department, building upon the solid foundation established by Dr. Pedowitz,” Dr. Leffers said. “Moving forward, we will further strengthen our residency program directed by Dr. Letson and our relationships with community partners.”

Dr. Leffers, who has a longstanding affiliation with the USF College of Medicine, joined the faculty full-time as an associate professor in 2006. A team physician for the USF Bulls since 1984, he has cared for professional and amateur athletes and teams across the Tampa Bay area. He is among the core group of faculty who worked with Dr. Pedowitz to create the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

Among the accomplishments of this faculty in building an integrated orthopaedics and sports medicine initiative:

• Accreditation of the USF Orthopaedic Surgery Residency training program, which was re-established after 15 years without an orthopedic training program in the Tampa Bay region. The program has expanded from six to 16 residents since July 2007 and attracts top applicants from across the country. Orthopaedic residents train at several facilities that had not previously hosted any USF residency programs (University Community Hospital, Lakeland Regional Hospital/Watson Clinic, St. Joseph’s Hospital) along with traditional teaching partners (Tampa General Hospital, the VA System and All Children’s Hospital). In addition to the residency, the USF Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship, one of few in the state, has been accredited.

• The USF Athletic Training and Education Program (ATEP), previously housed in the College of Education, was integrated into the Department. The undergraduate athletic training program is the first in the country housed in an orthopaedics department. The program recently underwent its accreditation site visit and passed with an exemplary review under the guidance of Program Director Micki Cuppett, EdD. All positions have been filled for the upcoming academic year from a highly-qualified candidate pool.

• The USF Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma (SMART) program continues its push to improve sports safety statewide under the direction of Executive Director Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, PT, vice chair of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. SMART has placed 10 full-time certified athletic trainers in area high schools that previously had no formal health care available for student athletes. They are collecting data for a Sports Injury Surveillance Registry that will facilitate vital studies needed to prevent injuries in young athletes.

• The department has led the way in using the Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare, for surgery and for collaborating with the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences to create a comprehensive sports health team.

• The department’s basic science core, developed under the leadership of David Birk, PhD, provides a strong pathway for interdisciplinary, high-impact musculoskeletal research at USF. This program will exploit the cutting-edge resources provided by the Lisa Muma Weitz Advanced Microscopy and Cell Imaging Core.

Dr. Leffers obtained his medical degree from the University of Tennessee and completed his residency training at the University of Southern California, followed by fellowship training in sports medicine at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in California. He is a member of the American Orthopedic Society of Sports Medicine, the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Orthopedics Society of Sports Medicine, the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Southern Orthopedic Association.

“Dr. Leffers will lead a department with stellar faculty and a bright future,” Dr. Klasko said. “We look forward to continuing to establish the worldwide reputation of orthopaedics and sports medicine at USF.”

Barbara Morris, MS, ATC, CSCC, ROT, assistant program director of USF Health’s Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma (SMART) Institute, won the organization’s Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year award. The award is given to an athletic trainer who has displayed a high level of professionalism and whose contributions have improved the profession above and beyond their employment setting. Morris, who teaches in the USF Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine’s Athletic Training Education Program, is a certified athletic trainer, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, and a registered orthopaedic technologist. She oversees the SMART Outreach Program, which provides ATC coverage and care to Tampa Bay area high schools.

Morris is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Southeastern Athletic Trainer's Association, the Florida Athletic Trainer's Association, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and the American Society of Orthopaedic Professionals. She earned a master's of science degree from the University of Central Arkansas, specializing in kinesiology, and is working on a doctorate in health sciences from Nova Southeastern University.

Gianluca Del Rossi, PhD, ATC, was selected as the ATAF’s College/University Athletic Trainer of the Year. The award is given to a college or university athletic trainer who displays a high level of professionalism and whose contributions have improved the profession and the ATAF. Dr. Del Rossi, who teaches in the Athletic Training Education Program, is an assistant professor in USF Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and director of Sports Medicine Research.

He earned his PhD in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine from the University of Florida and has been a certified athletic trainer for more than 10 years. He chairs the Scholarship Committee of the Southeastern Athletic Trainers' Association and is the Florida representative of the National Athletic Trainers' Association Research and Education Foundation.

For a second time in two years, Associate Professor, Eric Coris, MD, has been nominated for the prestigious Humanism in Medicine Award by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). Students from the USF College of Medicine overwhelmingly voted for Coris and his nomination has now moved forward in the awards process earning him a spot among 45 finalists & nominees selected from across the U.S. The official announcement from the AAMC came on September 10th.

The award winner of the national 2008 Humanism in Medicine Award will be announced during the November 1, 2008 AAMC Awards Dinner of the Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. For Coris this is the second time students have chosen him for the Humanism in Medicine Award nomination - also nominated in 2006.

USF medical students on the Organization of Student Representatives for the USF College of Medicine based their nomination of Coris on five defining characteristics:
- positive mentoring skills
- compassion and sensitivity
- collaboration
- community service activity
- observance of professional ethics

In addition to his role as an Assistant Professor in Family Medicine & Sports Medicine, Dr. Coris is the Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine for USF, the Head Medical Team Physician for USF Athletics and the Assistant Director of USF Sports Medicine Fellowship.

The data collected by Dr. Eric Coris, Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine, University of South Florida, is used to prevent potentially life-threatening heat illness in student athletes.

At left, Doug Woolard, USF Athletic Director, joins Coris and the team for a morning of practice. Woolard noting that the university is proud to be part of a research study that can benefit the entire community.

The AAMC, with the support of the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative (PMHI), honors "humanistic" physicians nationwide. The goal of the award is to advance the ideals of humanism in medicine, including compassion, understanding and partnership.

Congratulations to Dr. Eric Coris!

Other links:

Coris' Biographical Sketch

Coris' Heat Pill Study w/USF Bulls

2006 AAMC Humanism in Medicine Nominee Ceremony

2007 AAMC Humanism in Medicine Nominee Ceremony - Dr. Jose Lezama, Internal Medicine

Newsbrief by Lissette Campos, Photography by Eric Coris - USF Health Communications

The silicone coated 'heat pill' was developed using NASA technology.

The data collected by Dr. Eric Coris, Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine, University of South Florida, is used to prevent potentially life-threatening heat illness in student athletes.

Part of the technology involves a host of portable electronic devices that Dr. Coris and athletic staff members wear. The pill, ingested by players the night prior to practice, sends out a signal to the recording devices like the ones shown here.

The three year research study has confirmed that hydration and adequate fluid intake is a significant part of heat illness prevention.

This device is what Dr. Coris refers to as his "little weather station". The device helps record ambient heat and humidity.

From L to R: USF Health Media Center videographer Jean Rene Rinvil and Anne DeLotto Baier of the USF Health Communications Office.

At left, Doug Woolard, USF Athletic Director, joins Coris and the team for a morning of practice. Woolard noting that the university is proud to be part of a research study that can benefit the entire community.

At left, Dr. Eric Coris is the Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine for USF and Associate Professor in the USF College of Medicine - Family Medicine and Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. See Heat Pill Study Video Below.

USF Study to Prevent Heat Illness in Student Athletes May Have Applications Beyond the Playing Field

It’s another hot and humid August morning of preseason practice for the USF Bulls football team. With the sun beating down on the field, the temperature is already 90 degrees Fahrenheit at 9 a.m., and the “feels like” temperature is a sweltering 105 degrees.

Sweat pours off the players wearing heavy pads and helmets as they run, tackle, jump, throw and catch, eager to start a new season of Big East football. On the sidelines, Dr. Eric Coris and the team’s athletic trainers move quickly among some players who have briefly left the field, touching a small data recorder to their lower backs or abdomens. The device reads the internal temperature of players who swallowed a silicone-coated pill the night before. The pill, an ingestible thermometer the size of a large multivitamin, transmits low-frequency magnetic signals from deep within the gut to the data recorder held outside the body.

For the last three years, Dr. Coris, director of Primary Care Sports Medicine at USF Health, has led a cutting-edge research study to help prevent heat illness in athletes. Besides working with football players on the practice field, he has also tested the electronic pill with athletes in the laboratory, where heat and humidity can be carefully controlled.

“Since we began using the pill, we’ve seen a dramatic decrease in the number of players we’ve had to cart off the field to treat with an IV for heat exhaustion and severe body cramps,” said Dr. Coris, a USF Bulls team physician who has received funding from the National Football League, the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health, and from USF Health’s Sports Medicine and Athletic-Related Trauma Institute.

The player’s core temperature can be continuously monitored from a personal digital assistant (PDA) on the sidelines. If it creeps up to 103 degrees, the player is pulled from the field, soaked in ice water and given fluids to prevent the progression to potentially life-threatening heat stroke, the most severe form of heat illness. “They usually cool down fairly quickly – within 5 or 10 minutes,” Dr. Coris said. “We don’t want them staying at higher temperatures for long periods.”

Dr. Coris and colleagues have verified some things since starting the heat pill study. They know which types of players are more prone to heat illness – those massive defensive and offensive linemen who pack on the pounds and shoulder a heavy workload are at the top of the list. And despite some earlier debate in the literature, the USF researchers have shown that dehydration is a major risk factor for rising core temperatures and replenishing fluids and electrolytes goes a long way in protecting players from heat illness.

There is more to learn. For instance, why do some high-risk players with elevated core temperatures show no typical heat illness symptoms like headaches, lightheadness, nausea or cramps? Once a higher than normal core temperature is detected, how much time does the athletic training and medical staffs have to intervene before heat illness escalates to the onset of heat stroke? That’s the point at which the body’s organs start shutting down, usually around 105 degrees.

“We’re not sure, and that’s why this research is so important… There’s likely some individual variability in risk based on differences in heat shock protein, Interleukin 6, Interleukin 10, and other factors regulating your ability to tolerate heat,” Dr. Coris said. “We’re continuing to evaluate how typical it is for athletes to get to these high core temperatures, how long they can stay there before showing symptoms, and trying to define the danger point where they go from just being very hot to getting really sick.”

With data collected from the heat pill study this preseason, Dr. Coris is working on fine-tuning a new questionnaire intended to assess heat illness in athletes. The checklist correlates symptoms of heat illness with measures of internal core temperatures. Since the heat pill costs about $40 a pop, the goal is to create a more cost-effective tool that will help identify players who might be most vulnerable.

“A lot of recreational youth sports leagues can’t afford the heat pills, so we have to come up with something to protect the teams without access to the technology,” Dr. Coris said. “We want to help youth football or Little League coaches – using some targeted questions -- to predict which kids would be at greatest risk for heat illness problems the next day and intervene before they get into trouble.”

“Over the last two years in Hillsborough County, we lost two teen athletes to heat stroke, so if we could prevent some of those deaths that would be huge.”

Dr. Coris presented the latest USF data incorporated into the heat illness symptom index at the American College of Sports Medicine 2008 Meeting this spring. Once validated, Dr. Coris said, such a checklist would have applications beyond protecting athletes on the practice and playing fields. It could benefit outdoor laborers in Florida or workers in industrial environments where heat is a concern.

USF Athletic Director Doug Woolard said the type of cutting-edge research conducted by Dr. Coris, is a critical part of the partnership bridging USF Health and Athletics as well as the university’s commitment to the well-being of its student athletes. “At first, I don’t think our players knew what to think (about the heat pill),” he said. “Now that they’ve seen their teammates from a preventative standpoint get treated and taken care, they consider it a real benefit.”

Story by Anne Baier, Photography by Eric Younghans/ USF Health Communications

HEAT PILL STUDY VIDEO

Other Links:
Photo Gallery 2008
Reporter's Notebook

View Newschannel 8 clip on SMART's PEP Program...

Athletes at high risk for ruptured or torn ACLs include those who play basketball.

Tampa, FL (Jan. 24, 2008) -- The University of South Florida’s Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma Institute (SMART) has introduced to area high schools a program to help prevent one of the most common sports-related knee injuries, which disproportionately affects female athletes. Studies show that female high school and collegiate athletes are four to 10 times more likely than their male counterparts to suffer a ruptured or torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) – a central ligament connecting the thighbone to the shinbone.

The “Prevent Injury, Enhance Performance” (PEP) program has been adopted by half of the 10 high schools in Hillsborough County where SMART, a state-sponsored sports safety outreach program, has deployed certified athletic trainers, said SMART Assistant Director Barbara Morris, an instructor in the USF Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. SMART offered the program to the coaches of all girls teams this fall and initially worked with those who implemented all or parts of the training regimen.

“Preventing ACL injuries is much easier and cost effective than treating them,” Morris said. “We want to work with coaches to help decrease the incidence of ACL injuries at the high schools where we have a presence.”

The ACL helps stabilize the knee and is often stretched or torn by a sudden twisting motion while the feet remain planted. Athletes at high risk for this frequently season-ending knee injury include those playing soccer, basketball, football and volleyball – any sport with sharp changes in direction or jumping.

The PEP program was created by the Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Foundation in Santa Monica, CA, to decrease the number of ACL injuries in female soccer players but can also be used in other high-risk sports. The strategic 15-minute exercise regimen is designed to be performed two to three times a week during the season. It helps strengthen and stretch stabilizing muscles around the knee, emphasizes proper posture and landing technique, and teaches players how to avoid vulnerable positions. The training drill has been shown to reduce ACL injuries by two to four-fold.

Jason Herring, the head coach for the Freedom High School girls varsity basketball team, worked with Michele McCoy, the SMART certified athletic trainer at Freedom, to integrate the PEP program into his team’s practices three to four times a week.

“We did static stretching before, but this program made more sense to me. I’m definitely pleased with the improvements I’ve seen so far,” said Herring, who in the past sustained an ACL tear while playing basketball with a recreational league. “It’s building on their muscle strength, endurance, agility and balance – all key elements needed to prepare players for the vigorous game of basketball. Injuries will happen in competitive sports, but you want to prevent as many as possible -- so it’s good to be involved a safety program backed by research.”

Coaches are essential role models in persuading student athletes to recognize the importance of injury prevention training, McCoy said. “The girls on Coach Herring’s team now own the PEP program, because he was an enthusiastic proponent and his players understand why the exercises benefit them.”

“ACL injuries are a huge problem – an epidemic among young women athletes,” said Robert Pedowitz, MD, PhD, professor and chair of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

“If you look at high school students who play competitive soccer and basketball, the vast majority who suffer ACL injuries end up having reconstructive surgery. This type of knee injury requires six months to a year of postoperative rehabilitation.”

Title IX legislation, enacted in the early 1970s, required publicly-funded schools to offer girls and women equal opportunities to play sports. Since then, the number of female athletes in competitive sports has jumped – and so has their incidence of ACL injuries.

Many earlier theories for why young women are more susceptible to the knee-busting injury than men, including differences in hormones and anatomy, have not proven true, said Dr. Pedowitz, who has conducted ACL research. “Many physicians and scientists now believe that neuromuscular performance – factors like the strength and coordination of muscles that make a difference in the landing styles of girls and boys when they run and jump – are driving the higher rates of ACL injury in young women athletes.”

Whether these neuromuscular gender differences are related to sports experience and training or genetics is still debated, but Dr. Pedowitz suspects as more girls train and compete in team sports at younger ages their incidence of ACL injuries may begin to decline.

USF SMART recently began tracking the incidence ACL and other sports-related injuries in Hillsborough County high schools where its certified athletic trainers work. “The purpose of SMART is to identify areas that threaten the safety of Florida athletes and do what we can to change that,” Dr. Pedowitz said. “Through our computerized injury surveillance program, we’ll have the ability to measure the impact of preventive programs such as PEP on our student athletes.”

Coaches, parents of student athletes, or others interested in more information about the PEP program can contact Barbara Morris at (813) 396-9626 or bmorris@health.usf.edu.

- USF Health -

USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With $308 million in research funding last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of Florida’s top three research universities.

Larry Collins, PA-C, ATC

Tampa, FL (Jan. 14, 2008) – Larry Collins, a physician assistant (PA) and instructor at the University of South Florida Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, has been recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

Only 200 out of approximately 70,000 PAs practicing in the U.S. have been earned the AAPA's distinction of Distinguished Fellow.

All Distinguished Fellows have demonstrated exceptional contributions to their communities and a commitment to all aspects of health care.

Collins has been a physician assistant in Tampa for more than 17 years and currently treats patients and educates students in the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at USF.

He earned the recognition for his outstanding contributions to patient care and the PA profession during his years as a physician assistant in Tampa. He has also demonstrated significant dedication and involvement within the Tampa Bay community. Collins continues to volunteer at various athletic competitions across the Tampa Bay area, as well as nationally and internationally.

Collins has worked with the Sports Medicine faculty and staff at USF since 1990 and has also volunteered at the University of Tampa and Saint Leo University. For the past two decades he has provided medical coverage at Friday night high school football games. He has also worked with the United States Olympic Training Program in Colorado Springs and was assigned to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 2007 Winter World University Games in Torino, Italy.

Collins volunteers yearly for pre-competition physicals for several youth organizations across the Tampa region and helps coordinate medical coverage for local events such as adventure races, triathlons and road races.

He is an avid runner, cyclist and triathlete, having completed several Ironman triathlons. In 2003, he was a member of the FOI/Arthritis Foundation four-man team that raised $40,000 and finished third in the Race Across America (RAAM) -- completing the San Diego to Atlantic City bicycle race in 7 days, 2 hours.

Physician assistants are licensed health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physicians, delivering a broad range of medical and surgical services. The AAPA is the only national organization representing physician assistants in all medical and surgical specialties and is one of the largest medical societies in the United States.

- USF Health -

USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With $308 million in research funding last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of Florida’s top three research universities.

Photo of the Charter Class of the USF Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program started July 1, 2007. Six residents are (from L to R) Paul Edwards, MD; Eric Henderson, MD; Odion Binitie, MD; Stephen Wilson, MD; German Marulanda, MD, and Derek Weichel, MD.

The November 2007, Volume I, No. 9 Edition of AAOS Now has published a story on the return of the Orthopaedics Residency Training Program to the University of South Florida's College of Medicine. The article written by journal writer Jennie McKee is entitled "Orthopaedics Makes a Comeback at USF - University reopens orthopaedic training program after 17 years."

AAOS Now is produced by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons - with a membership nationwide exceeding 31,000.

Click here to view journal article.

Newsbrief by Lissette Campos, USF Health Communications
Photo by Eric Younghans, USF Health Media Center

On November 8, 2007, the Tampa Tribune published the following article on the health hazards of heavy backpacks, book bags, purses, etc. Dr. Robert Pedowitz, Chair of the Department of Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, USF College of Medicine, was interviewed for the story. Dr. Pedowitz is a published author on numerous issues related to orthopedics, orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.

To view story as it appeared in Tribune, click here.

Tampa Tribune
"Overfill Your Pack, And You'll Hurt Your Back"
Tribune Reporter Patty Kim
Published: November 8, 2007

University of Tampa business marketing student Stephanie Camacho is learning one lesson the hard way. Commuting from Northdale means hauling her belongings – which can weigh 19 pounds or more — across campus from her parking spot.

Her trusty laptop bag and computer weigh in at 10 pounds, and her book bag — full of books, binders, a phone, wallet, keys and more — is almost as heavy.

"Normally I carry my laptop by hand because it kills my shoulder," says Camacho, 18. "I carry my other bag on my other shoulder, but I feel the pain."

They're aches that can lead to pricey chiropractic adjustments. And Camacho is not unusual.
Lori A. Tindall, director of placement and recruiting at Administrative Partners in Tampa, regularly juggles an oversized purse and laptop bag on her way from a parking garage several blocks away. It can be a challenge, she says. "I carry too much stuff," says Tindall. "We are all pack mules, even our children. I'm very concerned about their back health."

Are you packing on extra pounds in the form of laptop bags and oversized purses or messenger bags and paying the price for it? If you're experiencing persistent pain in your neck, shoulders and lower back, you could be. Tennis elbow and wrist problems also abound.

"Most of the time, these types of problems can be solved by changing the activity or getting in better physical condition," says Robert A. Pedowitz, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of South Florida. "If the public is aware of the problem and makes a connection between what they're doing and their symptoms, that's the first step. Then they can generally correct it themselves."

He should know. Pedowitz spends much of his time traveling, often lugging a heavy laptop in a briefcase. Pedowitz had back surgery in 1992 for chronic pain.

Now he uses carry-on luggage to wheel around airports. "It makes a huge difference. I've significantly decreased my back pain after a long trip," he says.

If you find yourself slumping from the extra weight you're carrying around every day, your spine could be in trouble, says physical therapist Gregory Todd, co-owner of Renewal Rehab in south Tampa and Wesley Chapel. About half of his new patients are suffering from back pain related to heavy loads, he says.
Your posture should take into account the C curve of your midback and the reverse curves of your upper and lower back. Strain those curves and you're asking for trouble, Todd says.

Save yourself the aches and pains with these tips:
Design is more important than you think. If you're hauling a heavy load, look for a bag that carries most of the weight near your spine, or the center of your body, which means less stress, Pedowitz says. His top recommendation is a dual-strap bag.
Messenger bags are OK if you carry most of the weight on your butt as opposed to one side. Large purses and bags that you carry on one shoulder or by hand are the worst offenders, Pedowitz says. "They can strain your hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder," he says.
"Another problem is the expectation that we should be carrying that much weight around in the first place," Pedowitz says. "With women, I see them carrying around purses filled with all sorts of stuff. I have to wonder, is all that stuff inside there really necessary?"
And don't let your child, whose spine and extremities are still growing, tote a ton of books, Pedowitz says. If you can't lighten the load, wheel it around instead.
If all else fails and you still can't part with an ounce of extra stuff, head to the gym and bump up your strength conditioning. Hit the weights to build up your shoulders, arms and back, Pedowitz says. Todd recommends Pilates to strengthen the entire core, including your back. You'll have a healthy routine in the bag in no time.

DANIA AL-DEEN, 23
International business and finance student at University of Tampa

She commutes from Brandon and always has a purse — with a prayer rug, wallet, cell, calculator, brush, keys and more — and stuffed backpack filled with books, binders and a laptop. It's no surprise that she experiences back and shoulder pain.
"I gotta have my stuff. I guess it's my way of keeping myself in shape," Al-Deen says. "But I think it affects my posture. I always bend forward trying to balance myself."
Dead weight: Backpack, 16 pounds; purse, 4 pounds

STEPHANIE CAMACHO, 18
Business marketing student at University of Tampa

She commutes from Northdale with a laptop bag and another bag with her books, binders, wallet, keys, phone and more.
"I used to go to a chiropractor for back pain in high school," Camacho says. "Normally I carry my laptop bag by hand because it kills my shoulder. I carry my other bag on my other shoulder, but I feel the pain."
Dead weight: Bag, 9 pounds; laptop bag, 10 pounds

CARLOS ESCALANTE, 31
DTI messenger for Holland & Knight

He typically carries a large black messenger bag across his body with everything from his lunch to his daily planner to work notes.
"It gives me a workout, actually. I'm used to it," says Escalante, who usually has a 20-minute walk from a downtown parking garage in to work. "I haven't had any problems."
Dead weight: 10 pounds

RAFAEL MILANES, 29
First Rate Mortgage

He lugs a laptop bag with his computer, notes and folders over one shoulder. He balances it with an iced coffee.
"It's light today. From here to the car, it's usually bearable," Milanes says of his two-minute walk. "I go to the gym in the evenings, and I think that helps."
Dead weight: 10 pounds

LORI A. TINDALL
Director of placement and recruiting for Administrative Partners in Tampa.

She normally lugs around an oversized purse and a laptop bag.
"I carry too much stuff in my purse," Tindall says. "Sometimes I notice problems, especially when I park at Fort Brooke. It's tough to make it sometimes. We are all pack mules, even our children. I'm very concerned about their back health."
Dead weight: 4.5 pounds

Subheadline which also appeared in their online coverage was: "Watson Clinic and LRMC included in residency training program".

Reporter was Robin Williams Adams from The Leder.
To view full coverage and photos click on The Ledger .

Courtesy: Sports Illustrated

"FRESH JUICE IN FLORIDA"

The University of South Florida football team is featured in the new issue of Sports Illustrated hitting newsstands. While New England Patriot Tom Brady is on the cover, USF is highlighted with a ribbon text box along the lower right hand corner. The story is written by Phil Taylor and is titled, "Fresh Juice in Florida."

Below is paragraph from the article:
"Those results opened the door a bit wider for South Florida, which won at Auburn and beat West Virginia when the Mountaineers were No. 5 in the nation, to do what would have been considered all but impossible a few weeks ago -- slip into the BCS championship game. If Appalachian State can walk into the Big House and stun fifth-ranked Michigan, if Stanford, with its paper-thin roster, can prove to prodigiously talented USC that games aren't won with a depth chart, why should it be a shocker that USF, a program that didn't even have offices for its coaching staff three years ago, has a realistic chance to play for the national title? "It's just been that kind of year," says Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll. "You can take the concept of who's a favorite and who's an underdog and throw it out the window. You don't have to be a big-name school to win; you just have to play good football."

USF is also scheduled to be featured in USA Today on Thursday and in ESPN The Magazine's Oct. 24 issue.

Eric Coris, MD, Family Medicine, on the practice field.

USF Health's team of physicians and athletic trainers are the official team doctors for the USF Bulls. To meet the team from the USF Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine who travel with the team, click here.

Cover image courtesy: Sports Illustrated Magazine

Meet the Team Physicians taking care of the USF Bulls
Updated October 23, 2007

They run to the deafening roar of the crowds…can break through the thickest sea of humanity… are always on the hunt for red. Pamplona, Spain may be famous for its running of the bulls, but Tampa has some famous bulls of its own – the USF Bulls!

And just like the "toros" in Spain, our Bulls hunt red - Scarlet Knights red, that is!

In what has been a record setting year for the team, the Bulls achieved the rank of No. 2 team in the country’s Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and despite a loss to Rutgers University's Scarlet Knights on October 18th, continue on their quest for a major bowl. It remains a thrilling ride for the team and the doctors taking care of the most-talked-about bulls this side of the Atlantic.

“At any one time, you’ve got eleven guys on the field playing. You hope they all get up after every play! We have this unique opportunity to watch things happen up close and in real time”, says David Leffers, MD, the head physician for the Bulls - orthopedics.

The Bulls are taken care of by a cadre of USF Health physicians and athletic trainers. Of those, five MD's specializing in Sports Medicine and Orthopedics take turns with the team at every game. They watch every move from the sidelines, hoping the Bulls “don’t need our services”. Half the docs zero in on orthopedics needs. The others focus on primary care.

Dr. Leffers has been the university’s team physician since 1984 – taking care of USF athletes long before the football program began. “The ball is the great magnet. Everyone follows the ball and we do too. That’s where the injuries are going to occur”, says Dr. Leffers.

The game in New Jersey’s Rutgers Stadium unfolded before a sell-out crowd of 42,000 fans. At 6 feet 5 inches tall, Dr. Leffers was easy to spot on the sidelines.

“I was a former athlete, so once an athlete always an athlete”, says Dr. Leffers who played football for Vanderbilt University. “The best part of my job is getting to know the kids. It’s nice when they win, but the best part is watching them grow and mature over the course of four years.”

Dr. Eric Coris on the practice field in Tampa, FL

Talk on the side lines
Eric Coris, MD, was on the sidelines in New Jersey too. Dr. Coris is the head medical team physician for USF’s Athletics Department and the lead for the Bulls’ primary care.

“The reality is that we are all fans! We’re out there rooting for the kids that we get to know really well and we’re watching and enjoying the game, but at the same time we’re focused on the high velocity hits…the things that cause problems”, said Dr. Coris before heading to New Jersey.

“We’ll be thinking of possible bone and neck injuries. There are things we watch out for. One, you tell them (players) not to lower their head when they make a tackle. That’s where most cervical injuries happen. Some players will do that in the heat of the moment, but we constantly caution them…” says Dr. Coris.

“Players will ask me about fluids and electrolytes. They’ll ask me about symptoms they may be feeling”, says Dr. Coris describing some of the talk on the bench in between plays. “Studies have shown that some people sweat more than others and sweat more sodium. They’re losing electrolytes and those players tend to cramp more.” To help combat this on October 18th, Coris has identified a handful of players who’ll be getting intravenous fluids just prior to the game. “We’re more aggressive about electrolyte replacement than we’ve ever been”, says Dr. Coris.

The split
This time around, MD’s Charles Nofsinger, an orthopedic surgeon, and Michele Pescasio, a physician in Family Medicine, watched the big game from Tampa. All describe the same split personality experience at game time – the super FAN within vs. the serious physician on serious business. “Your attention is split”, says Dr. Nofsinger.

“There are certain patterns that you recognize that lead to injury. You’re looking for patterns that might tear an ‘ACL’ or ‘MCL’”, says Dr. Nofsinger, referring to the anterior cruciate ligament in the center of the knee and the medial collateral ligament located on the inside of the knee. “If you see one of the running backs get hit from the outside when he’s got his foot planted, that can lead to a tear.”

Somehow, brains packed with all the infinite possibilities of hits, sores and sprains, these traveling USF Health docs stay positive. They note there have been few serious injuries in the season thus far. “I have the best job in the world!” says Dr. Nofsinger. “I’m so keyed up at the games. It’s great to be a part of the team. It’s a wonderful environment to practice (medicine) in.”

Girl power!
Come game time Thursday, Dr. Michele Pescasio was trying to watch Bulls, Cowboys and Wildcats all at once! She served as the team physician for the Gaither High School Cowboys during their Oct. 18 homecoming game against the Wesley Chapel Wildcats. Dr. Pescasio and certified athletic trainer Vicki Kean provide year-round medical coverage for Gaither through the USF Health Sports and Athletic Related Trauma (SMART) Institute. But Dr. Pescasio planned to take a portable, battery-operated TV with her, so she could sneak peaks at the USF-Rutgers game and cheer on the Bulls between plays at Gaither stadium. “I’m sure I won’t be the only one there watching two games,” she said on the eve of the Oct. 18 game.

As the only woman physician on a male-dominated sports medicine team, Dr. Pescasio said she provides “balance” to the team physicians. While she’s just as likely to treat male as female athletes, she says some women athletes feel more comfortable speaking with a woman physician about certain medical conditions.

At USF games she stands front and center near the sideline benches watching for any signs of cramping, heat illness or concussion among players. As the shortest team physician (5 feet, 3 inches), she sometimes has to jockey for position with taller, heftier equipment personnel or athletic training staff when they inadvertently obscure her view of the field. “I tell them ‘Hey, you make a much better door than a window!’ or ‘You can look over my head.’”

“USF is a great environment for a team physician, because the coaching staff is very supportive of the medical team and makes the athletes’ health a top priority,” Dr. Pescasio said. “Some schools still operate with the philosophy of win at any cost. Our coaches still want to win, but if we say there’s a problem they won’t put a player back in the game at the risk of future injuries.”

Bulls’ back up team
Taking care of the Bulls begins well before the season’s first kick-off. “It’s really a year-round responsibility,” said Dr. Robert Pedowitz, MD, PhD, Chair of the USF Health Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. “Team physicians conduct preseason physical exams to screen and evaluate any physical problems before practice starts, manage injuries on the field, handle medical questions or concerns during season and off-season, and work closely with the athletic training staff and other health professionals to prepare the athlete for safe return to competition following an injury or illness.”

The team physicians also work with the Athletic Department staff and paramedics to plan and train for emergencies during competition and practice. “We’re responsible for making sure proper protocols are in place for a coordinated response whenever there’s a serious injury on the field,” said Dr. Pedowtiz. “We rehearse scenarios – like someone down with a head or neck injury – where very small mistakes can result in catastrophic consequences.”

Dr. Pedowitz credits USF Athletic Director Doug Woolard and his team, including associate director Barry Clements and Steve Walz, director of sports medicine (both of whom are athletic trainers), with helping forge a team approach to player care that integrates USF Health and USF Athletics. “Sports medicine is very well regarded at USF because of the leadership of our Athletic Director.”

In addition to the three orthopedic surgeons (including Dr. Pedowitz) and two primary care sports medicine physicians who lead the medical team treating the USF Bulls, the athletes have access to other USF Health specialists like neurologists, neurosurgeons and ophthalmologists if needed. “That’s the benefit of being part of a comprehensive multidisciplinary practice – we have the expertise and resources to take care of any injury the athlete may sustain,” he said.

Dr. Pedowitz wasn't be running with the Bulls on Thursday night, but like the other team physicians his eyes were on every play, thinking bones, ligaments, and muscles. “I’ll watch the game at home on TV -- with an eagle eye, of course!” he said.

Running with the Bulls, Pamplona style
Who knows, by the end of football season, the team docs may be screaming Olé - just like the bull runners in Spain!

Dr. David Leffers

Dr. Robert Pedowitz

Dr. Charles Nofsinger

Dr. Michele Pescasio

Story by Lissette Campos and Anne DeLotto Baier
October 18 Final Game Score: USF 27 vs. Rutgers 30

Below: Links to more coverage
Bulls Featured in Sports Illustrated
Students to watch the Bulls en masse!

“Modern cheerleading is nothing like decades ago,” said Robert Pedowitz, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at USF Health. “It’s evolved into a more physically demanding, gymnastic and moderately high-risk activity because of some of the higher-altitude maneuvers like cheerleaders being thrown into the air and building pyramids.”

One highly referenced study, using statistics from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, reports that cheerleading injuries in children ages 5 to 18 more than doubled between 1990 and 2002. In fact, compared to other sports like football, basketball, baseball and even soccer, cheerleading has a relatively low risk of injury, said Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, PT, executive director of the Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma (SMART) Institute at USF. But, nationally, the number of youngsters competing year-round has increased and the drive to excel continues to bump up the complexity of cheerleading stunts, Dr. Konin said. “When you start combining more participants with more difficult stunts, you just hope level of cheerleader supervision and safety enforcement is improving, but that’s not necessarily happening.”

The most common cheerleader injuries are similar to those seen in gymnasts and dancers, including bruises, ankle and knee injuries, and wrist and hand pain, Dr. Pedowitz said. Head and neck injuries are rare, but can be catastrophic when they occur.

“Because there is a greater chance for sports injuries among competitive cheerleaders, we need to find ways to reduce that risk through appropriate rules, increased training in proper techniques and sufficient supervision,” Dr. Pedowitz said.

USF SMART, which has already taught its PREPARE sports safety course to hundreds of Tampa Bay area coaches and parents supervising school and recreational football teams, is developing training modules for other youth sports, including cheerleading. Certified athletic trainers from SMART provided medical coverage Oct. 6 at the Police Athletic League's cheerleading competition in Pasco County. More than 270 girls, ages 5 to 16, from PAL leagues in three counties were expected to compete in the Zephyrhills High School gymnasium.

As part of its injury-prevention efforts, SMART offers the following recommendations for avoiding cheerleading injuries:

• Safety training and certification, such as that offered by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA), should be required of all cheerleading coaches and advisors.

• Cheerleading practice should take place on a forgiving landing surface like grass or floor mats, not concrete.

• Coaches and parents should make sure that the activities/stunts are appropriate for the skill level of the youngsters involved and that cheerleaders have completed proper strength and balance conditioning before progressing to new routines.

• All squads should receive thorough training in spotting techniques, and coaches should review and supervise all stunts.

- USF Health -

USF Health is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With $308 million in research funding last year, USF is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of Florida’s top three research universities.

To view this special report, click on CorTemp heat pill.

On August 28, 2007 Orthopedics This Week featured a profile on Dr. Robert Pedowitz, Chair of the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at USF Health. Orthopedics This Week is published by RRY Publications. This Week is produced 40 times a year, focusing on breaking news in the Global Orthopedics Industry and upcoming technology conferences. This Week also publishes the latest books containing Market Forecasts and Analysis for the Spine Technology and Stem Cell Industries. Below is their profile on Dr. Robert Pedowitz. Click here to view article as it appeared on-line.

Headline: The Picture of Success - Dr. Robert Pedowitz
By: Elizabeth Hofheinz, MEd, MPH
August 28, 2007 / Orthopedics This Week

What patient wouldn’t want to have a physician who once studied altruism? Dr. Robert Pedowitz, now chief of sports medicine and residency director at the University of South Florida, has always had an affinity for delivering aid to those in need. Says Dr. Pedowitz, “There is a family story about how when I was little, I talked about being a doctor for little sores. When asked ‘Why,’ I replied, ‘Because I don’t know how to take care of big sores.”

Born in Long Island, New York, Robert Pedowitz accompanied his family out West at the age of nine. “My father was an engineer who brought us to southern California for a position in aerospace engineering. Through the years, my parents instilled in me an attitude that I could have whatever kind of career I desired. While in college I considered entering the business world. I chose medicine instead because I was fascinated with the sciences and could foresee being intellectually challenged and stimulated my entire life. That was a time when medicine was less complicated. For example, AIDS had not yet appeared, and managed care was nowhere to be seen. These developments are some of the things that tend to make doctors somewhat pessimistic about medicine.”

But Robert Pedowitz knew what he loved and pursued it. “In 1981 I graduated with a B.S. in psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA]. I didn’t want to just do a basic biology premed curriculum and I was enamored of evolutionary psychology and the origins of altruism. I found it fascinating that there was a biological explanation for cooperation within a society, even when we considered a hive of bees. Psychobiology was the beginning of physiological psychology, a field that has blossomed in the last 25 years.”

Also while at UCLA, Dr. Pedowitz would have a chance to try his hand at something more concrete. “When I entered the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego [UCSD], I already had a strong inclination toward orthopedics. During college I had shadowed an orthopedic surgeon and found a real love for the process of treating patients. I am a big guy, 6’ 4’’, enjoy sports, and like taking care of active patients. I could see that orthopedics would allow me to make a profound difference in peoples’ daily lives. What really surprised me during medical school was that when we were required to do a research-based independent study project, I discovered that I really liked it. Academic medicine was definitely in my future.”

Over the next few years, Robert Pedowitz would consider moving a sleeping bag into the lab. “My next career step sent me to the orthopedic residency program at UCSD, an intense, six-year experience. There is typically one year of internship, one year of research, and four years of clinical orthopedic training. One of the most important things in my career development was that during my research year, I was assigned to work with Dr. Bjorn Rydevik, a talented spine surgeon who was on sabbatical from the department of orthopedics at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. We worked on two projects, one concerning spinal nerve root compression, where we looked at the effect of pressure and time on nerve root function, and another on tourniquet compression. At the end of this year, it was obvious we had developed a couple of great research models that were poised for incredible productivity, with real relevance to clinical practice. Fully engaged in the work, I decided to stay in the lab for a second year, and thus converted to a seven-year residency program. Midway through my second year of research, Dr. Rydevik asked me to come to Sweden, do another year of lab research, and develop this into a Ph.D. program. I went to see the chair, Dr. Wayne Akeson, and told him of Bjorn’s proposal. Dr. Akeson viewed it as a great opportunity and enthusiastically supported the entire process. His mentorship has been absolutely critical for my professional development.”

And so it was off to the land of the midnight sun. “For part of the time, my wife and I took our first child and headed for the small university town of Umea, near the Arctic Circle, so I could work with Jan Friden and his colleagues. As I had hoped, the learning experience was greatly enriching. In Gothenburg, Dr. Rydevik taught me the importance of deep knowledge and critical thinking in order to achieve substantial answers. He also stressed the importance of collaboration in research, noting that pulling in expertise from others is a substantial source of knowledge and creativity for any project.”

Continues Dr. Pedowitz, “While not in the lab, my family and I explored the surrounding areas. We were in Europe when the Berlin wall fell, we walked the streets of Moscow and Leningrad, and in general had an exceptionally rewarding experience. None of this would have been possible without the support of Dr. Wayne Akeson, my mentor and friend to this day. I recently published a textbook on sports medicine and I specifically noted his influence upon my professional development. Among other things, he taught me how to create the right academic environment. Better than anyone, he could look at a problem and understand the most important questions to ask and (hopefully) answer. In the ultimate display of dedication, when I defended my thesis in Sweden, Wayne flew over to show his support.”

Says Dr. Pedowitz, “After my year in Sweden, I returned to UCSD and completed my last two years of residency, all the while putting the finishing touches on my Ph.D. thesis. Upon graduation, I stayed at UCSD for one year as an attending physician, then went to Duke University for a sports medicine fellowship. Particularly instructive and fun was taking care of the school’s teams—especially during the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. Having gleaned much, I returned to UCSD and started up an orthopedic sports medicine program. In addition to directing this program for 10 years, I also ran the residency program. I organized the recruitment of residents and managed the structure of education. This was a time of transition in the field, including increased regulatory issues in residency education. My goal, which I believe was fulfilled, was to instill in residents a respect for orthopedic history. In this field we tend to have a cowboy mentality, i.e., ‘We can do better than anyone.’ When you have such an attitude you run the risk of repeating the same mistakes—and patients suffer in the process. We should strive to appreciate what’s already been done and tried. At the same time, we should not assume that what’s been done historically is automatically correct.”

The positions Dr. Pedowitz held at UCSD served as a building block for the ultimate leadership challenge. “Approximately one year ago I was recruited by the University of South Florida [USF] to chair the newly-formed Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine,” says Dr. Pedowitz. “It was an extraordinary opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. USF’s residency training program had closed 15 years ago and was never reinvigorated. To add to that problem, the orthopedic surgery department was fairly disorganized. I was brought on to rebuild the department as well as the orthopedic surgery training program. After a significant amount of work and changes in programmatic structure, we got accreditation one month ago. This has been an exercise in taking some seriously dysfunctional elements and repairing them. Most times when someone accepts a chair position, the best you can hope for is to nudge the ship in a different direction. Here I have had the opportunity to build a new ship.”

Aside from the shipbuilding opportunity, Dr. Pedowitz was drawn by the rare prospect of having state funding for his field of interest. “Two years ago USF received a grant from the state of Florida that provided for the initiation of the Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma [SMART] Institute. Developed as a marquis program in sports medicine, the program is slated to receive several million dollars per year. These funds will be directed at regional outreach and education efforts whereby coaches, parents, and athletes receive a high level of training in sports medicine. Some of these monies will go towards positioning athletic trainers in schools to give student athletes a higher level of care. Another portion of the funds will be put toward the development of an academic orthopedic surgery program. The athletic training and education program, which has been at USF for many years, was last week moved into the department of orthopedics. The first such effort in the country, it is an undergraduate training program housed in the orthopedics department. This is truly exciting because it connects what we’re doing in SMART with the training of the athletic trainers themselves. As a result, the program has now been renamed the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.”

When given a chance to use the part of his brain that doesn’t involve internal politics, Dr. Pedowitz jumps at the chance. “My research career has come in phases. Originally, I conducted research on nerve and muscle compression physiology. Following that I went through a period of imaging research, during which time I worked with Dr. Don Resnick, a world-renowned radiologist, on a variety of projects. Our most recent effort is a book that will be published in 2008, which is designed to gather orthopedists and radiologists who are experts in magnetic resonance imaging in sports medicine. This unusual collaboration results in chapters where a radiologist writes about what orthopedic surgeons need to know about imaging, with corresponding chapters by orthopedic surgeons regarding what a radiologist needs to know about the clinical care of the patient.”

Continues Dr. Pedowitz, “Also stimulating was my time researching topics related to sports medicine and the shoulder. When I first started out, rotator cuff repair was all done open, but is now frequently done arthroscopically. It was obvious that we had challenges, particularly with the fixation devices for the rotator cuff. I set out to develop an area of research on rotator cuff fixation biomechanics. I worked with Andrew Mahar, M.S., head of the UCSD orthopedic biomechanics lab, and published about 10 papers on this topic. Some of this research has been focused on the strength of sutures. When surgeons work arthroscopically with anchors, we tend to break the suture. So, manufacturers developed stronger sutures so that surgeons wouldn’t break them. Our lab studied the effects of these strong sutures on mechanics, i.e., how the sutures hold the knots. Most surgeons assumed that they would automatically hold better, but some of these sutures are slippery and you could tie something you’d never break by hand. But if the suture is slippery (imagine a Teflon suture), we know it will loosen. In the end, you see, the surgeon still has to tie a good knot. My related work has focused on anchors and bone. Anchors are typically screwed into the soft bone of the humeral head—bone that is especially soft in the elderly. If the surgeon puts an anchor in deep, a natural instinct, the consequences of this are that the anchor can shift in the bone and the suture can cut through the bone. The implication of this work was that we should put the anchor into the hardest bone, which is near the surface, and use strong sutures.”

Dr. Pedowitz has got his patients and his family life all sewn up. “My wife is an attorney who has practiced for 22 years. She is now taking a short break to determine what she wants to do with her career. Our oldest child, Rachel, will be a student at Cal Berkeley next year. As a dad focused on leadership, I am proud to say that not only was she president of her high school student body, but she was elected president of the Council of Presidents for the entire San Diego Unified School District. My son Jason is in high school and spends his free time playing water polo and golf. His dad is a lousy golfer, but I try to keep up. Our family enjoys traveling and we have a wonderful Caribbean cruise planned for the entire extended family: grandparents, parents, and kids. It should be a ton of fun.”

“Passion is an overused word,” says Dr. Pedowitz, “but there’s probably a reason for that. My message is to do what invigorates you and you can’t go wrong.”

Dr. Robert Pedowitz ... eschewing the cowboy mentality and putting forth professionalism.

Reproduced from: Orthopedics This Week

On August 12, 2007, USF Health's Dr. Robert Pedowitz was interviewed by the St. Petersburg Times for coverage of the skateboard crash at the X Games. The August 2nd accident involving Jake Brown, of Australia, has garnered national media coverage. Brown fell from 45 feet in the air during the Skateboard "Big Air Final" at the X Games, held this year at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Click here to link directly to Dr. Pedowitz's interview published in the St. Pete Times newspaper.

When a Skateboarder Goes Splat from 45 Feet Up!
By Mike Wilson
Published August 12, 2007 - St. Petersburg Times Newspaper
________________________________________
Check out Jake Brown's epic crash at the X Games and you have to wonder: Why is he still alive? And what was that experience like? We called Dr. Robert Pedowitz, chairman of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of South Florida, and asked him to explain what someone goes through, physiologically, immediately before and - ugh - during that kind of crash.

The crash: how the body reacts

When someone is in danger, Pedowitz says, the sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for whatever may happen next. Heart rate spikes. Blood pressure increases. Pupils dilate to sharpen vision. A burst of adrenaline boosts strength, which accounts for those grandma-lifts-car-off-kid stories.
Did all this happen to Brown when he lost his skateboard? Nah, Pedowitz says. He would have been amped up already.

Once Brown knew he was falling, he seemed to run through the air. Pedowitz says people windmill their arms during a fall to regain balance. A diver intentionally swings his arms to start his body spinning. This was the opposite.

The instant before Brown hit, he executed what Pedowitz called an "incredible maneuver," rotating his body so he would land on his backside instead of his face. Still, the force of the impact transmitted a shock wave through his bones and organs. Inside Brown's body, Pedowitz says, "everything was crashing into everything." He survived because he's a highly conditioned athlete and he knows how to fall, our expert says. So don't try this at home or anywhere else.

USF's new orthopaedic residents celebrated with university, community leaders

USF Health’s orthopedic residents gathered with university and community leaders to celebrate the new program Aug. 1 at a reception in the USF Athletics Center. More than 150 attended the event, which recognized the new partnerships between USF and the region’s private physicians and hospitals that helped make possible the return of the orthopedic residency training program.

“The new residency we celebrate tonight is much more than just another program” said USF Board of Trustees Chair Rhea Law. “It’s a statement that USF and the Tampa Bay Region can transform health care, and can transform how we build the region together.”

Left to right, USF Athletics Director Doug Woolard, President Judy Genshaft and Board of Trustees Chair Rhea Law were among those who applauded the new program.

Law and USF President Judy Genshaft recognized the following for committing time and resources to support the residents:

- USF faculty in orthopedics and sports medicine for their dedication to the university, the USF Bulls and the community.

- The 40 community physicians who agreed to give their time and energy to help teach the new residents

- Florida Orthopedic Institute, which runs trauma training for the orthopedic residents at Tampa General Hospital

- Tampa General Hospital leadership (CEO and President Ron Hytoff and Chair Hal Mullis) who stepped forward to make the package work before the application went in.

- The other major hospitals across West Central Florida who agreed to host elements of the residency and stuck with USF through the rigorous application process: University Community Hospital, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, The Baycare Hospital System, All Children’s Hospital, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children.

- Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, dean of the College of Medicine and vice president for USF Health, for his vision to widen the USF partnership and strengthen the relationship with the university’s primary teaching hospital, Tampa General.

Dr. Stephen Klasko (center), vice president for USF Health and dean of the College of Medicine, chats with students in the USF Athletic Training Education Program, which recently joined the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

“The launch of the residency program adds to USF Health’s growing reputation as a national model for sports medicine,” Dr. Klasko said. The re-establishment of orthopedics at USF represents a key success in a series of accomplishments, including a new alliance between USF Health and USF Athletics, strengthened sports safety for the state, and new healthcare services for the community, he said.

Also speaking at the reception were Doug Woolard, USF athletics director, and Robert Pedowitz, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, who unveiled the department’s new integrated website and introduced the new residents.

USF's six charter orthopaedic sugery residents, who began the program July 1, are, left to right: Paul Edwards, MD; Eric Henderson, MD; Odion Binitie, MD; and Stephen Wilson, MD; all PGY-2s, and German Marulanda, MD; and Derek Weichel, MD, both PGY-1s.

The residency program director is Douglas Letson, MD, associate professor of oncology, surgery, radiology and orthopaedics in the Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology. The residency coordinator is Ann Joyce.

-- Photos by Eric Younghans/USF Health Media Center

On July 12, 2007, The University of South Florida's student newspaper, The Oracle, published the following story on approval of the Orthopaedics Surgery Residency Program. The program is to be anchored in the College of Medicine's Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.

Orthopedics Residency Resurrected
Issue date: 7/12/07
Section: News
By Natalie Gagliordi, Correspondent for The Oracle

Among the many distressing issues of university spending, budget cuts and enrollment caps, one success story stands out with the re-establishment of USF's Department of Orthopaedics and its new residency training program. After nearly 17 years without an established orthopedic department, the College of Medicine has finally healed its largest
deficiency.

The department's ability to rebuild stems from the combined efforts of various University heads and with the cooperation of the Florida Orthopaedic Institute (FOI), which was founded by several of the doctors who left USF in protest in 1989.

Although attempts were made in the past to mend the divide between the FOI and the USF College of Medicine, it took a recent series of good decisions to actually make things happen. According to Michael Hoad, vice president for USF Health, the Bulls athletics were behind the first step.

"The Bulls agreed that USF Health would take care of them as team physicians," Hoad said. "That started the core of rebuilding orthopedics, because orthopedics is so much a part of sports medicine."

The next boost for the development of an orthopedic department came with the attainment of a grant from the Florida Legislature, intended to provide outreach education, sports injury awareness and management of athletes in the region. The SMART (Sports Medicine and Athletic-Related Trauma) grant served as the link between the athletic training program and the need for clinical expertise.

From there, it was the 2004 induction of Stephen Klasko as dean of the College of Medicine that furthered the process. With orthopedics as his top priority, a national search went out for an orthopedic surgeon to head the USF department. That search ended when they found Dr. Robert Pedowitz from the University of California in San Diego.

"In Dr. Pedowitz we found somebody who is also an expert in sports medicine," Hoad said. "That knowledge was needed for the success of the orthopedic department."

Since relocating to Tampa with his family, Dr. Pedowitz has already made immense contributions to the development of the orthopedic department. His efforts were critical in the successful joining of the FOI and USF, as well as fine-tuning the layout of the department and properly applying for the residency program.

According to Pedowitz, the first and most important step to establishing the residency program was receiving the accreditation it needed.

"A national organization comes and reviews your program, critiques it and ultimately decides whether or not to credit you," Pedowitz said. "Without that accreditation, you are not allowed to train orthopedic residents."

After receiving the accreditation, Dr. Pedowitz began to revolutionize the new orthopedic department in its educational ability.

Two weeks ago the decision was made to move the Athletic Training and Education Program into the Department of Orthopaedics.

"This is an extraordinary event because it is the first athletic training program to be housed in the department of orthopedics," Pedowitz said. "The reason why that is so extraordinary is that the field of sports medicine is really very heavily involved with orthopedic surgeons, so this gives us a chance to connect the education for the athletic trainers directly to the clinical providers that they are ultimately going to be working with in their careers."

According to Pedowitz, the department will now be called the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, and its benefits will be able to reach
undergraduates.

"The benefit of this department is to the students who are going to be part of the athletic training and education program department, which is an undergraduate degree," Pedowitz said. "But also to the medical students because they need to have the exposure and mentorship to all the different areas of medicine that they might choose for their careers."

With the program now active, four residents have already begun their education. Over the next three years, Dr. Pedowitz and his fellow orthopedic surgeons in the department plan to be operating with a total of 20 orthopedic residents, with various University and community partnerships.

"My attitude toward the department is that it is only worth doing if we are doing it with a focus on excellence," Pedowitz said. "I want to make this a great department and it's going to take time and work, but we have the
opportunity."

To see story as it appeared in The Oracle student newspaper, click here.

>

From L to R: Barbara Morris, MS, ATC, CSCS Assistant Director SMART; Honoree Micki Cuppett; Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, PT, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Executive Director SMART and Matt Huber, ATC, SMART Institute.

"It is a great privilege to receive this award", said Cuppett. "I am humbled to be included in this group of previous award recipients who have done so much for athletic training. I'm so proud to be a part of the USF Athletic Training Education Program, which is the first in the country to be housed in an orthopedic department. It's bringing more opportunities to our students, both in terms of learning and employment. Our athletic training students tell us they're excited about interacting with students in other disciplines of USF Health. Learning and working with each other to provide quality patient care is empowering to them and to us, as educators of athletic training."

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) was founded in 1950. Recognizing the need for a set of professional standards and appropriate professional recognition, NATA has helped to unify certified athletic trainers across the country by setting a standard for professionalism, education, certification, research and practice settings. Since its inception, NATA has been a driving force behind the recognition of the athletic training profession. Once housed in Greenville, NC, NATA now is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Today, its global membership totals nearly 30,000.

"It is truly an exciting time for sports medicine at USF Health", said Cuppett. "The S.M.A.R.T. Institute at USF Health and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in our college of medicine are making an impact in the community, the state, and are emerging as a national model for Sports Medicine. "

For more information on the Sports Medicine & Athletic Related Trauma (SMART) Institute at USF Health, click here.

It was an early start for the USF Health team of pediatricians and health professionals in Seffner on June 23rd. Parents and children of all ages turned out to the Antioch Redskins Facility, near Plant City, to get free “physicals”. The big draw: the redhead in the clown suit! Ronald McDonald is still King with the kids! No doubt about it!

“This was a fabulous opportunity to help out so many appreciative people”, said Jeff Konin, PhD, Executive Director of Sports Medicine & Athletic Related Trauma (S.M.A.R.T.) Institute at USF Health. Since January 2006, the Department of Pediatrics in the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine has been home to one of only 29 Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles in operation worldwide. It’s a distinction and responsibility, they don’t take lightly. Jeannette Fleischer, ARNP, is the Program Director. Dr. Lynn Ringenberg is the Medical Director. Both have worked hard to “grow it” and seventeen months later, the program is definitely in bloom!

“This (June 23rd) was the first time we’ve worked with S.M.A.R.T. members and it’s really great having them involved”, said Dr. Ringenberg. “They (S.M.A.R.T. faculty) do a comprehensive examination of the musculoskeletal system and vital signs- which frees up our doctors to do the remainder of the examination. It allowed us to see many more kids, much more efficiently.” In four hours, they saw approximately 85 children.


Combining the sports medicine and orthopedic expertise of faculty from S.M.A.R.T. created shorter wait times too. Children of all ages were examined from head-to-toe, including a “pre-participation physical examination”, and a check of heart, lungs, abdominal, hernia and more.

“The program strives to identify, treat and refer children with chronic or untreated health conditions, improve health outcomes, provide continuity of care, educated children and families, and screen and enroll eligible families in federal Medicaid or state insurance programs”, explains Dr. Ringenberg. “The USF Pediatrics Mobile Health Program also serves as a venue for training graduate medical residents to better care for underserved children, children with special needs and high-risk youth.” Last year, 70 USF Pediatric and Internal Medicine-Pediatric graduate medical residents participated in the mobile health visits that take place at 59 Title 1 schools throughout Hillsborough and Pasco counties. Title 1 schools are primarily located in underserved communities where a majority of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch.

“The service of providing pre-participation physical exams to underserved children in our community via the Ronald McDonald van exemplifies the model of inter-professional collaboration we have at USF Health”, said Barbara Morris, Assistant Program Director of S.M.A.R.T. “The June 23rd event showcases the working relationship between our pediatrics and S.M.A.R.T. athletic trainers from USF’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. In this interaction across departments and professions, the real winners are the kids of Tampa Bay.”

The 40 foot medical and dental office on wheels has a home at USF Health Pediatrics thanks to a collaborative relationship with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. To keep it here, USF Health Pediatrics must raise $250,000 each year to cover operational expenses. Inspired by the number of kids they’ve served- approximately 1,500 since 2006 - the pediatrics team is “out on the van” five days a week on most weeks, except for school holidays. When school is out, they visit year round community facilities like Joshua House, The Spring, as well as school fairs and sporting events. Fundraising involves grant writing, contributions from foundations and individual donors. “One of the major challenges for a mobile access program is to sustain it. We’re constantly looking at ways to keep this mobile clinic for our children in Tampa Bay”, said Dr. Ringenberg. More than 50 per cent of the kids they see in the mobile unit are un-insured – their efforts in the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile are families’ only alternative to seeing a doctor at a hospital emergency room. See "Success Stories" below photo gallery.

The program has garnered national attention for what it achieves academically, as well. USF Health Pediatricians have presented at national meetings at the request of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Our care mobile is academically focused with the intent not only to provide the highest level of health care, but to ensure that pediatric residents, medical students and nursing students are actively engaged in providing care on the mobile clinic. We are determined to have these students experience the unique environment of a mobile health care setting and gain a better understanding of the lack of health care access and other health disparities problematic to this population”, said Dr. Ringenberg.

For more information on upcoming visits by the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile or information on how to contribute to this program, click here
or contact (813) 259-8754.

Story by Lissette Campos
Photo Gallery Below.

SUCCESS STORIES FROM THE RONALD McDONALD CARE MOBILE

Since USF Health's Pediatrics Department received the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile January 13, 2006, they've served more than 1500 children across 14 different regions of Hillsborough and Pasco County- among them Plant City, Thonotosassa, East Lake, Sulphur Springs, and Palm River. What happens inside the Care Mobile is just part of the story. The 1:1 visits with pediatricians and residents from the USF College of Medicine have been especially critical for children who had undiagnosed illnesses until their visit to the care mobile. In other cases, acute health issues were caught "just in time".

Below are just a few of the stories shared with us by the pediatrics team involved with the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program.

• A mother came to the van with her 13 year old child and husband requesting help for her child who has developmental issues. While the husband waited outside, the mother, who is Spanish speaking only, broke down and informed the nurse practitioner through an interpreter that she was “being abused by her husband”. After evaluating the child, the mother was given the phone number for The Spring, a domestic violence shelter in Tampa. After evaluating the child, and making recommendations, the mother left the van. We saw the mother with her child 2 weeks later when the USF Pediatric Ronald McDonald Care Mobile visited The Spring. She hugged everyone crying and thanking the van team for providing the information about The Spring. She reported that after seeing us on the van her husband again beat her. The police were involved and she made her way to The Spring, where she now feels safe. This woman could still be in an abusive relationship if the van not been at that particular school to provide care and information. Her child is now being followed by a school psychologist and doing ok.

• A 17 year old female student was evaluated on the Care Mobile for a sports physical. The student appeared very thin and sad and would not make eye contact with the provider. She would not freely talk to the provider and would only answer the provider’s questions in very few words. The provider noted that the student had a speech deficit and was unable to articulate clearly. The school nurse mentioned to the provider that the student had suffered an accident to her mouth five months ago and broken all her front teeth. She had been treated at an emergency room and given a referral to a dentist. Her mother mentioned to the provider that the dentist had charged her a lot of money to provide a prosthesis but she was still very upset about her appearance and her inability to talk clearly. Mom also said that her daughter had lost a lot of weight and was not interacting with any of her friends. The school nurse had referred the student to the school psychologist for depression and weight loss. The mom stated she had no health or dental insurance at the time. The student was then referred to a periodontal dentist who volunteered to examine the student and evaluate her dental condition. The student was seen by the periodontal dentist for two visits. The periodontal dentist replaced her prosthesis and suggested that she needed further evaluation by an oral surgeon in the future. The student was very pleased that she looked better & could talk better.

• A 14 year old at a middle school had been treated for hypertension with a medication but then lost his funding and was taking his grandmother’s medication intermittently for over a year. The school nurse called the Care Mobile asking for some help. The Care Mobile Program was able to evaluate the student and write a prescription for the medication the student was previously on and then find funding to pay for the prescription. Additionally, the van team helped the parent apply for further health care funding.

• Two female adolescents were evaluated on the Care Mobile for chronic abdominal pain. They were both found to have chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to serious complications, to include sterility, if not properly treated. One of the students required hospitalization and then surgery. The other student was evaluated and treated by an adolescent pediatrician. Both students had funding but no access to a physician. The Care Mobile provided the needed access!

• An athletic 16 year old male who had such a painful knee that he was unable to participate in sports or even walk much. He had been using a knee brace to walk around school for over a year. The student was unaware of his funding status. The student was evaluated on the Care Mobile and his parent contacted. The student had funding so he was referred for knee x-rays and an orthopedic evaluation. He is no longer using the knee brace and participating fully in sport activities. Without this attentive care, his knee injury may have resulted in permanent damage.

• An 11 year old student was referred to the Care Mobile because of a chronic cough described as “barking”. The student had been seen by his pediatrician several times without any change in the student’s condition. The mother was very concerned and asked if the child could be evaluated on the Care Mobile. The student was evaluated and then because the student had funding, the student was referred to a pediatric ear, nose and throat doctor that day. The student’s coughing resolved and he is doing well.

]]> http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?feed=rss2&p=167 http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=162 http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=162#comments Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:11:09 +0000 abaier http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=162

"(EXER)GAMING FOR FITNESS"
Courtesy: USF Magazine

“While conducted here in Tampa, the outcome of this research has global implications", says Abdul Rao, Senior Associate Vice President USF Health.

Childhood obesity is a national epidemic, according to alarming reports regularly released by fitness experts at colleges and universities across the country. Video games, according to some studies, are part and parcel of a sedentary childhood lifestyle that can lead to weight problems and, ultimately, serious health issues for children.

But is it possible that certain types of interactive video activities can be part of the solution, an innovative, effective method of combating childhood obesity?

That's what Stephen Sanders, director of the USF School of Physical Education, Wellness and Sport Studies, hopes to determine via research being conducted at the XRKade Research Lab, the nation's first interactive fitness research lab for children.

The lab, which opened its doors in January, is the result of a unique partnership between the USF School of Physical Education & Exercise Science (in the USF College of Education) and iTECH Fitness of Denver, Colo. Among the technology driven activities installed in the lab are Dance, Dance, Revolution; Cateye game bikes; X-board; 3-Kick; and Cybex Trazer.

"Some of these activities have become part of our American culture", Sanders says. "Video games are not going away. These games require that children must be physically active in order for the game to work. For example, the faster a child pedals the game bike the faster the car will go on the video screen. Or, the more a child jumps while wearing the Cybex Trazer belt the more points he or she can score in the video game. The physical activity possibilities are endless."

Interactive fitness, also known as "exergaming", the use of technology-based interactive activities (including video games) in order to raise physical activity levels in children, is increasingly being used by public school systems, YMCAs, recreational centers and private fitness clubs across the United States to help children of all ages increase physical activity levels and maintain a healthy weight. Although exergaming has increased in popularity, little research is available to suggest the kind or degree of impact that these interactive activities have on fitness and activity levels.

"We don't really know the long-term impact of exergaming", Sanders says. "The XRKade is really the only university lab like this, with 15 different types of activities that can be used by children, and observed by researchers. Other schools mostly have looked at single pieces of equipment.
We¹re going to experiment with all of the different types of equipment and find out how children feel about the activities. Are they fun or not? Which ones are they most excited about?"

The mission of the XRKade Research Lab is threefold, according to Sanders.
First, the lab will be a resource for working elementary and middle school teachers, as a place to obtain reliable information on exergaming and its benefits. Secondly, the lab will help to prepare undergraduate education majors to prepare for their roles in the work force, in terms of helping future students with physical-fitness regiments. The lab will also be a center for research, to be conducted by several departments within the College of Education, and in collaboration with pediatric physicians at the College of Medicine and researchers from other departments across campus.

Robert Nelson, MD, Chair of the USF Department of Pediatrics College of Medicine says the effort is especially in sync with what's happening with kids today. "I am convinced that ideas like these that show an understanding of children and uses that understanding to improve children's overall lifestyle will be a tipping point to achieve the goals. Further, multi/interdisciplinary efforts demonstrated by this project are the type of activity that I very much want to encourage and support."

"While conducted here in Tampa, the outcome of this research has global implications", says Abdul Rao, MD, MA, DPhil, Senior Associate Vice President USF Health and Senior Associate Vice President for Research USF. " This type of research brings physicians, health care providers, educators, and students together as a team to enhance physical activity in children while they are having fun. Early intervention is the key to successfully overcoming childhood obesity."

What are the implications of the increased use of exergaming equipment among children? Does exergaming actually increase children's fitness levels? What are the social and academic benefits of interactive gaming activities? Are there benefits for special needs students? Which types of interactive fitness games are most appealing to children, and why? Researchers at the XRKade lab will investigate these questions and others over the coming months and years.

"The big picture on all of this is that as educators, we're trying to create a culture of physical activity", Sanders says. "Typically, there is time in schools set aside for children to be physically active. We want to make sure that qualified teachers are available to help kids reach their fitness goals."

The XRKade lab was funded through donations from iTECH Fitness and their corporate partners, who together will support the USF lab¹s research for a period of as long as five years.

"We are extremely excited to be working with USF on this project and we believe that the research will only help solidify the positive effects we have seen throughout the country in exergaming fitness clubs", said Michael G. Hansen, COO and co-founder of iTECH Fitness.

Courtesy of USF Magazine. Story by Philip Booth.
Photography by Joseph Gamble

]]> http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?feed=rss2&p=162 http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=188 http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=188#comments Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:43:27 +0000 abaier http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=188

On June 13, 2007, the Tampa Tribune newspaper published the following editorial on approval of the USF Orthopaedics Surgery Residency Program.

USF Health Scores Significant Win With New Orthopedics Program
June 13, 2007
Tampa Tribune Editorial

The approval of an orthopedics residency program at USF Health is a big deal for three reasons:
First, it sends a signal that our community medical school is committed to growing excellence and attaining national stature - a good as well as our economy.
Second, the new residency program includes a training segment at the University of South Florida’s primary teaching hospital, Tampa part of the bid until the 11th hour.
And third, it creates a new-style training program for doctors interested in the musculoskeletal system because it allows them to rotate that specialize in the treatment of children, veterans, cancer patients, trauma victims and the challenges of a general orthopedics practice.
Many people deserve credit for getting this deal done, starting with Dr. Steven Klasko, the vice president of USF Health, who has raised school since his arrival three years ago.
Klasko knew the medical school couldn’t attain prominence without orthopedics, which it lost in 1990 when the faculty walked out dean. The surgeons formed Florida Orthopedics Institute, which today performs about a quarter of the surgeries done at Tampa General.
Determined to restore orthopedics at USF, Klasko last October hired Dr. Robert Pedowitz, a renowned orthopedic surgeon from the Diego, to become chairman.
And that changed everything.
Before, the surgeons at Tampa General were willing to train orthopedic residents if they - not the medical school - supervised the program. an orthopedics chair, it was clear that Klasko was serious about controlling the training program and growing the college’s stature.
So when Tampa General refused to join its bid for an orthopedics residency program, the dean solicited other hospital partners - a The medical school long has done most of its training at Tampa General, the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and the H. Lee Moffifi of orthopedics, it will also partner with All Children’s, University Community, Lakeland Regional and the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
Because his orthopedics department is new, Klasko knew he faced an uphill battle with the accreditation agency. Without Tampa General’s had a 50-50 chance of approval.
So in the days before the deadline, USF President Judy Genshaft and USF Board of Trustees Chairwoman Rhea Law met with Tampa Mullis and made one last pitch for the greater good.
Tampa General’s board is one of the strongest in town. Its members understand that the hospital’s success is inextricably tied to the does hospital administrator Ron Hytoff, who had done his best to strike a compromise.
Hours before the bid was due, Pedowitz, the newcomer, met with Dr. Roy Sanders, the highly successful head of Florida Orthopedics worked out a deal that put Tampa General in the bid package. It calls for residents to spend six months of their fifi ve-year training program center.
On seeing the complete bid, the accreditation agency approved the residency program.
You might say that Tampa General, which has long held the upper hand, blinked. Certainly, the medical school emerges a stronger But the real winners are the people of Tampa, who want a medical school that attracts the best and brightest, and a teaching hospital and financially healthy.
As the starting pitcher, Klasko deserves to score a win. But the closers in this game - Genshaft, Law, Hytoff, Mullis, Pedowitz and most our heartiest congratulations and thanks for doing the right thing for all.

Jeff Konin, PhD, PT, assesses the knee stability of 7-year-old Christopher Konin.

Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, PT, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and executive director of the Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma Institute (SMART), is the guest editor for Clinics in Sports Medicine: Behind the Scenes as a Team Physician. Dr. Konin is also featured on the book’s cover, assessing the knee stability of his son Christopher Konin, 7, who donned a football uniform for the photo.

In a foreword to the text, consulting editor and University of Virginia orthopedic surgeon Mark D. Miller, MD, writes: “Dr. Jeff Konin, who is a truly superlative athletic trainer and physical therapist… has put together an outstanding issue of Clinics in Sports Medicine, focusing on advice for the team physician. He has assembled an all-star team of physicians, athletic trainers, and physical therapists in a no-holds barred treatise for the Team Doc. This is a great read for team physicians at all levels of experience and for coverage of all levels of teams.”

Dr. Konin writes the lead chapter “Communication: The Key to the Game,” which covers communication skills physicians need to forge successful working relationships with athletic trainers and other key people on the healthcare team. Also writing chapters were SMART Director Larry Lemak, MD, “Financial Implications of Serving as Team Physician” and Charles Nofsinger, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, “Negotiating Contractual Relationships.”

Clinics in Sports Medicine: Behind the Scenes as a Team Physician is published by W. B. Saunders Co. For more information go to http://nursingawards.elsevier.com/product.jsp?isbn=9781416042976

A second text Sports Emergency Care: A Team Approach features a chapter on “Emergency Care Considerations for the Pediatric and Youth Athlete” written by Dr. Konin. The chapter covers the epidemiology of youth sports emergencies, the importance of prevention through proper use of equipment, safe playing fields, emergency action plans and pre-participation physicals, as well as the prevalence and management of acute emergencies.

Sports Emergency Care: A Team Approach is published by Slack Incorporated Publishing. For more information go to http://www.slackbooks.com/view.asp?slackCode=47980

Lastly, the May 2007 issue of NATA News, the news magazine of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, features a comprehensive story about SMART and its initiatives to improve the sports safety standards in Florida. The article “SMART: Immediate Care, Long-Range Benefits” quotes Dr. Konin and Dr. Lemak. NATA News reaches some 35,000 athletic trainers across the country.

Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Training Program Website

TAMPA, FL (June 11, 2007) -- The University of South Florida will recruit immediately for a new residency training program in orthopedic surgery, the national accrediting body has ruled. The decision brings orthopedic residency training back to Tampa Bay after 15 years.

“This represents the Tampa Bay region and USF Health deciding to create a remarkable collaboration and become a national leader in health care,” said Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, USF's vice president for USF Health and dean of the college of medicine.

“It’s an unprecedented level of support by 8 hospitals and 40 surgeons—a stunning collaboration.

"It shows how USF Health can be the unifier as we move to the forefront in advanced health care and education," Dr. Klasko said. "Bringing world class leaders in obstetrics, cardiology, public health, and now orthopedics, is changing the dynamics for health in this region."

Dr. Robert Pedowitz

In the Fall of 2006, Dr. Klasko recruited Robert Pedowitz, MD, PhD, from San Diego as chair of USF’s new Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Since then, Dr. Pedowitz worked with program director Doug Letson, MD, to create an alliance of 40 surgeons and 8 hospitals focused on applying for, and receiving, the orthopedic residency.

Dr. Douglas Letson

"I'm impressed by the way the leaders of the key organizations stepped up to support this program," Dr. Pedowitz said. "These include the USF Board of Trustees and its chair, Rhea Law, as well as President Judy Genshaft.

"This never would have happened without that level of support."

***Spelling note: The formal spelling of orthopedic includes an “a” when referencing the department (i.e. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery) or when referring to a formal review committee. All other references are considered informal, according to AP Stylebook.

###

--FACT SHEET--
NEW ORTHOPEDIC RESIDENCY PROGRAM, USF HEALTH

- On June 9, 2007, the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Review Committee (RRC) of the ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) approved the application for a new orthopedic surgery residency training program at the University of South Florida.

- Doug Letson, MD (Associate Professor) is the Program Director for the USF Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Training Program. The USF Health Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is led by Robert Pedowitz, MD, PhD (Professor and Chair).

- Accreditation by the ACGME allows the USF Health program to immediately recruit qualified candidates to fill the first and second post-graduate years (up to four residents in each class).

- Each subsequent year will involve recruitment of four new residents. In three years the program will reach its full complement of twenty USF Orthopaedic Surgery residents.

- First complete class will graduate in four years (2011).

- Orthopaedic surgery training in the US requires a minimum of five years after graduation from medical school, and most trainees undergo fellowship training for an additional year after residency. There are several fellowship programs in the Tampa Bay region, but not a residency program.

- USF serves as the primary training site for the new program, with a broad collaboration of multiple affiliated training sites:

The James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital
University Community Hospital
Lakeland Regional Medical Center
Watson Clinic
Moffitt Cancer Center
Shriners Hospital for Children
All Children's Hospital
Tampa General Hospital, including trauma training at its Level 1 trauma center, in collaboration with Florida Orthopedic Institute, the largest private group of orthopedic surgeons.

- In addition, USF Health offers collaboration with other health professions, including physical therapy, nursing, athletic training and public health.

-About USF Health-
USF Health is a partnership of the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences and physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. It is a partnership dedicated to the promise of creating a new model of health and health care. One of the nation's top 63 public research universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, USF received more than $310 million in research contracts and grants last year.