St. Luke's University Health Network Named Official Sports Medicine and Sports Performance Provider for Lehigh Valley United
St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lehigh Valley United are teaming up to provide all Lehigh Valley United athletes with the region’s most comprehensive, technically advanced and responsive care and training for athletes.
“St. Luke’s is already the official medical provider for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s District XI , the Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center and the 5-Star Heart Project,” says John Hauth, manager of Sports Medicine Relationships, St. Luke’s University Health Network. “We also provide on-site, emergency and on-going care for athletes at a host of schools and youth organizations in and around the Lehigh Valley, the Poconos and the Schuylkill County region. We now have the opportunity to do that for Lehigh Valley United, the most respected and successful elite soccer club in the region. This is an opportunity and a responsibility that we accept with great
commitment and enthusiasm.”
St. Luke’s provides a full spectrum of sports-related medical services including orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine, athletic training, physical therapy, primary care sports medicine, a concussion prevention and management program, sports performance facilities and expertise and fitness centers.
“In addition to some co-branding and co-marketing efforts, St. Luke’s will be providing on-site athletic training services, on-call and on-site physician services, medical and athletic training supplies, sports performance programming and testing and expertise and care where and when needed,” says Hauth.
“St. Luke’s is singularly well positioned and equipped to handle the emergent and on-going care and training of athletes,” adds John Graham, senior director of Fitness & Sports Performance, St. Luke’s University Health Network. “We have the most comprehensive services and the most integrated system in the region to do this. St. Luke’s is the largest provider of sports medicine and sports performance services in the Greater Lehigh Valley region and beyond.”
"Lehigh Valley United, having won 24 State Championships, 7 Regional Championships and 1 National Championship, provides its' teams and players with the soccer specific training necessary to succeed at the highest levels of play,” says Greg Ramos, executive director, Lehigh Valley United. “We are excited to now offer our membership the most comprehensive and progressive Sports Science and Athletic Development training available in the region through our partnership with St. Luke's University Health Network. In addition to working with our players and teams, St. Luke's professionals will be helping the Lehigh Valley United soccer staff develop an enhanced curriculum incorporating cutting edge and sports specific workload, regeneration and periodization plans"
According to both organizations, every bit as important as caring for and training athletes, is raising the awareness of athletic injuries; educating parents, coaches and athletes about injury prevention; and doing everything they can, through this partnership, to keep athletes safe.
"Player safety and wellness are extremely important to Lehigh Valley United,” says Ramos. “Our partnership with St. Luke's University Health Network allows our membership greater access to professional trainers at training and events, a more enhanced concussion protocol and baseline testing, the latest injury prevention and rehabilitation expertise as well as some the most respected and highly qualified medical access in the country."