New NYIT Center To Co-Sponsor Sports Medicine Conference

As one of the first programs of the new NYIT Center for Sports Medicine, a conference on athletic patient care will take place on Sept. 28 at Rockefeller Auditorium in Old Westbury, N.Y. The conference is co-sponsored by NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) and NYCOMEC, the college's consortium of hospitals providing graduate medical education. The Center for Sports Medicine was established on Sept. 1 and is housed in the Kenneth Riland Academic Health Care Center.

“Beyond the Sideline: A Comprehensive Approach to the Athletic Patient” features nine lectures, many by NYITCOM or School of Health Professions faculty members. Speakers will discuss nutrition, performance, shoulder and knee injuries, skin pathology, and concussions. Email your inquiries about registration and fee information.

The conference keynote speaker is Assistant Professor Adena Leder, D.O., a neurologist and one of several NYIT experts in concussion diagnosis and management at the Center for Sports Medicine.

Led by Director Hallie Zwibel (D.O. '11), the Center for Sports Medicine aims to coordinate care by NYIT physicians, physical therapists, and health professionals. New equipment includes a body scanning machine to measure bone density and body composition and a high-tech metabolic cart to measure the body’s response to exercise. The center also will use existing machines for balance testing and electrocardiograms.

"The center will provide care to all levels of athletes, combining all the expertise found on a medical school campus and helping athletes train better, prevent injuries, and better diagnose and recover from injuries," said Vice President for Medical Affairs and Global Health Jerry Balentine, D.O. “Whether it is the collegiate-level tennis player who wants to get stronger, the employee who likes to jog on weekends, or the student who practices yoga, the center will be available to all ‘athletes’ on campus.”

Balentine said several open houses are planned in fall 2015 for faculty, staff, and students to learn more about the center and how they might benefit from its services. The center also will build relationships with other colleges and high schools to provide concussion evaluations and follow-up services.

“By having the full spectrum of physical therapists, occupational therapists, Ph.D.s, and physicians, especially those who have special training in musculoskeletal medicine, we will truly treat the whole body and the whole athlete,” said Balentine.