On Nov. 15, 130 students from every high school in the Sweetwater Union High School District took part in the Sports Medicine Seminar at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. Sponsored by the Southwest Sports Wellness Foundation and the SWHSD, this event is part of the Sports Medicine CTE Program offered at every high school in the school district.
SWSWF Community Outreach Director Dr. Micole Kranzberg said the Foundation has been around for more than 20 years, founded by Dr. Charles Camarata, South Bay physician who “took heart” to care for student athletes in South Bay since the 1960s.
“That is what has led us to now. [The] event was a sports medicine seminar to get students inspired to get into health career fields knowing that there is an immense need. The aim was to provide students with first-hand experience in skills related to healthcare fields, more so under the umbrella of sports medicine as well as career paths and what that looks like,” she said.
Kranzberg said students were able to have this interactive experience with everyone from Dr. Laura Sudano, a sports phycologist for the San Diego Padres and works with USCS Health.
“Students were able to learn some strategy skills for that type of professional and what their job looks like on a day-to-day basis. They were also able to work with protocol sports with professional volleyball player Julie Patois who provided students with functional assessment skills, and outlined how we help athletes obtain optimal performance, looking at a sports performance coach or potentially a physical therapist. They were also able to work with a USA archery athlete who put on an experience ‘Trian Like a Pro’ where they learned some skills in archery and trained by some of these Olympic athletes, which was definitely an experience, and a highlight of their day,” she said.
Kranzberg said many of these students did not realize that these athletes are careers, spending eight hours a day practicing, getting first-hand knowledge/
“We had a sports nutrition station where students learned the basics of important foods to train and play as professionals, but also, what it looks like as a sports nutritionist for athletes provided by Scripps Health. We also had an emergency response station for the students to learn skills in immobilization, fracture assessment, dislocation. We also had Dr. Alec Contag who led the charge in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon who showed what it is like to be a sports physician in those larger events and triaging for some significant injuries. All in all, I think we were successful in bringing this interactive experience to students. It is sometimes difficult to get into the industry, so we bring the industry to them, walking away will all these skills and knowledge as we open their minds to all these career options in the field,” she said.
Kranzberg said over the past several years with what has taken place as we have seen professional athletes’ injuries, there has been more limelight on these sports’ medical fields. She said there is a true need for specialists in sports medicine, whether it is physicians, athlete trainers, and physical therapists for individuals outside of professional athletes to be seen by a specialist.
The Southwest Sports Wellness Foundation was established in 2010 to fulfill a need in the under-served areas of the San Diego community by underwriting high school sports medicine educational seminars, no-cost sports medicine assessments, evaluations, and rehabilitation. In 2018 the foundation opened a comprehensive Sports Medicine Injury Clinic & Wellness Center in the SUHSD with more than 800 sq ft of space to screen, assess, and, evaluate student-athletes at no cost.
