HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State University announced a long-term partnership with Memorial Hermann Health System, where the system will be the Official Healthcare Provider of Sam Houston Athletics. 
 
"I don't think I can fully state how pleased I am to be partnering with the wonderful people at Memorial Hermann as our official healthcare provider," said Sam Houston's Athletic Director Bobby Williams. "Memorial Hermann is a name that has become synonymous with state-of-the- art health care, and having grown up and worked in the Houston area my entire life, I understand the impact of their name and brand as it relates to health care in this region. Our goal as a department is to put our student athletes in the best position to be successful on and off the field, and this long-term partnership with Memorial Hermann allows us to continue to give the best resources to our athletes," he added.
 
Under the partnership, which was secured by Van Wagner, the multimedia rights holder for the Bearkats, Memorial Hermann will oversee care for Sam Houston's 17 NCAA Division I sports teams including the 2020 FCS National Championship football team.
 
"We hope this partnership between Memorial Hermann and Sam Houston Athletics will put all Bearkat athletes at ease knowing their care is in the best hands," said Heath Rushing, Senior Vice President of Service Lines at Memorial Hermann Health System. "We believe Memorial Hermann has the best sports medicine resources to care for these athletes at the highest level, including rehabilitation from injury and injury prevention."
 
Memorial Hermann will provide preseason physicals, onsite sports medicine clinics, access to orthopedic surgeons with sports medicine expertise, rehab, physical therapy, pre-season injury screening, and the services of leading specialists in sports medicine. Memorial Hermann's network will be able to offer expanded, comprehensive care and personalized services based entirely around the needs of Sam Houston's 400-plus student-athletes. 
 
"Memorial Hermann's extensive roster of specialty trained and experienced affiliated and staff physicians, physical therapists, nutritionists and human performance will be able to give Sam Houston Athletics the customized treatment and training their athletes require," said Dr. Walt Lowe, Chairman and Professor of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. "At Memorial Hermann, we pride ourselves on being able to treat all levels of athletes, from the weekend warrior to athletes on a professional level."  
 
In addition to Dr. Lowe, Dr. Josh Griffin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann, and Dr. Kevin Coupe, Assistant Professor and Vice-Chair of Clinical Operations in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Memorial Hermann, will be team physicians with Sam Houston Athletics.
 
Beginning with the 2021-2022 academic and athletic year, this partnership will advance the health of student-athletes through sports medicine, primary care and physical therapy while also enabling avenues to promote nutrition, mental health and the overall well-being of the Bearkats.  
 
Memorial Hermann and Sam Houston are also working together to address the changing needs of student-athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
"We now have the opportunity to provide our student athletes with state-of-the-art health care, covering all medical specialties. Our Sports Medicine staff strives to ensure the department provides injury prevention, sport-specific rehabilitation, in addition to a safe and healthy return to the court or field. Partnering with Memorial Hermann expands these services provided to our colligate athletes," said Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Dustin LeNorman. 
 
"The core value of our campus-wide division is to build university-wide partnerships that further the growth and prosperity of a true partnership," said Mark Devine, Van Wagner's Senior Vice President of Campus-Wide Partnerships at Van Wagner. "We are unbelievably proud to align two of Houston's greats, Memorial Hermann and sports medicine icon Dr. Walt Lowe, with another, Sam Houston State University."
 
"Each organization plays a critical role in the Huntsville and Houston communities," added Ben Burke, Van Wagner's Regional Vice President.  
 
- GobBarkats.com –
 
About Van Wagner
Van Wagner is a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Wagner Group LLC that creates, advises, and sells on behalf of world-class teams, leagues, brands, properties, and colleges. An innovator in the sports and media business, Van Wagner is a global leader in high-impact broadcast visible signage throughout the MLB, NBA, NCAA, and the highest levels of international soccer, sponsorships sales, premium ticketing, college multi-media rights, and in-venue content production at the world's biggest sporting events. www.vanwagner.com