Kent State University Athletics and Cleveland Clinic form partnership for student athlete healthcare
The partnership will provide student athletes access to Cleveland Clinic healthcare for all healthcare needs, whether or not the needs are related to their capacity as athletes.
A new multi-year partnership has been established between Kent State University Athletics and Cleveland Clinic that will give student athletes access to the clinic’s healthcare, including physical therapy, imaging, behavioral health, dieticians, and urgent care needs, among other services. The care will be available to student athletes throughout the year, whether or not their sport is in season. The partnership establishes Cleveland Clinic as the official healthcare provider for Kent State University Athletics.
According to an article on Kent State University’s website, Todd Diacon, the president of Kent State University, shared his thoughts about this addition to the school’s long standing partnership with Cleveland Clinic, saying, “Our student-athletes deserve the best support possible for their health and fitness, and there is no better partner to deliver this support than Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic has been an outstanding partner in support of our nursing and public health programs, Brain Health Research Institute, respiratory therapy students at our Ashtabula Campus, grant-funded research projects and much more. We look forward to continuing to grow this valuable partnership.”
The partnership establishes a group of team physicians who will provide medical care at all of Kent State’s home games for all sports, at Mid-American Conference championships that are hosted at Kent State, and at all home and away football games. The team physicians will be led by Dr. Lutul Farrow, who is both the executive director of Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine and the healthcare administrator for Kent State Athletics. Another member of the team physicians group is Dr. Sami Rifat, the director of sport and exercise medicine at Cleveland Clinic. The group will also be made up of various sports medicine specialists.
Dr. Farrow said of the partnership, “Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine is thrilled to partner with Kent State University as the official healthcare provider for their athletic programs. Our goal is to deliver the highest level of care and support to their talented student-athletes, ensuring they can perform at their best while maintaining optimal health and wellness. This partnership allows us to extend our expertise and resources to an outstanding institution and its students.”
Other benefits of the partnership include extending the availability of the team physical therapist to faculty and staff members in addition to student athletes, the availability of training for faculty and staff in CPR and professional rescue, virtual appointments for nutrition and dietary coaching, and continuing education for physicians and trainers with Kent State Athletics.
Randale L. Richmond, the Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Kent State University, said, “We are elated to begin our partnership with Cleveland Clinic. In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, one thing that remains paramount is the health and safety of our student-athletes. This partnership gives our student-athletes and our department access to world-renowned care and cutting-edge technology and facilities. The care that our student-athletes will receive from Cleveland Clinic is unrivaled across college athletics as we strive to graduate student-athletes who are boldly prepared for life after sport and to win championships.”
Nearly 2,500 alumni of Kent State University currently work for Cleveland Clinic in some capacity.
For more information about Kent State University, visit the school’s website.