Every year, as sports seasons begin, Duke Sports medicine professionals are present to ensure the safety and health of athletes. For two decades, they have been assisting young athletes in the community. Alanna Baker, a physical therapist and athletic trainer at Duke Health, stated, “Many of our providers are former athletes themselves, so they understand the frustration of being sidelined with an injury.” She added that their goal is to help athletes perform at their best and ease concerns for players, coaches, and parents.
Baker emphasized the importance of their partnership with local high schools. “Our partnership with local high school athletes and their families is the core of our community outreach,” she said. Certified in both physical therapy and athletic training, these professionals dedicate up to 15 hours weekly at area high schools. They support athletic trainers during games and practices across various sports and assist with baseline concussion testing. When additional care is necessary for injured athletes, Duke providers facilitate prompt medical attention. “We help parents navigate the Duke Health system to make sure their child sees the doctors they need in a timely manner,” Baker explained.
Understanding the busy schedules of student-athletes and their families, Duke sports medicine providers offer convenient preventive care and injury treatment options. Athletes can access annual low-cost sports physicals and Saturday-morning injury clinics for professional assessments.
Beyond high school partnerships, Duke sports medicine specialists serve as official team doctors for all Duke University sports teams. They also provide on-field injury management for college football teams at Elon University, North Carolina Central University, St. Augustine’s University, and Shaw University.
Baker highlighted the significance of having certified professionals present during practices and games: “It’s important to have someone there not just for emergency care but also treatment and rehab.” She concluded by affirming their commitment to community involvement: “We’re really invested in the community.”
