USF Health SMART Institute (Sports Medicine and Athletic Related Trauma Institute) received the inaugural Recognition Award from the USF Athletics Council.
The award was “In recognition of the innovation, contribution and educational efforts in the arena of sports medicine and trauma research benefitting our USF athletes and the Tampa Bay Area community.”
Barbara Morris, DHSc, ATC, LAT, CSCS, ROT, program director for SMART, was presented with the award at the USF Bulls game against Memphis Nov. 16 in Raymond James Stadium.
The USF Athletics Council is a committee of faculty and staff from throughout USF that advises USF Athletic Director Doug Woolard. The group established the award to recognize groups or individuals truly making a difference in athletics, either at USF or connected to USF. The inaugural award went to SMART because of its work with heat pill technology that helps reduce the number of heat related deaths and injuries among athletes.
“We wanted the inaugural award to be for significant work and effort that has a great impact on maintaining the safety and wellbeing of USF athletes, as well as athletes beyond USF,” said Catherine Batsche, PhD, associate dean for Academic Affairs for the USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences.
Dr. Batsche is a member of the USF Athletics Council and nominated SMART for the inaugural award. In her nomination letter, she wrote:
“SMART provides an invaluable service, not only to USF athletes, but also to athletes in the community. The pain and suffering caused by one athletic death or serious disability is enormous and SMART is making a significant contribution to prevent such tragedies. SMART exemplifies the integration of teaching, research and community engaged service in a way that contributes to the wellbeing of USF students participating in sports, as well as the betterment of the broader community.”
SMART, in the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine of the USF Health Mosani College of Medicine, is a comprehensive sports safety program that uses a multidisciplinary team of professionals who educate, research, and provide injury care and prevention to elevate the standard of care for the youth, recreational, high school, collegiate and professional athlete.