#United States #Washington, D.C. #Athletic Policy #Team Physicians #Coach Advocacy

Team Coaches and Physicians Lead Discussions on Athlete Healthcare

On June 10, 2026, notable figures from the world of sports medicine and coaching gathered on Capitol Hill for a crucial briefing organized by the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and allied organizations. This event centered around the pressing need for policy solutions that guarantee safer pathways for athletes and adequate protection for clinicians who serve them.

The panel featured voices from both healthcare and sports, including former football coach Urban Meyer and esteemed medical professionals such as Eric C. McCarty, MD, FAAOS, President of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), and Carly Day, MD, the head team physician at Purdue University. They raised important issues that pose challenges to team physicians and athletes alike in today's evolving sports landscape.

Key Discussion Points

The event highlighted several critical policy areas necessary to safeguard athlete access to medical care:

• - Access to Care: Ensuring athletes at all levels, from high school to professional, have consistent access to medical services.
• - Protection of Clinicians: Advocating for policies that protect medical professionals offering care in good faith.
• - Medical Independence: Guaranteeing that physicians maintain independence in their medical decision-making processes.
• - Interstate Care Continuity: Addressing the complexities involved in providing care to athletes across different state lines.

Wilford K. Gibson, MD, FAAOS, President of the AAOS, emphasized the vital role of team physicians in safeguarding athlete health. With over three decades of experience as a volunteer team physician, he voiced his concerns about the implications of a shifting liability environment on orthopedic practice and athlete care.

Dr. McCarty echoed these sentiments, stating, "Every championship, every scholarship, and every comeback begins with something most people never see: trusted medical care. If we lose the physicians willing to serve athletes, we put athlete health at risk." This perspective was reinforced by Dr. Day, who pointed out that the increasing complexity of liability risks could dissuade even the most skilled medical professionals from participating in sports medicine, thus jeopardizing the quality of care available to athletes.

Advocating for Change

In a bid to stabilize the medical teams crucial to athlete safety, the Coaches Advisory Board—a group of championship-winning coaches—recently submitted a letter to Congress. The document urged lawmakers to support the creation of policies that bolster medical teams while still holding them accountable. Notable members of this board include Urban Meyer, Mack Brown, Mike Krzyzewski, Nick Saban, and Dawn Staley, all of whom are advocates for athlete care.

Conclusion

The gathering at Capitol Hill underscores a critical moment in the conversation around athlete safety and medical care. By uniting team coaches and sports medicine experts, there lies a hope for effective policy reform that preserves high standards of care for athletes. The AAOS remains a crucial player in advocating for these changes, aimed at enhancing both healthcare delivery and the safety of athletes across the nation.

For continuous updates on advocacy efforts and health policy initiatives within sports medicine, interested parties can follow AAOS Advocacy on various platforms and visit their website for further information.