Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has entered into a partnership with Magnolia Independent School District (ISD) for orthopedics and sports medicine specialists to provide medical support for student-athletes during the fall football season and beyond. The three-year sponsorship reflects the hospital’s commitment to providing safe, quality care to Magnolia residents.

 

“We’re excited to work closely with the Magnolia ISD coaches and staff to help keep these students safe while they continue playing the sports they love,” said Scott Rand, MD, a primary care sports medicine physician at Houston Methodist Willowbrook. “Having experts in orthopedics and sports medicine readily available on the sideline can be the difference in a player returning to the field or being out for the season.”

 

Under the sponsorship, Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Willowbrook stations board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians on the sideline of every home football game. They are immediately available to assess injuries including muscle cramps, strains and sprains, injured tendons or ligaments, fractures, dislocations, concussions and more. Their medical knowledge and experience, coupled with handheld ultrasound technology, enable them to determine if an athlete can safely return to play or needs further medical evaluation.

 

“As children whose bodies are still growing and changing, student-athletes are especially in need of evaluation and treatment by orthopedic specialists to ensure they heal properly. That’s why it’s important that the school district chose a partner that can provide specialized care from diagnosis to treatment and all the way through recovery,” said Raymond O'Bryan, DO, a primary care sports medicine physician at Houston Methodist Willowbrook. O’Bryan, who serves as the dedicated physician for Magnolia ISD, practices out of the Houston Methodist clinic in Tomball, serving the nearby Magnolia population.

 

The partnership also provides annual physical exams for students by board-certified physicians, expedited treatment for athletes, training for staff in sports nutrition and sports psychology, and same-day sports injury clinics on Saturdays during the fall. These walk-in clinics are open to all student-athletes at the junior high, high school and college levels, offering doctor evaluations and X-rays or other imaging services. Lastly, Houston Methodist Willowbrook awards two $500 scholarships each to one deserving student-athlete and one athletic trainer.

 

Magnolia ISD is the newest sponsorship for Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Willowbrook, which partners with five public school districts, four private schools and one university to support a total of 49 schools.