Media Contacts: Jacksonville Armada FC Eric Scott [email protected] +1-904-516-3751 office +1-904-885-2171 cell
Baptist Health Deborah Circelli [email protected] 904-202-4916
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baptist Health, Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute and Armada FC form partnership Baptist Health to serve as “Official Health Care Provider,” JOI as “Official Sports Medicine Provider” for professional soccer team
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (January 21, 2015) –The Armada FC, Jacksonville’s new professional soccer team, today announced a formal partnership with Baptist Health and Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute to maintain the health and fitness of the North American Soccer League club as it heads into its inaugural season in April.
“Baptist Health and Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute are widely recognized experts in their fields and highly respected not only in Jacksonville but around the nation,” said Armada FC President Steve Livingstone. “We are thrilled to have them as part of the Armada FC family and to have their support in helping our players compete at their peak performance levels and stay healthy.”
As the ”Official Health Care” and “Official Sports Medicine Provider” of the Armada FC, Baptist Health and JOI will provide comprehensive medical services to the club including physician and athletic trainer support at all home and away games, ongoing trainer support at practices, sports nutrition consultation and sports performance services. Armada FC players will have access to Baptist Health’s comprehensive services including primary care sports medicine physicians and orthopedic surgeons, sports injury prevention services, concussion management, sports physicals, heart risk assessments, education and screenings.
1 of 2 “We have a history of providing health care and sports medicine to professional athletic teams. We look forward to building a strong partnership with Armada FC to increase sports and player safety both on and off the field,” said Baptist Health President and CEO Hugh Greene.
As part of the collaboration, Baptist Health and JOI will partner with Armada FC on a series of community-based efforts and initiatives geared toward young players and their families and adult players to raise awareness of common injuries associated with soccer and offer tips for preventing serious injury.
"As a former professional soccer player, I am especially excited to be a part of the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute team providing the Armada FC and players with the best sports medicine care in Northeast Florida,” said Nigel Sparks, MD, Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute team physician.
About Baptist Health Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven system in Northeast Florida comprised of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville; Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Baptist Medical Center South; Baptist Clay Medical Campus and Wolfson Children’s Hospital – the region’s only children’s hospital. All Baptist Health hospitals, along with Baptist Home Health Care, have achieved Magnet™ status for excellence in patient care. Baptist Health includes the area’s only dedicated heart hospital; cancer centers; orthopaedic institute; women’s services; neurological institute including comprehensive neurosurgical services, a comprehensive stroke center and two primary stroke centers; a Bariatric Center of Excellence; a full range of psychology and psychiatry services; outpatient facilities; urgent care services; and primary and specialty care physicians’ offices throughout Northeast Florida. For more details, visit baptistjax.com. For information on Wolfson Children’s Hospital, visit www.wolfsonchildrens.org.
About Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute offers 31 specialty-trained physicians and 15 physician assistants dedicated to delivering comprehensive care for the muscles, bones and joints for more than 400 sports team members. In addition, JOI maintains a rehab division with more than 75 therapists. In February 2011, JOI affiliated with Baptist Health. In addition to providing athletic trainers for Jacksonville Armada FC, JOI provides team physicians for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacksonville Sharks, Jacksonville University and Florida State College at Jacksonville. JOI is also a community partner to and provides athletic trainers and/or physicians to The Bolles High School, Eagle’s View Academy, Episcopal High School, Bishop Kenny High School, Bishop John J. Snyder High School, Atlantic Coast High School and Pop Warner Jacksonville Beach Jaguars Football. For information about JOI, visit JOI.net[joionline.net].
About the Jacksonville Armada FC The Armada FC is Jacksonville’s newest professional sports team and a member of the North American Soccer League. The NASL member teams are: Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, FC Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Indy Eleven, Minnesota United FC, New York Cosmos, Ottawa Fury FC, San Antonio Scorpions FC and Tampa Bay Rowdies. For more information about the Armada FC, visit www.ArmadaFC.com. Follow the Armada FC on Twitter @JaxArmadaFC and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/JaxArmadaFC. For more information about the NASL, visit www.NASL.com. Follow the NASL on Twitter @NASLOfficial and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NASLfans. Fans can watch every game live at www.NASLlive.com.
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