THE BEGINNING OF AN ERA

The Slocum Center and Athletics, Making History Since 1967

memorable year in Ducks history, 1967 marked the beginning of an era While seeking resources to better understand the medical treatment of ath- Ain and the birth of what has since become one of the letes, it became quite clear to Dr. Slocum that little was known about the lasting nation’s leading sports medicine programs — right here at the University implications of sports-related injuries. This inspired Dr. Slocum to pursue this of Oregon. area of study in the hope of helping athletes return to their full form and func- Long before injury timeouts and sideline evaluations, a young, yet talented tion after an injury, his passion and dedication catching the eyes and ears of orthopedic surgeon by the name of Donald B. Slocum, M.D., completed his Oregon coaches. elite medical training in the Midwest and embarked on a journey to the West Given the opportunity to provide orthopedic care for all University of Ore- Coast. It was a move that many in his field advised against, but as it came to be, gon and Oregon State athletes, Dr. Slocum took his expertise a step further. was one that placed Eugene in the books of medical Now entrenched in the world of sports injuries and athletic performance, he literature. along with three other orthopedists in the U.S. founded the American Or- After establishing his clinic in Eugene, Dr. Slocum thopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), which today is the inter- served six years in World War II and practiced med- national authority on orthopedic and sports medicine related research and icine at the nationally renowned Walter Reed Med- education. More locally, Dr. Slocum collaborated with the legendary Uni- ical Center in Washington, D.C. It was during his versity of Oregon track coach . And together they finalized the service time at Walter Reed, that Dr. Slocum’s expo- trademark upright running posture of Oregon runners, a technique that led sure to war injuries provided him with the expertise former Oregon runner to an Olympic Gold Medal in 1960. and experience to author An Atlas of Amputations. His name now synonymous with the term “sports medicine,” Dr. Slocum The text was so ahead of its time that it still serves as remained committed to the field of medicine and made history once more a definitive reference for orthopedists even today, and with his studies of knee joint ligaments and their role in joint stability during also signified to his peers at the time that he was one Donald B. Slocum, M.D. movement. Findings that further demonstrated orthopedic leadership from to watch. Eugene and prompted peers like Drs. Robert Larson and Stanley James to pur- Dr. Slocum returned to Eugene and slowly began to build his practice, hand sue a chance to work alongside him. picking skilled surgeons to join him in offering comprehensive orthopedic care. Immediately impressed with their skill and expertise, Dr. Slocum included Although he primarily practiced general orthopedic medicine, Dr. Slocum’s them both in his work with Oregon Athletics and sports-related injuries, cre- focus, and that of his practice, soon changed after treating his son’s football-re- ating the start of an elite team of sports medicine experts. A short time later, lated knee injury. the specialists of Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, then re-

“FOR US, THERE HAS BEEN NO GREATER REWARD THAN CONTRIBUTING TO SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY ATHLETIC PROGRAM ALONGSIDE THIS TALENTED GROUP OF ATH- LETES AND PROFESSIONALS.”

–DR. DONALD JONES, OREGON ATHLETICS AND SLOCUM CENTER FOR ORTHOPEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIAN

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Dr. Donald Jones (left) and Dr. Rudolf Hoellrich act as lead Team Orthopedic Physicians for Athletics. Slocum Center for Or- thopedics and Sports Medicine is a 22-man multi-subspeciality orthopedic clinic, located in Eugene, Oregon.

ferred to as Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic of Eugene, formally became The Orthopedic Team Physicians for University of Oregon Athletics in 1967. Four decades later and still proudly serving Oregon Athletics, Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine has maintained its team approach to athletic care both on and off the field. From the athletes, coaches and athletic trainers to current sideline care of Drs. Kenneth Singer, Donald Jones and Rudolf Hoellrich and the support of their orthopedic partners and staff, the collaboration in care between teams requires a level of commitment beyond most expectations, clearly differentiating Oregon Athletics from others in the Pac-12 and the nation at large. “For us, there has been no greater reward than contributing to such an ex- traordinary athletic program alongside this talented group of athletes and pro- fessionals,” said current Oregon Athletics and Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine physician Dr. Donald Jones. By continuously displaying leadership, commitment and innovation, Orthopedic Team Physicians for Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine has remained one of the University of Oregon Athletics since 1967 nation’s leading authority in sports medicine care. Established by one of the founding fathers of sports medicine and having grown to be a 22-physician group with three American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Medicine is proud to live up to the honor of being the Orthopedic Team (AOSSM) Hall of Fame inductees, Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Physicians for the University of Oregon Ducks.

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