UT Health San Antonio has signed a 10-year, multifaceted deal with the San Antonio Spurs, becoming the basketball team’s official sports medicine partner.
On and off the court, UT Health San Antonio will become the Spurs’ exclusive sports medicine provider with a head team physician and a dedicated team of specialists trained and ready to respond to the medical needs of each San Antonio Spurs player. Guy Nicolette, MD, CAQSM, associate clinical professor, will serve as the Spurs’ new head team physician.
For the past three decades, David Schmidt, MD, and Paul Saenz, DO, have provided outstanding service to over 250 Spurs players. They will continue to assist the Silver and Black and collaborate with Nicolette, MD to transition to a new chapter in the organization’s history of excellence in player care.
Beyond the court, the partnership will consist of public health education and engagement programs. It will also include innovative work in human performance, which will harness the science behind high performance and energy management with professional athletes and the military. The partnership will also include the university’s sponsorship of the San Antonio Spurs’ treatment room at The Rock at La Cantera.
“This partnership is built on the principles of medical education, public health education and integrated research and will allow us to study and better understand the complex issue of health and health care in our community,” said UT Health San Antonio President William L. Henrich, MD, MACP. “Together, we are committed to unparalleled quality, expertise and excellent outcomes for our city and region.”
To help focus on the greatest community health needs, UT Health San Antonio and the San Antonio Spurs will support children, teens and adults in the region by unveiling an education and fitness campaign called “Know Your Numbers.”
This initiative will encourage the community to keep track of their health, including cholesterol level, blood sugar, BMI and blood pressure. This targeted public health education program is designed to meet the unique health needs of the region’s diverse population and addresses the population of San Antonio and South Texas region impacted disproportionately with certain health conditions and priority health issues.
“We are committed to empowering our local and regional communities to make sustainable health progress, reduce the scale of health struggles impacting our population and improve health inequities that have far-reaching effects on the lives of the people in San Antonio, South Texas and beyond,” Henrich said. “Our partnership will be a powerful tool for making a difference in the community’s health by providing opportunities and services that promote healthy development, healthier lifestyles and overall well-being for all phases of life.”
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