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The Fight for Children Sports Medicine Center

Even Minor Injuries Can Derail a Young Athlete’s Dreams

The Fight for Children Sports Medicine Center is changing how we nurture and care for student athletes. Our sports medicine and orthopaedic experts provide treatment and training that prevents injuries and helps kids reach their full potential.

A $5 million investment from Fight for Children laid the groundwork for this leading-edge program in 2021. Your support will help us harness the power of community, sports and resilience to keep kids moving on the field, in the classroom and into their futures.

Contact Shelley Cooke to get started.


Help Young Athletes Achieve Their Full Potential

Two young athletes participate in a community outreach program.

Community Outreach and Education

Our partnerships link us to families, schools and coaches so we can reach young athletes where they live, learn and play. Donor support helps us train school and team personnel in the latest performance and injury prevention practices.

A rehab professional works with a young patient in a treatment facility.

Pediatric and Adolescent Specific Rehabilitation

Children are not small adults. We develop recovery programs designed for their growing bodies. Donor giving ensures that our patients have access to the latest rehabilitation equipment and techniques meant for them.

A practitioner assesses an elementary school aged patient after a sports-related head injury.

Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention

Our research informs advances in performance, treatment and recovery. These innovations help young athletes avoid injuries on the move and in the field. Donors will help us launch new clinical trials to improve pediatric sports medicine.

A group of children of multiple genders, ages, and races play soccer together.

Research

Our research informs advances in performance, treatment and recovery. These innovations help young athletes avoid injuries on the move and in the field. Donors will help us launch new clinical trials to improve pediatric sports medicine.

A surgeon poses for a photo with their 13-year-old patient.

Ashby's Story

“I tried to get up, but my leg was bent and I couldn’t move it,” said the 13-year-old equestrian who fractured her femur. Orthopaedic surgeon Emily Niu, who treats children in the Fight for Children Sports Medicine program, came to Ashby’s rescue. After two operations and many months of rehabilitation, Ashby is happily riding horses again.

Read Ashby's Story
It's a place under one roof where we can make sure kids function at peak performance — from their medical and sports-related issues to their social situations, emotional maturity and dealing with injuries.

Matt Oetgen, MD

Division Chief, Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine

Learn more about Matt Oetgen, MD