More than a million students, faculty, staff and alumni worked out or participated in an event at the UCF’s Recreation and Wellness Center in 2012. As an unprecedented number of people continue to use the RWC, the need for quality care after an injury also rises. With that in mind, the RWC and Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic are proud to announce an extension of a partnership which will now go through the 2018-19 school year. Jewett Orthopaedic is donating $190,000 to the center to help support the facilities growing Athletic Training program. The partnership began back in 2006.The Jewett Orthopaedic gift makes it possible for the RWC to employee athletic training professionals including Gaby Bell, Athletic Training and Risk Management coordinator. Bell, who oversees two graduate assistants and seven other part-time athletic trainers, says the partnership is ‘unique’ in campus recreation: “The student’s may not realize how fortunate they are to have open access to certified athletic trainers five days a week for injury assessments, rehabilitation programs and injury prevention tools.”
The RWC’s athletic trainers offer free open clinic hours during the week for students and are on hand for special events, Intramural Sports league and tournament play, and higher risk Sport Club events. The need is great. In 2012-13, Bell’s staff treated more than 240 injuries an 84 percent increase from the 2011-12 academic year. The athletic trainers refer injured students to the UCF Health Center’s Sports Medicine Program and Dr. Douglas Meuser, M.D. and Dr. Ashlee Warren, M.D.
Additionally Bell has easy access to Jewett and Dr. Kenneth Krumins, M.D., who is the medical doctor of record for the UCF RWC Athletic Training program. The clinic specializes in arthroscopy, hand and foot deformities, spine reconstruction and joint replacement and has served the Central Florida community for 75 years.
The RWC is funded by the Student Government Association. Its continuing mission is to enrich campus life through efficient services, comprehensive programs and high-quality facilities programs that foster healthy lifestyles.
The RWC is a department in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.