Sports Medicine Center Celebrates 20 Years of Supporting Schools

Each year, our Sports Medicine Center's (SMC) organizes and provides group pre-participation exams for five local high schools through the "$$$ for Physicals" fundraiser program. The physicians, family medicine residents, physical therapists and staff donate their time, giving 100% of the proceeds earned from the physicals back to the school's athletic department. Athletes who clear the exam meet the yearly CIF requirement to participate in school sports. 

This past spring, the SMC, led by medical director Jay Shah, DO, spent several evenings performing 484 student-athletes physicals, raising a total of $15,855 for the schools’ athletic training rooms.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the program. Since 2006, “$$$ for Physicals” has provided 9,620 high school athletes with required physicals while helping to raise a grand total of $239,855 benefiting our local high schools.

In the fall, football pre-game ceremonies are held at each school with the team physician and SMC clinician or staff presenting the symbolic “big check” on behalf of the Hospital to the Principal, Athletic Director, Coaches, and Athletic Trainer. 

Representing the SMC in presenting the “big check” at the pregame ceremonies this year were SMC Team Physicians Victor Alvarez, MD, Carlos Baez, MD, James Meyers, DO and Erik Olsen, MD, along with SMC Administrative Director, Rick Rossman, MS, PT.

Our SMC physicians currently serve as team doctors at Bonita, Charter Oak, Claremont, Damien and Diamond Bar High Schools. They work closely with their school's coaching staff and athletic trainer while providing many hours of complimentary medical coverage and support on the sidelines during football season.