St. Elizabeth Sports Medicine will receive the prestigious Dr. Rudy J. Ellis Distinguished Service Award on April 28 at the 2016 Kentucky High School Athletic Directors Association (KHSADA) awards ceremony at the University of Louisville.
The award is presented to the individual, group or business outside the field of athletic administration in recognition of their service to interscholastic athletics and is named for Ellis, a pioneer in sports medicine in Louisville and throughout the Commonwealth. He devoted his life to helping all athletes overcome injuries. He was the first doctor in Kentucky to offer free sports medicine physicals to all athletes.
“Our commitment to providing top quality services to our communities is a hallmark of our Sports Medicine program, and being recognized by our partners is humbling and appreciated,” said Scott Helton, certified athletic trainer and clinical manager at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine who manages the relationship between St. Elizabeth and Holy Cross. “Our many wonderful high school partnerships are great examples of our commitment to enhancing the health of our community.”
Holy Cross is one of 20 Northern Kentucky high schools the healthcare organization works with in providing athletic training, team physicians and sports medicine services.
St. Elizabeth athletic trainers work with coaches on emergency action plans and often make crucial connections with other health-care providers to meet the needs of the students and their families. St. Elizabeth provides additional benefits, including CPR training for coaches, ImPACT™ concussion testing for all athletes, participation with health-care career opportunities and job shadowing, as well as numerous sponsorships that benefit partner schools and their students.
The services are provided as a community benefit.
Holy Cross High School athletic director Anne Julian nominated St. Elizabeth for the award.
“St. Elizabeth is always looking for ways to stay in communication and be available to our community,” Julian said. “There is no other service like St. Elizabeth Sports Medicine. Scott and his entire team of athletic trainers provide so much more than great sports-focused medical care; they provide a peace of mind. There really are not enough words to describe the appreciation I have for the St. E team.”