Purdue Calumet Opens Community Hospital Athletic Training Room & Physical Therapy Center

AT-PT-RIBBON-CUTTING-4-13-15Purdue University Calumet, in partnership with Community Hospital, Munster officially opened the campus-based Community Hospital Athletic Training and Physical Therapy Center, Monday (4/13).

The center is designed to provide training and injury-related services to Purdue Calumet student-athletes, as well as outpatient, rehabilitation care for students, faculty-staff and their dependents, and members of the university’s Fitness Center on a referral, fee-for-service basis.

“Today is a celebration of the state of the art, Athletic Training and Physical Therapy Center, which provides medical care for our more than 200 student-athletes, other students, faculty, and staff,” Purdue Calumet Director of Athletics Rick Costello said in front of a crowd of about 100 during the grand opening program.

The center was generously funded by Community Hospital, Munster, one of Purdue Calumet athletics’ primary Corporate Champions and supporters.

Don Fesko, 2012 Young Healthcare Executive of the Year and current Community Hospital CEO, and John Doherty, director of the Community Hospital Concussion Clinic and Supervisor of Purdue Calumet Athletic Trainers, offered comments on behalf of the hospital.

“We are proud to expand the partnership between Community Hospital and Purdue University Calumet through the opening of the Athletic Training & Physical Therapy Center,” Fesko said. “Having therapy services and athletic trainers on campus will make it more convenient for students to access care.”

Chancellor Thomas L. Keon and student-athlete Erica Dinnocenzo, a junior volleyball player majoring in elementary education, joined Costello at the podium speaking for Purdue Calumet.

In addition to the benefits the new facility will provide Purdue Calumet athletics, Keon spoke about the strategic importance the university places on building community and organizational partnerships.

“The growth of our athletic program makes this outstanding facility essential for our student-athletes and coaches,” Purdue Calumet Chancellor Thomas L. Keon said. “We are extremely grateful to our friends at Community Hospital for this latest demonstration of support and investment in the health and care of our campus community.”

Dinnocenzo, also president of Purdue Calumet’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), expressed appreciation for the new facility and the tireless work of its trainers in service to student-athletes and their teams.

Two athletic trainers, a physical therapist and two athletic trainer student interns, supervised by Community Hospital, will staff the 1,795 square foot center. The rehab professionals will employ hospital modalities in the clinic and utilize exercise equipment within the university’s adjacent Fitness Center to enable a comprehensive recovery program for patients.

Since 2013, Purdue Calumet has contracted with Community Hospital for services of licensed and certified athletic trainers to provide fitness and medical assistance to university student-athletes. Community Hospital also provides staffing and consultation for Purdue Calumet’s campus-based health clinic, available to students, faculty and staff.