St.Vincent, USA Gymnastics Announce Partnership
Partnership Establishes St.Vincent as the Official Health Care Provider of the USA Gymnastics

INDIANAPOLIS – August 8, 2006, St.Vincent Sports Performance Center and USA Gymnastics announced a partnership that will enhance the quality of injury prevention and sports medicine support for USA Gymnastics’ national teams and establish the Indianapolis-based hospital as the official health care provider of the USA Gymnastics.

St.Vincent and USA Gymnastics both share the common vision of achieving excellence in the sport of gymnastics by improving the health, strength and conditioning, flexibility, speed, power and endurance for each respective athlete. 

“St.Vincent Sports Performance is pleased to partner with USA Gymnastics,” said Ralph Reiff, director of St.Vincent Sports Medicine and Performance Center.  “We are privileged to provide our exemplary health care services to the best and most respected athletes around the nation right here in Indianapolis.  Through our commitment to service excellence, we will become a critical part of the gymnastics family by serving as a direct health care contact for illnesses or injuries that occur in the gym or away from the gym.”

The partnership between St.Vincent and USA Gymnastics ensures that the nation’s best men and women gymnasts and coaching staff receive routine health screenings, evaluations, sports performance training and the best possible treatment of illnesses or injuries.  This unique partnership affords USA Gymnastics the opportunity to receive quality health care and sports performance from Indiana’s most trusted health care provider, and establishes St.Vincent and Indianapolis as the official national supplier for the most talented gymnasts in the sport of gymnastics. 

“The expertise and wealth of knowledge that St. Vincent Sports Performance can provide to USA Gymnastics will be invaluable,” said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics.  “We have the best gymnasts in the world representing the United States and participating in our gymnastics programs.  Gymnastics requires superb conditioning, strength and fitness, and St. Vincent will provide a level of guidance and support that our athletes and coaches need.”

St.Vincent physicians and sports medicine associates will have opportunities to travel to national and international events with the men’s and women’s teams to provide immediate health care consultation during practices and competitions.  The comprehensive team will treat complex and common gymnastics-related injuries such as back pulls, shoulder strains and wrist and hand injuries. 

“Having a team of medical professionals trained for supporting world-class athletes is vital,” said Penny.  “St. Vincent Sports Performance has already been a support to some of our athletes, increasing our confidence that this relationship will be beneficial.”

The comprehensive care of the St.Vincent Sports Medicine program, St.Vincent Children’s Hospital specialties, the new St.Vincent Orthopedic Center and other nationally-recognized tertiary services of St.Vincent will service the health care and sports performance needs of each athlete. 

For more information, please contact Johnny Smith at (317) 338-2036 or Leslie King at (317) 829-5656. 

St.Vincent Hospitals and Health Services
Launched by four Daughters of Charity who arrived in Indianapolis in 1881 with $34.77 in their pockets, the mission of St.Vincent is to treat the poor and sick by following our Core Values of Service to the Poor, Reverence, Integrity, Wisdom, Creativity and Dedication. Our healthcare ministry has grown to include St.Vincent Indianapolis Hospital, St.Vincent Children’s Hospital, St.Vincent Women’s Hospital, the St.Vincent Pediatric Rehabilitation Center and the St.Vincent Stress Center. St.Vincent is known for programs in cardiology and neurosciences and holds the Certification for Disease Specific Care in Joint Replacement and Primary Stroke Center from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  The ageless mission of St.Vincent remains unchanged: to minister to the minds, bodies and spirits of those in need.

USA Gymnastics
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.