Photo Caption: Dr. James Slauterbeck, left, speaks recently to UNC Health Southeastern officials at UNC Health Orthopedics at Southeastern Health Park. Dr. Slauterbeck will join a team of medical professionals who will administer sports physicals for PSRC student-athletes in May.
ROBESON COUNTY — Local student-athletes will soon benefit from a partnership between the Public Schools of Robeson County and UNC Health Southeastern as they receive sports physicals in May.
Students from grades 6-12 will have the opportunity to receive sports physicals from UNC Health Southeastern sports medicine professionals tentatively on May 9, 2025.
This partnership is an added layer of support for student-athletes and complements the partnership the two entities already have in place which provides athletic trainers to high schools across the district during sporting events.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity this partnership provides for our student-athletes,” said PSRC Superintendent Dr. Freddie Williamson.
“The health and well-being of our students remains our top priority and this is one way we can provide them with support to address those needs before they step onto our athletic fields and into our gymnasiums to compete. We want them to be healthy and lead successful academic careers filled with treasured memories like those made on the basketball court or the field,” Dr. Williamson added.
Importance of Sports Physicals
Screenings like sports physicals are essential in identifying and treating underlying conditions that students may not be aware of. These screenings can alert individuals to seek proper treatment and care as soon as a condition or illness is detected, according to Dr. James Slauterbeck, who specializes in Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at UNC Health Southeastern and UNC Health Orthopedics at Southeastern Health Park.
“We’ll have a team of physicians conducting comprehensive screening exams to assess blood pressure, vision, and other key health factors for student-athletes,” said Dr. Slauterbeck.
Dr. Slauterbeck has seen firsthand the impact of screenings. Throughout his medical career, he has helped administer several screenings which helped multiple individuals seek the appropriate care for their needs.
“We’ve screened and identified kids with knee and shoulder injuries,” he said. “We’ve also identified some individuals with medical conditions who saw improvement after seeking treatment.”
The partnership between UNC Health Southeastern and the school district also provides access for athletes to see physicians during the sports season while they’re injured.
“Timely access to care is essential for an injured athlete’s recovery,” said PSRC Athletics Director Glenn Paterson Sr. “This partnership allows us to provide that for our athletes and we couldn’t be more grateful for the support of UNC Health Southeastern.”
Looking Ahead
The access to sports physicals and athletic trainers also allows students to learn about careers in sports medicine that they might be interested in, according to Henry Edwards, Director of Rehabilitation Services at UNC Health Southeastern.
“Our hopes are to get more of these athletes interested in athletic training,” Edwards said, speaking of the long-term goals of the partnership. “It’s always better if you can grow your own.”
Dr. Slauterbeck also spoke of starting some injury prevention programs in the future. Such programs would help identify injury risks and reduce injuries in athletes.
“I’m excited about the possibilities of further collaborations in the future,” Edwards said.