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2016-17
BASKETBALL
12
THE UNIVERSITY
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STUDENT-ATHLETE SUPPORT
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PLAYERS & STAFF
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HISTORY & RECORDS
The Sports Medicine Department at Virginia
Tech is constantly evolving to incorporate new
ideas utilizing state-of-the-art resources for
the betterment of all Hokie student-athletes.
Under the leadership of Associate Athletics
Director for Sports Medicine Mike Goforth,
the department is constantly improving and
developing new strategies to provide the most
current and comprehensive care.
The team of certified athletic trainers,
orthopaedic surgeons, Board Certified primary
care physicians, chiropractors, physical
therapists, sport psychologists, nutritionists,
massage therapists and orthotists are available
on site to manage the health care needs of
Tech athletes. The staff continually looks for
ways to enhance the services provided for its
athletes as evidenced by its participation in
local and national projects pertaining to related
topics such as concussion management,
prevention of antibiotic resistant types of staph
infection (MRSA), high ankle sprains and
collegiate health care management strategies.
Research is considered instrumental to the
sports medicine department. The department
has participated in several projects with
the engineering department and school of
education, respectively.
Tech is in its 11th full year in the 4,300-
square-foot Eddie Ferrell Memorial Training
Room, which consolidated the training rooms
that existed in the Merryman Center and
Cassell Coliseum. The facility gives the training
staff a centralized area to care for the needs
of all Virginia Tech student-athletes. There is
top-of-the-line equipment and a unique style
of architecture, developed by Glenn Reynolds,
AIA and Larry Perry as the consulting engineer.
PROVIDING EXPERIENCED, PROFESSIONAL CARE
GREG BEATO, D.O.
Team Physician
Responsibilities:
As associate athletics director for sports
medicine, Goforth oversees healthcare needs of all student-athletes
and organizes all trainers and doctors while supervising all other
services Tech offers.
Joined VT Staff:
1998; 16th year.
Prior to Virginia Tech:
Goforth came to Tech from the Hamilton
Medical Center/Bradley Wellness Center in Dalton, Ga., where he
was the director of wellness and sports medicine. He has an extensive
background in sports medicine, working at East Tennessee State
University, William Fleming High School, Tusculum College, Greene
County Sports Medicine/Industrial Cooperative and Pioneer Sports
Medicine/Physical Therapy Clinic. He also has numerous opportunities
to consult on program development throughout the country.
Education:
East Tennessee State University, 1991, physical
education; Virginia Tech, 1995, master’s in sport management.
Family:
Goforth and his wife, Tracy, a teacher at Blacksburg Middle
School, have two sons – Ethan and Luke.
ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
FOR SPORTS MEDICINE
MIKE GOFORTH
SPORTS
MEDICINE
Reynolds helped Tech spearhead another
expansion project that doubled the size of the
existing training room and united the entire
medical staff, putting both the athletic trainers
and doctors under one roof. Construction
was completed in 2014 to convert the current
training room into a functional rehabilitation
space for preventative and post injury care,
while also adding doctor’s offices adjacent to
a new treatment area.
Tech has more than 10,000 square feet
dedicated to sports medicine, placing it in
the top five percent nationally. The training
room also has offices for the staff, dozens of
training tables, two cold tubs, whirlpools, an
underwater treadmill, a Biodex System 3 and
various other pieces of rehabilitation equipment
and treatment modalities. In addition, a training
room has been constructed in Rector Field
House for teams utilizing the facility, and the
Gordon Family Mobile Sports Medicine Unit is
a portable training room that can be transported
to various venues.
The Hahn Hurst Basketball Practice Center
contains a fully-equipped training room. This
area features two examination rooms, a taping
area and hot and cold immersion tubs. A
state-of-the-art Alter G rehab machine also
is located in this area. The sports medicine
staff can handle all aspects of treatment and
rehabilitation of injuries from this room. Team
physical therapist and former Virginia Tech
women’s basketball player Erin Gibson works
directly out of this facility in support of the
basketball programs. Gibson plays a large role
in the overall program developed to return an
injured athlete to 100 percent.
Athletes have many options to help prevent
or
protect
them
from injuries. The
sports medicine staff
takes great pride
in treating athletes
year-round. Special
attention is paid to
offseason
activity.
The staff will analyze
past injury data from
each participant and
construct a preventative program.
A vital part of student-athlete medical
services is access to the Carilion Clinic.
Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic have partnered
in order to create the Roanoke-based Virginia
Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research
Institute. The Hokies’ student-athletes will
continue to benefit from this partnership for
years to come.
Team chiropractor, Dr. Greg Tilley, provides
Tech athletes with specialized treatment for
spine-related conditions and plays a huge role
in performance enhancement through various
chiropractic techniques. Team orthopaedic
surgeon Dr. Chris Catterson brings a wealth
of experience and skill to assist when athletes
need orthopaedic consultation for certain types
of sports-related injuries. Dr. Catterson brings
a unique skill set and has excellent bedside
manner that ensures that athletes and parents
alike are comfortable and confident whenever
surgery may be indicated.
Over the past 15 years, Tech has developed
the reputation for producing top-level certified
athletic trainers. Graduates are now employed
in positions across the country at various levels
of the profession.