Press Date: 09/14/2009

              OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation Adds Sports Medicine, Family Health Practice


COLUMBUS, Ohio - OhioHealth has brought a sports medicine and family health practice into the fold of the OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation. MAX Sports Medicine, with four central Ohio locations, is now a member of the organization.

"We have been working with OhioHealth for quite a while to develop a comprehensive sports medicine program to serve the community. Joining the Medical Specialty Foundation was a natural progression," said John A. Lombardo, MD, medical director, MAX Sports Medicine. "Our physicians and OhioHealth share a vision for growth to meet the needs of central Ohio."

MAX Sports Medicine offers a unique combination of primary care and sports medicine, including a full continuum of care for the athlete (school age, college and professional) and active adult. The practice's multidisciplinary team includes 11 physicians, all of whom specialize in either family medicine or pediatrics and internal medicine, and 10 of whom have specialized training in sports medicine.  Also included are physical therapists, certified athletic trainers and sports nutritionists.

"We understand athletes and active individuals," said Dr. Lombardo. "Our experience in taking care of athletes gives us the expertise to provide comprehensive care to entire families."

In addition to their medical practice, the physicians at MAX Sports Medicine also serve as team physicians for Otterbein College, Ohio Wesleyan University and Denison University as well as 11 local high schools - Delaware Hayes,  Dublin Jerome, Dublin Scioto, Hilliard Bradley, Independence, Liberty Union, Olentangy Orange, Bishop Watterson, Westerville North, Worthington Kilbourne and Upper Arlington. MAX Sports Medicine physicians also serve in positions with the PGA, NFL and Columbus Marathon.

"The sheer breadth of sports medicine expertise and experience of the physicians and staff at MAX Sports Medicine is impressive," said Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, chief medical officer for OhioHealth. "To bring that experience and successful practice model into the OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation will benefit our patients and provide a deeper knowledge base as we continue to expand and enhance our sports medicine expertise."

By joining the Medical Specialty Foundation model, the 11 MAX Sports Medicine physicians and 33 staff members became part of the OhioHealth family, but the practice name, office locations, physicians, patient experience and excellent patient care have not changed. MAX Sports Medicine has locations on Olentangy River Road on the McConnell Heart and Health Campus just north of Riverside Methodist Hospital; on High Street in Dublin; on Hill Road North in Pickerington; and on Polaris Parkway in the new OhioHealth Westerville Medical Center.

Physicians at MAX Sports Medicine include: John A. Lombardo, MD; Darrin Bright, MD, Kenneth O. Cayce IV, MD; Jason Diehl, MD; Douglas DiOrio, MD; Anthony Ewald, MD; Thomas Hospel, MD, MBA; Dana Nottingham, MD; Joel L. Shaw, MD; R. Trent Sickles, MD; and James E. Sturmi, MD.

OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation
The OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation employs more than 200 physicians in primary care and a wide range of specialties, giving patients access to one of the leading health systems in the nation. Members of the OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation serve on the medical staffs of OhioHealth's hospitals. Physicians in the Foundation collaborate closely with each other and their medical staff colleagues at OhioHealth's inpatient and outpatient care sites to develop the strategies and plans that result in patients receiving a comprehensive range of affordable, accessible, expert care.

The OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation is one way the system enables the delivery of the highest quality, most effective healthcare available. A seamless partnership with physicians helps OhioHealth fulfill its mission to "improve the health of those we serve."

About OhioHealth
Named by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2007, 2008 and 2009, OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare organization serving and supported by the community. Based in Columbus, Ohio, it is a family of 17 hospitals, 20 health and surgery centers, home-health providers, medical equipment and health service suppliers throughout a 40-county area. OhioHealth hospitals in central Ohio are Riverside Methodist Hospital, Grant Medical Center, Doctors Hospital, Grady Memorial Hospital and Dublin Methodist Hospital. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.ohiohealth.com.

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