Mike Ferrara, PhD, ATC, Will Moderate Session August 10

Prior to the lighting of the Olympic Torch at the 2004 Summer Games, the Pre-Olympic Congress will take place August 6-11 at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Many scientific symposia, workshops and lectures will be given to reflect this year’s theme: “Sport Science Through the Ages: Challenges in the New Millennium.”

Among the key presentations will be “The Athletic Therapist’s Role in Sports Medicine,” which will take place Tuesday, August 10, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. Dr. Mike Ferrara, professor in Exercise Science and Curriculum and director of athletic training at the University of Georgia, will moderate. The 90-minute session will be presented before an anticipated international audience of 1,000 individuals from the worlds of sports medicine and related areas.

“The purpose of the symposium,” says Ferrara, is to "globalize and promote the profession of athletic training/therapy.” Experts will present and discuss:

• the development and implementation of a comprehensive sports medicine program for athletes and physically-active individuals for injury prevention and rehabilitation.
• the design of a comprehensive sports medicine team highlighting various health care models used throughout the world.
• the development of an injury prevention program with specific strategies to reduce injuries in athletic participation based on epidemiological studies.
• the current concepts, theories and techniques of late stage rehabilitation principles prior to returning an individual to unrestricted participation following an injury.

The lecturers at the symposium will include:

Gene Elizabeth Verel, MA, ATC, who will speak on global sports medicine issues and concepts. Verel is Chair of the International Committee of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and Vice President of The World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy.

Zöe Hudson, MCSP, PhD, who will speak on return to play/late stage rehabilitation. Hudson is
with the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine in the United Kingdom.

Glen L. Bergeron, PhD, CAT(C) will speak on injury prevention in the physically active. Bergeron is an associate professor of Athletic Therapy at the University of Winnipeg, Manitoba representing the Canadian Athletic Therapists’ Association.

For more information about this symposium and other Pre-Olympic Congress symposia, visit www.preolympic2004.com and click on “Scientific Programme” and then “sessions.”