Akron Children’s exclusive sports health provider for University of Akron

The University of Akron and Akron Children’s Hospital have entered into a new multi-year partnership that makes Akron Children’s the official sports health provider for Akron Zips Athletics. 

As part of the agreement, Children’s will pay to convert a previous storage and equipment room space in the Stiles Athletics Field House into a 5,000-square-foot health center. 

The agreement also will allow UA students who aren’t athletes and community members to see providers at the facility. 

Other terms of the 10-year agreement were not disclosed. Final cost estimates also are not completed because planning is still underway, university spokeswoman Cristine Boyd said. 

“The Akron Children’s Sports Health Center for Zips Athletics will be a comprehensive sports medicine facility within the University of Akron athletics complex,” Children’s President and CEO Chris Gessner said in a press release. “The center will not only serve student-athletes but also the entire university community of students, faculty and staff. In addition, it will be a destination sports injury evaluation and treatment facility for the community at large.” 

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Akron Children’s has provided sports-related health services to the University of Akron student athletes for more than 30 years. There have been other health systems in Akron whose medical staff also have worked with UA athletes over the years, but the new agreement makes Children’s the exclusive sports health provider for UA athletes, said Boyd. 

New center set to open in 2023

Planning for the project is underway with a targeted completion date of early-to-mid 2023. The center will offer sports medicine, orthopedics and sports physical therapy clinics. The facility will feature an agility area, throwing wall, concussion treatment room, imaging suite for X-rays, weights and sports equipment, aqua therapy and a cast treatment area.