With the start of the fall semester just over two weeks away, Pittsburg State and Freeman Health Care system announced an extension of their sports medicine agreement Thursday.
KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.
The partnership between the PSU and Freeman was first established in 2014. Since then, Freeman physicians and athletic trainers have been the exclusive sports medicine provider for Pitt State Athletics.
The health system provides the university with its official team physician, orthopedic surgeon, physical therapists, and certified athletic trainers.
According to Data Bridge Market Research analyses, the sports medicine market, which was $5.34 billion in 2022, would rocket up to $9.12 billion by 2030 and is expected to undergo a growth rate of nearly 7% between 2023 to 2030.
Freeman President and CEO Paula Baker says the relationship with Pittsburg State is more than just business.
“Being at Pittsburg State is very, special to me. First of all, I was born and raised in Pittsburg, this is my hometown. There’s not a street in this community that doesn’t hold a special memory for me. So to have the opportunity to partner with the university is very, very special to me.”
The updated agreement runs for an additional five years through 2028.
Pittsburg State football kicks off its season on Thursday, August 31, hosting Washburn.
