There aren't many people who can say they've been a varsity athlete since the sixth grade, but for Bell Bulldog senior softball player Alaina Thomas, that opportunity has allowed her to be part of a team she considers family. Her teammates recognize her value both inside the circle and at the plate, as she leads the Bulldogs in ERA, runs, doubles, and triples. Her efforts have earned her this week's UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week award.
With an enrollment of under 200 students, Cedar Key School is known as the smallest public high school in Florida. But for this tight-knit community and its athletes, the small-town atmosphere is cherished.
Basketball players play baseball, weightlifters run track, and volleyball players play softball. From August to May, the athletes go hard every day, embracing the unique challenges and camaraderie that come with it.
Heading into the 2024-25 basketball season, the Gainesville High School women's basketball team set a collective goal: to reach the state championship. Mission accomplished.
For many athletes, injuries are a part of the game. While some are forced to move on, others use setbacks as motivation to return stronger. For Ilyana Graciani, a junior soccer player at Newberry High School, getting back on the field after multiple surgeries and countless hours of rehabilitation is a dream come true.
"I love the game of soccer too much to have given up, it just wasn't in my DNA," Graciani said. "The field is where I feel the most comfortable, and being out there competing with my teammates is the best feeling in the world."
In a groundbreaking study, UF Health researchers are delving into the intricate relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and orthopaedic trauma. Led by Dr. Jennifer E. Hagen, chief of the orthopaedic trauma division, at UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute, this research highlights the profound psychological impact that severe musculoskeletal injuries can have on patients, beyond their physical recovery.
Hitting a baseball is considered one of the toughest feats in sports. With a ball traveling up to 100 mph and the mound just 60 feet, 6 inches away, a batter has less than a second to decide whether to swing.
For those who can consistently make contact, it's an unmatched feeling.
St. Francis Catholic Academy senior William Collett has had a journey like few others in youth sports. The shooting guard has overcome tremendous obstacles to become the captain of the St. Francis Catholic Academy varsity basketball team, earning this week's UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week honor.
This one week seminar is an immersion experience in basic musculoskeletal pathology, correlated with radiographic and imaging staging techniques, histologic diagnosis, and principles of treatment covering the gamut of musculoskeletal lesions.
A private reception for UF Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Alumni, Family, and Friends held during the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting.
Join us for a cocktail reception and appetizers at The Nolen Rooftop lounge with beautiful views of the San Diego skyline during the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting.
For Bell senior weightlifter Kennedy Smith, the journey to success has always been fueled by a desire to be the best. However, after winning three straight regional titles in high school, her perspective shifted this year. Smith's focus on enjoying the competition has made her most recent season her most gratifying yet, earning her the UF Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Athlete of the Week award.