What the Health?: Patient-Centered Care for Student-Athletes

I imagine the most challenging part of having your student-athlete leave home is hoping someone will take care of them. To say it another way, you want to hope they come back to you. Today's episode discusses medical professionals' responses in athletic spaces and the need for transparency and communication throughout the process.  

Dr. Yvette Rooks is the Head Team Physician and Assistant Director of The University Health Center at the University of Maryland. She leads a team that has established a new Patient-Centered Care approach for student-athletes.  This approach eliminates the decision-making for student-athlete health and wellness from athletic department administrators and instead empowers campus health-care professionals.

A daughter of an HBCU love story raised in a household of sporting tradition, Dr. Rooks has a foundation built on community, character, and courage. Her pursuit of medicine was despite heartache and loss, yet she remains committed to providing medical care for the sick and well.  

Dr. Rooks offers insight on the current topics impacting young Black women student-athletes and provides insight into the role of their health insurance and the need for various medical services and service providers on college campuses.