Etowah County: East Broad, Valley Street and Wallace Drive campuses in Gadsden, Ala.
Athletics partners with Sparks Orthopedics
Gadsden State Community College and Sparks Orthopedics and Sports Medicine announced in September 2023 a partnership that includes a $50,000 commitment to support sports medicine services for the college’s student-athletes.
“Through our partnership, physicians and athletic trainers from Sparks Orthopedics provide medical care and rehabilitation for any sports-related injuries sustained by Cardinal athletes,” said Blake Lewis, athletic director at Gadsden state. “Student-athletes have direct access to Sparks’ specialized orthopedic doctors and physical therapists.”
RIGHT: from left, Dr. Dierick Sparks, orthopedic surgeon; Blake Lewis, Gadsden State athletic director; and Dr. Corey Fuller, clinical director.
Sparks Orthopedics also supplies athletic training medical supplies and equipment to ensure Gadsden State teams have the resources needed to prevent, assess, treat and rehabilitate injuries.
“We are so grateful to Sparks Orthopedics for this generous donation and their commitment to the well-being of our student-athletes,” Lewis said. “Having the support of a premier sports medicine provider like Sparks will help us continue providing a safe and high-quality experience for our athletes.”
The partnership formalizes the relationship between Sparks and Gadsden State Athletics and will help elevate the standard of care available to student-athletes.
“At Sparks, we are dedicated to helping athletes at all levels return to their sport after an injury,” said Dr. Diereck Sparks, orthopedic surgeon at Sparks Orthopedics. “We are proud to partner with Gadsden State and support its athletic programs by ensuring every student-athlete has access to expert medical care, allowing them to focus on their academic and athletic goals.”
Sparks provides sports medicine services to all sports at Gadsden State: volleyball, cross country, basketball, baseball and tennis. Softball will take the field in Fall 2024. Find out more about the Gadsden State Cardinals at GoCardinals.GadsdenState.edu.
