Source: Ohio State Medical Association
The Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine named Jeff Harwood, MD, as the recipient of its 2016 Ohio Outstanding Team Physician Award. The award recognizes Ohio physicians’ commitment to protecting the health and safety of Ohio’s high school student athletes.
Dr. Harwood, an OSMA member who runs a private family practice in New London, OH, has served as the team physician at New London High School since 1992. He was presented with a plaque from the committee and gift from the Ohio High School Athletic Association during a varsity boys basketball game on February 10.
An Ohio academy of Family Physicians past president, Dr. Harwood has served his community in a variety of medical roles including as a hospitalist for the local hospital, medical director for the county health district, and a physician for the local jail. He is the elected Huron County coroner and a past president of the Huron County Medical Society.
“Dr. Harwood has dedicated himself to providing top notch medical care to our student athletes,” said Bradley A. Romano, superintendent of New London Local Schools. “Every Friday night for the past 24 years, Dr. Harwood has patrolled our sidelines assisting our coaches and trainers, ensuring that our students’ health and safety was protected.”
Dr. Harwood earned an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from The Ohio State University, his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio, and completed his family medical residency training at Akron General Medical Center. OSMA President Brian Bachelder, MD, also an OAFP past president, nominated Dr. Harwood for the team physician award.
The Outstanding Team Physician Award was created to promote the health and safety of thousands of Ohio’s interscholastic athletes. It is sponsored by the Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine of the OSMA, the Ohio High School Athletic Association, and the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association. Recipients of this award must have twenty years of experience as a team physician for Ohio high schools; the endorsement of the physician’s county medical society, OSMA district councilor, or osteopathic academy; and the endorsement of school officials, coaches, trainers, civic officials, parents, fans, or others in the community.
Congratulations, Dr. Harwood!