USTA Chief Medical Officer to Serve on Advisory Council
April 23, 2009
The United States Professional Tennis Association announced that United States Tennis Association’s Chief Medical Officer, Brian Hainline, M.D., will join an already impressive group as part of the Tennis — for the health of it! advisory council for 2009-2010.
In his position with the USTA, Hainline develops and oversees medical policies affecting all areas of the sport, from recreational programs to professional tournaments, with an eye toward promoting and developing the healthy growth of tennis.
The mission of the council is to ensure that all components of Tennis — for the health of it! are health-enhancing, developmentally appropriate, safe and fun. It will be chaired by Michael F. Bergeron, Ph.D., FACSM, USPTA, director of the National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance and Center for Youth Sports & Health, and Jack Groppel, Ph.D., FACSM, USPTA Master Professional and vice president, co-founder of Human Performance Institute.
The members of the advisory council for 2009 and 2010 are:
“This apolitical council plays an extremely important role in moving this initiative forward in the tennis industry and more broadly shining light on the role of tennis in regard to the wellness of the American public and ultimately those around the world,” said Groppel. “The true strength of this council lies in the fact that it is apolitical and multidisciplinary in nature, representing various sciences, areas of medicine and coaches, and tennis is a common thread in the work of all the members.”
“The advisory council has a tremendous opportunity to advance tennis and play an integral role in connecting the entire tennis industry and communities across America to the National Physical Activity Plan and other key health-related initiatives,” said Bergeron.
The responsibilities of the Tennis — for the health of it! advisory council will include the following:
Tennis — for the health of it! is an initiative started by the USPTA in 2008 to make the general public aware of the tremendous health, fitness and psychological benefits of tennis and encourage people to get out and play the sport as a part of their regular fitness regimens. The sport of tennis is also social and fun, and can be a welcome change to routine gym workouts or as an additional activity in a fitness routine as part of a healthy lifestyle. The USPTA and its members are the front-line delivery force through which the public can receive these benefits through lessons and other tennis activities.