Syracuse University and Upstate Medical University today announced a comprehensive partnership plan that will establish SUNY Upstate as the official and exclusive healthcare partner of Syracuse Athletics. The agreement will pair a new integrated sports medicine program with a seven-year athletics marketing and sponsorship partnership, creating a unified model for student-athlete healthcare across Syracuse Athletics.

“This partnership reflects a fundamental commitment to ensuring our student-athletes have access to the very best holistic health and wellness care,” says Syracuse University Chancellor and President J. Michael Haynie. “Their health and well-being come first, and this new model builds on that commitment with a standard of care that matches the best athletics programs in the country. SUNY Upstate shares our ambition to build something exceptional at Syracuse, and this agreement gives our students the enhanced resources they need to thrive on and off the field.”

“Syracuse student-athletes compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics, and they deserve healthcare that meets that same standard of excellence,” says Dr. Robert Corona, chief executive officer of Upstate University Hospital. “This partnership brings the full strength of Upstate Medical University—our nationally recognized specialists, advanced diagnostics, leading-edge treatments and comprehensive medical and surgical capabilities—to every aspect of student-athlete health and well-being. From injury prevention and peak performance to complex medical conditions, rehabilitation and long-term health, our commitment is to deliver exceptional, coordinated, evidence-based care with every clinical decision guided by what is best for the athlete. Together with Syracuse University, we have an opportunity to establish a new standard for comprehensive student-athlete healthcare in collegiate athletics.”

This new partnership will bring athletics healthcare under a single, modern, fully integrated system. The new structure ensures SUNY Upstate providers’ independent medical decision-making authority for student-athlete care, with every decision grounded in science and centered on the athlete’s well-being. The program also strengthens the team physician structure with consistent, sport-specific coverage to ensure continuity of care, and expands access to primary care sports medicine, orthopedic care, specialty medical care, mental health services and imaging and diagnostic care.

“Elite programs are built by investing in people, and nothing matters more than the health and well-being of our student-athletes,” says Bryan B. Blair, Syracuse University’s senior vice president and director of athletics. “This partnership brings together two of Central New York’s leading institutions to provide our student-athletes with exceptional care and the resources they need to thrive. Just as importantly, it creates opportunities to make a real difference in our community. We’re excited about what we can build together with Upstate, both now and for years to come.”

Dr. Chris Tanski will serve as chief medical officer for the program, providing senior clinical and administrative leadership and serving as the primary liaison between Upstate and Syracuse Athletics. A head team physician and a dedicated team of operative and non-operative sports medicine physicians will oversee day-to-day care across all sports programs.

“This program gives Syracuse student-athletes a coordinated team of physicians, athletic trainers, nutrition experts, strength and conditioning personnel, mental health counselors and specialists working from one unified plan of care,” says Dr. Tanski. “My focus is making sure every decision about an athlete’s health and wellness rests with the medical team, not with the pressures of a season or a schedule. That standard is what this partnership makes possible.”

The University’s shift to the new healthcare model followed a comprehensive assessment and recommendation by the U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH), a national leader in collegiate athlete health and safety that provides independent, evidence-based consultation to universities, conferences and athletics organizations. USCAH is led by Dr. James Borchers, who also serves as chief medical officer of the Big Ten Conference and director of Sports Medicine at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center.

“Inviting an outside review requires an institution to have a willingness to look honestly at its program with a holistic approach,” says Dr. Borchers. “Syracuse collaborated with the USCAH for a third-party, impartial perspective, listened closely to what our assessment found and acted on it. That willingness to engage in a comprehensive assessment, examine its own approach, and take meaningful action is exactly what this moment in collegiate athletics calls for regarding student-athlete health and safety.”

As part of the partnership, Upstate receives a broad range of sponsorship benefits, including prominent in-stadium branding, game-day media presence and print recognition across Syracuse Athletics platforms. The agreement also creates opportunities for Syracuse Athletics and student-athletes to support the local community by collaborating with Golisano Children’s Hospital on toy drives, reading programs, hospital visits and other initiatives.

The sports medicine and marketing agreements are subject to review and approval by the New York State Attorney General and the New York State Comptroller.

Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

SUNY Upstate Medical University

The region’s largest employer with nearly 13,000 employees, Upstate Medical University is the only academic medical center in Central New York, serving the state from Canada to Pennsylvania with its educational, clinical and research missions. A highlight of Upstate’s leading role in the region is its ability to ensure access to vital one-of-a-kind services, such as burn and trauma care and an array of highly specialized stroke, cancer and neurosurgical and pediatric services through its Upstate University Hospital, which includes its Downtown and Community Campus, Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Upstate Cancer Center with eight specialized cancer treatment locations throughout Central New York.  In addition to its clinical mission, Upstate, enrolls 1,500 students and offers degrees in medicine, nursing and a variety of health professions, and conducts more than $50 million in funded research, addressing health concerns, like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health disorders and vision loss, among others.