On the heels of introducing a relationship between College of Charleston and Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to provide enhanced overall health care and psychiatric services to CofC students, the affiliation has further expanded to CofC Athletics and is underway now.

MUSC Health immediately assumes the exclusive category designation of being the Cougars’ “Official Health Care Partner.” In addition to providing best-in-class orthopedic and primary sports medicine services to all Cougar student-athletes, MUSC Health now serves as CofC’s team doctors and provides complete physician and medical support.

RELATED: Learn about MUSC’s partnership with the College’s Student Health Services.

“The Medical University of South Carolina is a tremendous partner of the College of Charleston and has been for years,” says College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu. “Our close geographic proximity, of course, helps but it’s our shared public mission to serve students and the community that puts us in true alignment. MUSC’s longstanding and close partnerships with our academic programs – from biology to chemistry to psychology to public health – and our recent partnership to enhance the College’s Student Health Services are just two examples of state higher-education collaboration at its best. And this new corporate sponsorship between the Cougars athletics program and MUSC Health is yet another highlight of that close partnership.”

According to MUSC Health’s Sports Medicine Manager Michael Barr ’01, “Our sports medicine team and all of MUSC Health is excited about our recent partnership to provide the highest quality of care possible to the students and student-athletes at the College of Charleston. The Cougars have a historic and an outstanding athletics program, and our sports medicine team, in conjunction with their current athletics trainers, is excited for the opportunity to work with their athletes and help enhance their overall health and wellness. As a Cougar soccer alum, I am extremely proud to be able to provide the comprehensive level of care to the CofC athletes that only MUSC Health can deliver.”

The strategic relationship with CofC Athletics was secured by Charleston Sports Properties, the Cougars’ multimedia rightsholder and locally based Learfield IMG College team. Charleston Sports Properties will oversee all aspects of the MUSC agreement, which also includes significant visibility for MUSC Health at campus athletics venues TD Arena and Patriots Point.

“We are excited to partner with MUSC Health and its team of health care professionals,” adds College of Charleston Director of Athletics Matt Roberts. “Our College of Charleston student-athletes’ health, safety and well-being are our No. 1 priority. This relationship provides the resources necessary to improve the comprehensive health care for our student-athletes.”

For more information visit CofCSports.com.