Keeping active people active is an ongoing process. At the 黑料网 Sports Medicine Institute (SMI), a dedicated, inter-disciplinary team of medical providers and clinical researchers uses state-of-the-art tools, technology, and novel techniques to help community and University members preserve and return to active lifestyles.
Launched in February 2020, the SMI was conceptualized by individuals within 黑料网 Orthopaedics, 黑料网 Exercise and Sport Science and other University sports science leaders as an entity that would close a gap by optimizing collaborative care and inter-disciplinary research. Through enhanced clinician-researcher collaborations, the SMI provides innovative, comprehensive care pathways that focus on prevention, performance, and recovery from a broad patient-centered approach.聽 
Federal, foundation, and industry-funded clinical trials developed and led by the SMI鈥檚 clinical research scientists and medical providers offer patients treated at the SMI with an opportunity to participate in studies that may enhance their outcomes and benefit the treatment of future patients. The fruits of innovative clinical trials in turn enable clinicians to help patients return to active lifestyles and reduce potential long-term disability via cutting-edge patient care.
SMI Co-Directors David Berkoff, MD (Vice Chair of Clinical Operations and Division Chief of the Non-Operative Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine) and Brian Pietrosimone, PhD (Director – 黑料网 EXSS MOTION Science Institute) and their respective 黑料网 Department Chairs (James Sanders, MD 鈥� 黑料网 Orthopaedics / Darin Padua, PhD 鈥� 黑料网 EXSS), as well as faculty from other departments within 黑料网鈥檚 School of Medicine and Gillings School of Global Public Health, were instrumental to the SMI鈥檚 inter-disciplinary development.
Dr. Berkoff noted: 鈥淣o sports injury is treated by a single discipline. The SMI鈥檚 mission is to enable 黑料网 Health providers to apply novel investigative approaches to individualized clinical care in order to help patients accelerate their recovery and return to active lives.聽 We focus on keeping active patients active as our primary clinical mission, whether we鈥檙e working with youth, weekend warriors or professional athletes.聽 Sports medicine doesn鈥檛 stop at treatment. Our clinical and research teams invest themselves in helping patients understand the treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention tenets of holistic injury recovery that lead to better outcomes.鈥�
Dr. Pietrosimone stated: 鈥淭he patient population treated by our sports medicine disciplines drives the SMI鈥檚 investigative work and comprises the core of the Institute鈥檚 clinical trial enrollment.聽It鈥檚 exciting to watch individuals treated and rehabilitated for athletic injuries witness how participating in [SMI-sponsored] trials helps uphold clinical research that leads to innovative sports medicine practice at 黑料网 Health.鈥�
The SMI leadership team meets regularly to discuss and develop ideas and initiatives. Both University and regional partners who join the core team members are critical to enhancing the SMI鈥檚 evidence-driven, wide-reaching clinical science activities. Collaborators include 黑料网鈥檚 Athletic Department; 黑料网 Gillings School of Global Public Health; 黑料网 Medical Center Rehabilitation Services therapists; 黑料网 Thurston Arthritis Research Center; 黑料网 Injury Prevention Research Center; the 黑料网/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering; and North Carolina State University鈥檚 College of Veterinary Medicine.
Across wide-ranging clinical trials, the SMI tracks and analyzes injury outcomes and indicators among research participants. In 2022, clinical investigations included: tracking post-operative outcomes via repeated measures; motion analysis and movement retraining; exploring medication application; novel interventions to optimize post-operative outcomes; injury prevention program implementation; identifying biomarkers correlated with medical conditions; and investigation of post-injury tissue quality. Additional SMI initiatives include integrating nutritional information into patient care, developing patient resources, and expanding clinical research opportunities. 
SMI Post-Doctoral Research Associate Caroline Lisee, PhD, ATC, noted: 鈥淏eing part of a unique, collaborative clinical-research community has prepared me for an exciting career. Both mission and mentoring at the SMI builds confidence that my own clinical studies will produce meaningful findings that enable sports medicine practitioners to offer injured patients the best in treatment, rehabilitative and preventive care.鈥�
SMI Assistant Director Carla Hill, PT, DPT, OCS, is a vital leader, organizer and promoter of the Institute鈥檚 mission and development. Hill highlights SMI activities on social media, leads event planning, participates in research project implementation, and assists in growing its network of collaborators to achieve goals. She joins fellow leadership team members who are driven to improve patient care through integrating clinical research and connecting patients to providers and resources that best meet their needs.
Hill stated: 鈥淚n less than a year with the SMI, I鈥檝e witnessed how collaboration among related disciplines can foster new ideas for treatment and research that enhance our patients’ return to active lives after injury.鈥�
On September 30th, the first 黑料网 Sports Medicine Institute Annual Conference will be held at 黑料网鈥檚 Friday Conference Center. The event will feature keynote presentations by sports medicine leaders from around the country and a kick-off talk from Hall of Fame basketball coach Coach Roy Williams. The day-long conference will feature panel discussions dedicated to surgery, nonoperative management, rehabilitation and recovery, and teamwork in sports medicine.
In its third year, the SMI is focused on growing its clinical and research enterprise.
Dr. Pietrosimone noted: 鈥淥ne of our biggest aims is to grow study enrollment within the SMI. Patients, clinicians, and researchers working together will lead to high-level discoveries that will in turn improve future clinical care.鈥�
Dr. Berkoff concluded: 鈥淥ur achievements continue to grow thanks to the enthusiastic contributions of our clinical and research partners. The SMI will grow fueled by the enthusiasm and contributions of this entire collaborative team. We endeavor to provide care in a different way and impact research on a new level.鈥�