Piedmont Medical Center and Winthrop University Athletics have entered into a five-year agreement that makes the regional hospital the official healthcare provider of the Winthrop Eagles. Winthrop Athletic Director Tom Hickman and Piedmont President and Chief Executive Officer Charlie Miller made the announcement during halftime of the first regular season game of Winthrop men’s basketball.  

New sports medicine physician

The agreement includes sponsorship benefits and revenue for Winthrop Athletics as well as greater exposure for the medical center. Piedmont also announced that Dr. John Hedge, a family and sports medicine specialist, has joined the hospital’s medical staff and will serve as the primary care physician for Winthrop Athletics. As part of the agreement, Piedmont Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will provide emergency care coverage.  

Student-athletes benefit

The primary beneficiary of this agreement will be Winthrop student-athletes, according to Winthrop Athletic Director Tom Hickman. “As the official healthcare provider for the Winthrop Eagles, Piedmont Medical Center brings to the Winthrop Sports Medicine Department the care and dedication of medical services that our student-athletes deserve,” Hickman said.   

Charlie Miller concurred. “Piedmont is a comprehensive medical center with a wide range of diagnostic and treatment capabilities to care for Winthrop’s exceptional student-athletes,” he said. “Keeping these athletes healthy and helping them recover from injuries so they can return to the sports they love are challenges we welcome. At Piedmont, we have the physician and staff expertise, the technology and the services to meet those goals.”

Scholarship endowment  

At the conclusion of the five-year contract, Piedmont Medical Center has also agreed to endow a scholarship to assist deserving student-athletes.