Since May 14th, the Atlantic Coast Conference COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group (MAG) has met weekly to share information related to the impact of COVID-19 on college campuses and the return of college sports. As a result of the discussions, the MAG has determined it is prudent to recommend minimum standards be established as campus and college sports leaders evaluate the return of college sports for the 2020-21 academic year. Given the nature of the virus, minimum standards will provide guidance on appropriate risk mitigation strategies and engender a level of trust and confidence among members that conference colleagues have taken on the same, if not additional, strategies. The MAG is comprised of each member institution and includes a cross-section of infectious disease experts, public health experts, campus student health experts, team physicians, athletic health care administrators and a mental health expert.
The members of the MAG are:
Dr. Robert Nascimento, Medical Director & Team Physician, Boston College
Dr. Bailey Nevels, Coordinator of Psychological Health Services for Student-Athletes, Clemson University
Dr. Cameron Wolfe, chair, Associate Professor of Medicine – Infectious Diseases, Duke University
Dr. Leslie Beitsch, Chair of Behavioral Sciences & Social Medicine, Florida State University
Dr. Angelo Galante, Chief Medical Officer, Georgia Tech
Dr. Kevin Gardner, EVP of Research & Innovation, University of Louisville
Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez, Professor – Division of Environment & Public Health, University of Miami
Dr. Mario Ciocca, Director of Sports Medicine, University of North Carolina
Dr. Julie Casani, Director & Medical Director of Student Health Services, NC State University
Dr. Matt Leiszler, Team Physician, University of Notre Dame
Dr. Aaron Mares, Team Physician, University of Pittsburgh
Brad Pike, Associate AD for Sports Medicine, Syracuse University
Dr. John MacKnight, Medical Director for Sports Medicine, University of Virginia
Dr. Mark Rogers, Chief Medical Officer, Team Physician, Virginia Tech
Murphy Grant, Sr Associate AD, Athletics Health Care Administrator, Wake Forest University
The group has extensively discussed timely updates on campus protocols and the requirements of local and state health officials so that appropriate context could be provided to any discussion on the establishment of the minimum standards across the ACC. Additionally, two members of the MAG have participated in videoconferences that include medical group leadership from each Autonomy Conference to continually share information and attempt to develop protocols that can be used for non-conference competition as well. Throughout, the MAG focused its discussions on protecting the health and safety of student-athletes and staff members, recognizing that any return to close contact sports, and to campus more broadly, brings an inherent risk given the contagious nature of this virus. Further, the MAG recognizes that local and state requirements, which must be followed, may be stricter than the recommended minimum standards set forth in this document. Finally, as information regarding the virus, testing and public health mitigation strategies evolve, the recommended minimum standards set forth herein are subject to adjustment.
The members of the MAG are:
Dr. Robert Nascimento, Medical Director & Team Physician, Boston College
Dr. Bailey Nevels, Coordinator of Psychological Health Services for Student-Athletes, Clemson University
Dr. Cameron Wolfe, chair, Associate Professor of Medicine – Infectious Diseases, Duke University
Dr. Leslie Beitsch, Chair of Behavioral Sciences & Social Medicine, Florida State University
Dr. Angelo Galante, Chief Medical Officer, Georgia Tech
Dr. Kevin Gardner, EVP of Research & Innovation, University of Louisville
Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez, Professor – Division of Environment & Public Health, University of Miami
Dr. Mario Ciocca, Director of Sports Medicine, University of North Carolina
Dr. Julie Casani, Director & Medical Director of Student Health Services, NC State University
Dr. Matt Leiszler, Team Physician, University of Notre Dame
Dr. Aaron Mares, Team Physician, University of Pittsburgh
Brad Pike, Associate AD for Sports Medicine, Syracuse University
Dr. John MacKnight, Medical Director for Sports Medicine, University of Virginia
Dr. Mark Rogers, Chief Medical Officer, Team Physician, Virginia Tech
Murphy Grant, Sr Associate AD, Athletics Health Care Administrator, Wake Forest University
The group has extensively discussed timely updates on campus protocols and the requirements of local and state health officials so that appropriate context could be provided to any discussion on the establishment of the minimum standards across the ACC. Additionally, two members of the MAG have participated in videoconferences that include medical group leadership from each Autonomy Conference to continually share information and attempt to develop protocols that can be used for non-conference competition as well. Throughout, the MAG focused its discussions on protecting the health and safety of student-athletes and staff members, recognizing that any return to close contact sports, and to campus more broadly, brings an inherent risk given the contagious nature of this virus. Further, the MAG recognizes that local and state requirements, which must be followed, may be stricter than the recommended minimum standards set forth in this document. Finally, as information regarding the virus, testing and public health mitigation strategies evolve, the recommended minimum standards set forth herein are subject to adjustment.
