Welcome to the ESSMC E-Newsletter. You are receiving this newsletter as a former patient or family member of a patient. It is our intention to stay connected with those that have received services in our practice over the years. We have always prided ourselves on being good communicators with our patients and referring physicians, and this is another way for us to reach out. We will be providing you with updates about our practice, informative educational articles, and profiles of our staff so that you can get to know everyone. We welcome feedback on topics that you might have a special interest in, or any other question that you may have. Please email us at news@essmc.com and we will get right back to you. Enjoy this edition, and don’t forget the quiz!

This year's student athletic trainer workshop was attended by 16 students and represented five local school districts in the eastern suburbs. It is the 16th consecutive year that ESSMC along with the Certified Athletic Trainers from Penn Trafford, Gateway, Penn Hills and Plum High Schools have teamed up to present a three-day workshop to introduce students to the fundamentals necessary for functioning as a student athletic trainer. Once they have completed this workshop, they can apply the valuable knowledge and skills they have acquired by assisting their school's Certified Athletic Trainer provide quality health care to its student athletes. Many students pursue careers in the health professions as a result of the exposure to concepts of sports medicine taught at the workshop. For more information, contact Larry Cooper, ATC, at coopatc@aol.com or by calling 724-327-7099.

Our trademark t-shirts have been spotted in some very interesting places over the years. We would like to know where you may have been sporting our brightly colored t-shirts and spreading the word of our good work.

Please send us a picture with a brief caption describing where you have been photographed and what you were doing at the time.

Our friend Jack Carl sure gets around. This time he’s in Green Bay, Wisconsin checking in on the Vince Lombardi Hall of Fame and giving a pep talk to Brett Favre and the boys. It sure does not look like football weather there… no frozen field and sub-zero game time temperature.

Where’s your cheese head Jack?

>> top

According to the article posted on the ESSMC web site from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, what meal is considered the most important, and can help improve athletic performance by as much as 15%?

1. Midnight snack
2. Breakfast
3. Dinner
4. Lunch

The first 10 people with the correct answer will receive a $10 gift card to Panera Bread. Call 724-327-7099 x526 with the correct answer to receive your gift card. Leave your name, address and of course the correct answer.
Good luck!

Employee and job description: 
Chris Klekker, ATC; Head Athletic Trainer ESSMC; Head Athletic Trainer Gateway Senior High School.

Time employed:
2000-Present

Where are you from and where did you go to college:
I live in North Huntingdon, and I went to school at University of Pittsburgh, at Greensburg and California University of PA.

Favorite aspect of the job:
Educating the student athletes, and creating relationships with the student athletes.

Favorite hobby:
Spending time with friends and family, and mountain biking.

One place to travel to and why: 
The Caribbean due to the weather and beautiful scenery.

Favorite memory as a child:
I think it was my whole childhood. I was lucky to have so many good friends in our neighborhood. The time spent with them was priceless.

Favorite thing about Gateway sports/athletes:
There are a great group of coaches at Gateway. This leads to better all-around student athletes.

Three words that describe you :
Hardworking, dedicated and trustworthy.

Describe the profession in 5 words:
Education, dedication, compassion, prevention, rehabilitation.

>> top

East Suburban Sports Medicine Centers