
Banner Sports Medicine Facility – Revolutionizing Athlete Care


Steven M. Erickson, MD, director of the Division of Sports Medicine/Concussion at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, emphasizes the inclusivity of their approach: "If you have a medical or orthopedic issue that is affecting your ability to do your recreational activity or sport, then you're an athlete in our mind, and we want to help you regardless of your level of participation."
As part of their comprehensive sports medicine delivery training, fellows in the Family Medicine/ Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix program treat patients and participate in research at the center.
Every athlete's situation is unique, and the clinicians at this facility approach each case with a personalized perspective, tailoring their treatment to enhance performance.

Dr. Erickson illustrates the approach with an example of an athlete suffering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the most common knee injuries among athletes.
"We can diagnose a patient’s ACL tear in the office, obtain an MRI done within a couple of days within the facility, then see one of the orthopedic surgeons for a pre-op consult, and then have surgery on the third floor of this building. After that, they can go down to the first floor for physical therapy. Because they've lost their season due to the injury, they often experience anxiety and stress. That's when they can see our sports psychologist to address the emotional aspects and anxiety of returning to play and work with our sports dietician to optimize recovery," he said.
Collaboration is the cornerstone of the sports medicine facility's approach to delivering the best care for athletes. Their collaborative, data-driven approach extends to research.
Kristen Renner, PhD, is the director of biomechanics at the center. "We conduct a full-body assessment, looking at range of motion and strength. Depending on the athlete, we cater to what they want to improve," she said.

The Banner Sports Medicine High Performance Center is not just a place for treatment; it's a center for empowerment, where athletes of all levels can discover their potential and receive the support they need to excel in their chosen sport.
About the College
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.
As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona and many continue training at our GME sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.
The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.