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DAVIS, Calif. – The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine featured UC Davis providers as the example of programs who are responding to this pandemic and handling things the right way. This, in addition to his extensive work with UC Davis Athletics and its Sports Medicine Program, is why head team physician and medical director Dr. Jeremiah Ray received an invitation to join a panel of world-class medical experts as part of a COVID-19 panel that presented during AMSSM's annual meeting, which took place in a virtual format earlier this week.

The organization's membership includes roughly 3,000 sports medicine physicians from around the globe — a group that includes NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB medical professionals. Throughout his presentation, Dr. Ray shared his experiences working, adapting and coping in the COVID-19 era.

As an emergency medicine board certified physician credentialed to work in UC Davis Medical Center's emergency room, he spoke with his colleagues about the steps UC Davis Health took to mitigate the coronavirus' impact.

"The Medical Center built an influenza-like illness pod that housed individuals who showed flu-like or COVID-like symptoms in that isolated zone. The success of this state's shelter-in-place order prevented an explosion of cases.

"This was a perfect example of being proactive early," Dr. Ray added.

But it is his position within Intercollegiate Athletics that is playing a key role in strengthening the health, safety and well-being for over 700 student-athletes who call UC Davis home. 

"In my role with UC Davis Athletics, I turned the sports medicine clinic into an urgent care and telehealth clinic for our student-athletes. In recent weeks, we beefed up our mental health practices to help individuals who are stressed or feeling anxious."

Dr. Ray added, "UC Davis has already been on track to develop a world class mental health practice, and I felt the timing was perfect (to offer those resources to student-athletes)."

If any UC Davis student-athletes wants to speak to Dr. Ray, all they need to do is contact their respective athletic trainer to schedule a telehealth meeting. If anyone has an urgent care need, he will open up the clinic to keep them out of the emergency room.

"Whether someone is feeling overwhelmed, depressed, has an earache, sore throat or urgent situation, I am always available, as was the case before the pandemic." 

Developing policies and procedures to create the safest possible environment, whenever students return to campus, is another unique set of tasks that now comprise a portion of Dr. Ray's weekly schedule.

"UC Davis Athletics is working with leaders at the NCAA, and other conferences, to determine the safest and best way to move forward. If classes do take place on campus later this year, there will likely be some variation of fall sports as well. We are being very proactive to find the safest and best way for sports to occur."


ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley.
 
The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.