Health Care Challenges of Musicians Addressed Today at AMSSM Annual Meeting

Health Care Challenges of Musicians Addressed Today at AMSSM Annual Meeting
By AMSSM member Nicole Stern, MD

New Orleans, La. – Cathi Fontenot, MD, associate dean for Alumni Affairs and Development at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, will present “Health Care Challenges of Musicians” today at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM). This presentation is a part of the session titled, “Medical Challenges in the Performing Arts and in the Female Athlete.”

The topics discussed in this session’s presentations will include how to care for the unique needs of performing artists, female athletes and the pregnant athlete. Whether playing an instrument, participating in theater or ballet performances, or competing in a dance competition, performing artists are at risk for many of the same injuries commonly encountered by athletes competing in sports. In addition, sports medicine physician experts on the Female Athlete Triad and the pregnant athlete will also discuss these distinct athlete populations.

Dr. Fontenot, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, La. and medical director of the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, will present, “Health Care Challenges of Musicians.” Musicians in New Orleans are not only icons of the community but also vital to the lure and culture of city. The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic focuses on bringing healthcare and preventive services to this distinct patient population. Dr. Fontenot will speak about barriers to healthcare for musicians, identify the most common healthcare needs of musicians and comment on the challenges of caring for this group of patients.

Medical Challenges in the Performing Arts and in the Female Athlete is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Media interested in being credentialed for the 2014 AMSSM Annual Meeting must contact Jessica Torres-Sosa at [email protected].
 
Dr. Fontenot served as medical director of the Medical Center of Louisiana (Charity and University Hospitals) from May 2003 to November 2008 as well as the interim chief executive officer from July 2008 to January 2009. She, along with other staff, remained at University Hospital through Hurricane Katrina in 2005, finally evacuating with patients after five days without power or water. Dr. Fontenot was instrumental and intimately involved with reestablishing medical services in New Orleans following the storm, initially in tents in parking lots and ultimately in the renovated and repaired interim LSU Hospital. She has a long history of providing care to underserved and vulnerable populations experiencing healthcare disparities. Dr. Fontenot is board certified internal medicine and has a Certificate of Added Qualifications in geriatric medicine.

About the AMSSM Annual Meeting: About the AMSSM Annual Meeting: More than 1,400 sports medicine physicians from the United States and abroad come together to address advances and challenges in sports medicine through lectures and research. Learn more at https://www.amssm.org/ConferencesDetails.php?IDconf=58&Past=.

About the AMSSM: AMSSM is a multi-disciplinary organization of 2,500 sports medicine physicians dedicated to education, research, advocacy and the care of athletes of all ages. The majority of AMSSM members are primary care physicians with fellowship training and added qualification in sports medicine who then combine their practice of sports medicine with their primary specialty. AMSSM includes members who specialize solely in non-surgical sports medicine and serve as team physicians at the youth level, NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS and NHL, as well as with Olympic teams. By nature of their training and experience, sports medicine physicians are ideally suited to provide comprehensive medical care for athletes, sports teams or active individuals who are simply looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. www.amssm.org

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