Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center celebrated the opening of its Orthopedic Sports Medicine facility, a 24,000-square-foot building located on the hospital’s Oconee Health Campus, which will provide orthopedic, sports medicine and rehabilitation care to the Northeast Georgia area.

“We’re very proud to offer this brand new, state-of-the-art facility to the many patients and athletes in our region,” said Delena Brockmann, executive director of Piedmont Athens Regional’s Oconee Health Campus. “Our new Orthopedic Sports Medicine facility will bring important, specialized care to a community that is growing and constantly on the move.”

Community members and Piedmont Athens Regional staff gathered outside of the new building this week for a pep rally and ribbon cutting event to celebrate the opening. Festivities included a catered lunch, guest speakers and tours throughout the new facility.

Brockmann kicked off the event by introducing Piedmont Athens Regional’s orthopedic and sports medicine team, including orthopedic surgeons Robert Hancock, M.D., and Eric Gordon, M.D.

“We are very excited to be in our new facility, where patients can be seen, evaluated and rehabbed all under the same roof,” said Dr. Hancock. “We hope this new location will be convenient to all of the patients we serve in the Northeast Georgia area.”

With Piedmont serving as the official healthcare provider for the University of Georgia (UGA) Athletic Association, the Orthopedic Sports Medicine building will aid the many UGA athletes in the area, as well as other student athletes. Both physicians work as consultants for the UGA athletics department – on the field to offer medical assistance as needed. Dr. Hancock has been a consultant since 1995 while Dr. Gordon joined the Piedmont team last month.

Following Brockmann, community members heard from Ron Courson, senior associate athletic director for UGA, Piedmont Athens Regional Chief Executive Officer Michael Burnett, as well as Oconee County Chamber of Commerce president Courtney Bernardi, who announced that Piedmont’s Oconee Health Campus has been awarded the Business of the Quarter.

In addition to Piedmont’s Orthopedic Sports Medicine practice, the new building also houses Piedmont Athens Regional’s rehabilitation services and includes an outdoor rehabilitation space.

“From professional and collegiate athletes to weekend warriors, our practice looks forward to delivering greater access to specialized orthopedic sports medicine care to the communities we serve,” Dr. Gordon said.