Robert Hancock, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, has been awarded the Jack C. Hughston Physician of the Year Award by the Georgia Athletic Trainer’s Association (GATA) at the association’s annual meeting. Dr. Hancock was recognized for his dedication to the student athletes in and around the Athens area, including those affiliated with the University of Georgia Athletic Association (UGAA).

“I’m honored to receive this year’s physician of the year award from the association,” said Dr. Hancock. “It is incredibly rewarding to work with student athletes, helping them return to the field or the court after an injury. I’m constantly inspired by their hard work, and it is very exciting to see them return to play. I’m honored to play a role in that.”

Dr. Hancock specializes in sports injuries, concentrating on injuries to the shoulder, elbow, knee, and ankle, as well as performing arthroscopy and joint replacement procedures. He has been a consultant for UGAA since 1995, even recently standing on the sidelines as the football team won back-to-back national championship games. His presence ensures potential injuries can be assessed and treated immediately.

Dr. Hancock favors a collaborative approach to care and works closely with athletic trainers at UGAA and the Piedmont Athens Regional Athletic Trainers, who partner with high school athletic departments in and around Athens-Clarke County. Together, Dr. Hancock and the trainers create individualized treatment programs to help student athletes recover and return to play.

“Piedmont Athens Regional is proud to have Dr. Hancock on our medical staff,” said Piedmont Athens Regional CEO Michael Burnett. “He’s a great surgeon, working with many of the best athletes in high school and college sports, and he gives each one his complete attention while he’s treating them. He is laser-focused on their treatment and recovery and provides the highest-quality care so they can return to doing what they love.”

More than 1,000 licensed athletic trainers are members of the Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association, which provides educational opportunities for its members and promotes the profession of athletic training in Georgia. GATA members work in collegiate sports programs, high school sports programs, physician offices, on military bases, and in rehabilitation clinics. For more information about GATA, visit athletictraining.org.

For more information on Piedmont’s orthopedic and sports medicine services or to schedule an appointment online with Dr. Hancock, visit piedmont.org.