PROVIDENCE, RI – The American Athletic Conference has announced the formation of a COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group, which comprises medical professionals from each of the Conference’s member institutions. The group is chaired by Dr. Greg Stewart, director of sports medicine at Tulane University.
 
“There is no more important task ahead of us than protecting the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, officials, support staff and fans as we contemplate the reopening of our fall sports,“ said Commissioner Mike Aresco, “and to that end we have established a COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group with representatives from our 12 institutions, which will be chaired by Dr. Greg Stewart of Tulane University, and which will guide our efforts in establishing the health and safety protocols that will govern our athletic endeavors during the crisis. We are fortunate to be able to call upon the expertise and experience of these distinguished medical professionals as we make critical decisions in the days ahead regarding a safe return to athletic competition on our campuses.”
 
“The American has assembled a group of medical experts and key staff members at our institutions who will monitor closely current public health information regarding COVID-19,” said Dr. Stewart.  “We look forward to providing our schools with guidance, assistance, recommendations and best practices and protocols for a safe return to competition for student-athletes, while also protecting the health and safety of administrators, support staff, officials and fans.”
 
The Conference has been consulting its sports medicine professionals on an ongoing basis, and the newly-formed Advisory Group will now provide guidance and informational updates to the Conference’s presidents, athletic directors, commissioner and office staff.
 
The Advisory Group will address the unique challenges that The American and its colleagues in other conferences will be facing if, and when, there is a return to competition in all sports. Among these will be critical questions involving testing, tracing, sanitation, hygiene, and practice and training guidelines as well as protocols for dealing with COVID-19 positive cases. The Advisory Group will work closely with the Conference membership to develop and disseminate health and safety best practices and recommendations.
 
In order to safeguard the health and well-being of its student-athletes and all those connected to its athletic programs and events, the American Athletic Conference previously announced the cancellation of all athletic competition and championships for the remainder of the 2020 spring season and suspended all in-person athletic activities through May 31. In addition, the 2020 American Summer Kickoff and Media Days will not take place in July in Newport, Rhode Island, and will be held virtually at a date to be determined.
 
Members of The American’s COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group:

• Medical Advisory Group Chair - Dr. Greg Stewart, Tulane University, Head Team Physician
• Dr. Jon Divine, University of Cincinnati, Head Team Physician
• Dr. Joseph Armen, East Carolina University, Head Team Physician
• Dr. Andrew Li-Yung Hing, University of Houston, Team Physician
• Darrell Turner, University of Memphis, Associate Athletics Director – Sports Medicine
• Dr. Lance Leclere, United States Naval Academy, Team Physician
• Dr. Matt Davis, Southern Methodist University, Team Physician
• Dr. Cory Keller, Temple University, Team Physician
• Dr. Jeff Cunningham, University of Tulsa, Team Physician
• Mary Vander Heiden, University of Central Florida, Director of Sports Medicine
• Steve Walz, University of South Florida, Associate Director of Athletics/Director of Sports Medicine
• Dan Cahill, Wichita State University, Director of Sports Medicine