Friday night lights can often lead to Saturday morning aches and pains, and our KNX Hero of the Week is helping local high school athletes get back on the playing field as soon and healthy as possible.
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Dr. David Gazzaniga is a sports medicine doctor at Hoag Orthopedic Institute and the head physician for the LA Chargers, but during football season, he and his colleagues also run a free, no-insurance-needed health clinic for injured high school football players in Orange County.
"The initial idea came about because we wanted to support the athletic trainers in the community," Gazzaniga told KNX Heroes producer Heather Jordan. "But one of the things that we recognized was that there are a lot of kids that have trouble once they're injured, to get care for themselves."
Immediate treatment after an injury can make a big difference in recovery, so Dr. Gazzaniga and his coworkers started the free Saturday morning clinic - this way, student-athletes don't have to wait days to see a doctor. It also helps families that have little or no insurance help avoid a costly visit to the ER.
Los Angeles Chargers
"The Hoag Orthopedic Institute supported us, and you know, we can get x-rays, which we do at no cost to them, and the appointment's no cost to them. Then, we have some medical equipment like splints and crutches that have been donated. So we take care of all comers. So nobody should feel like they can get at least the initial treatment or assessment from a sports medicine doctor."
[iframe https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d2417.137440118738!2d-117.77503432590206!3d33.660751538303565!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x80dcdd703320c4fd%3A0x8464dd56a3cf40fc!2s16250%20Sand%20Canyon%20Ave%2C%20Irvine%2C%20CA%2092618!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1702601278050!5m2!1sen!2sus allowfullscreen="" height="450" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" style="border:0" width="600"]Currently, the free clinic is at Hoag's Legacy building, but a mobile clinic is something Gazzaniga is considering. It's all about community and keeping people healthy. "My faith drives me towards love, and love is what the community needs. So that's sort of how I go about my business," said the doctor.
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