UF Health Extends Role as Key Medical Partner for Team USA Through 2028
University of Florida Health (UF Health) has strengthened its commitment to supporting elite athletes by extending its agreement with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). Under this renewed partnership, UF Health will continue to deliver comprehensive medical care to Team USA athletes through the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This extension builds on UF Health’s growing reputation as a trusted provider of world-class sports medicine and specialty care for Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Since joining the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Network in 2023, UF Health has played a pivotal role in ensuring athletes have access to advanced diagnostic services, cutting-edge treatments, and personalized rehabilitation as they prepare for the demands of global competition.
A Growing Role Within the USOPC Medical Network
UF Health is one of only four medical centers nationwide selected by the USOPC to serve as a designated national medical center for Team USA. This prestigious recognition reflects not only UF Health’s clinical expertise but also its commitment to innovation, multidisciplinary care, and athlete-focused health services.
During its first two years as part of the USOPC Medical Network, UF Health specialists treated more than 70 Olympic and Paralympic athletes. These athletes represented 18 different sports, ranging from track and field and swimming to gymnastics, bobsledding, and beyond. The variety of care needs — from sports-related injuries and orthopedic surgeries to neurological support and recovery programs — demonstrates the breadth of UF Health’s capabilities.
UF Health’s team of physicians, surgeons, physical therapists, and rehabilitation specialists span more than 17 medical departments across Gainesville and Jacksonville, ensuring that athletes have access to a complete spectrum of care under one coordinated system. This collaborative approach has made UF Health an indispensable partner for Team USA, especially for athletes facing complex injuries or conditions that require highly specialized expertise.
Expanding Beyond Clinical Care
Beyond direct patient care, UF Health has actively collaborated with the USOPC and other partners on professional development programs designed to advance medical knowledge and athlete care. One notable example was a traumatic brain injury workshop hosted at the UF Health Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, which brought together experts to improve understanding, treatment, and prevention of head injuries in sports.
These initiatives underscore UF Health’s dual mission: caring for athletes in the present while also driving innovation that benefits future generations of competitors and the wider community.
Recognition from the USOPC
Leaders within the USOPC have praised UF Health’s dedication and impact. Jonathan Finnoff, D.O., FACSM, Chief Medical Officer of the USOPC, emphasized the importance of having such a capable and committed partner in place:
As a health care leader in the United States and home to many Team USA athletes over the years, we’re thrilled that UF Health will continue to be one of the premier medical providers who care for the unique needs of Team USA athletes.
Dr. Finnoff’s words highlight how the partnership not only supports the athletes but also strengthens the broader infrastructure of medical care available to Olympians and Paralympians nationwide.
A Legacy of Caring for Athletes
UF Health’s partnership with the USOPC is a natural extension of its long-standing tradition of providing medical care for athletes. The University of Florida has produced generations of world-class athletes across multiple disciplines, and UF Health clinicians have consistently been at the forefront of keeping those athletes healthy and competitive.
The decision to designate UF Health as the third national medical center in the USOPC network and the first in the southeastern United States was a milestone achievement. With many top-tier athletes living and training in the Southeast, UF Health’s geographic position ensures accessibility to elite care without requiring athletes to travel long distances for treatment.
Voices from UF Health Leadership
For UF Health leaders, the partnership carries symbolic and practical importance. Dr. Steven J. Motew, M.D., M.H.A., FACS, President and System CEO of UF Health, reflected on the honor of serving Team USA athletes:
When I think of a Team USA athlete competing on the world stage, the concept of greatness and excellence comes to mind immediately. And that’s so inspiring because those exact words — greatness, excellence — resonate with the care that is delivered through UF Health each and every day. Being a trusted medical center for Team USA sends a very clear message across not only the state of Florida, but throughout the world, that world-class care sits right here within UF Health, and is demonstrated every single day in what we do — delivering this same elite level of care to each and every one of the communities we serve.
Motew’s comments reinforce the idea that UF Health’s work with Team USA is not separate from its broader mission but rather an extension of the high standard of care offered to all patients.
The Athlete Experience
Perhaps the most compelling endorsements come from the athletes themselves. Olympic bobsledder Elliot Markuson shared his gratitude for the care he received from UF Health following hip surgery:
I thank all the people from UF Health who invested in me on my journey through hip surgery. The care was top-notch. Now competing as a member of Team USA post-hip surgery, I have recommended them to a lot of other athletes.
Markuson’s story is just one of many that illustrate how critical access to specialized, high-quality medical care can be in enabling athletes to return to peak performance and continue pursuing their Olympic dreams.
Meeting the Unique Needs of Elite Athletes
Elite athletes face challenges that extend beyond those of the general population. The physical and mental demands of high-level training and competition often result in injuries or health conditions that require rapid and precise intervention. UF Health’s multidisciplinary teams are uniquely positioned to provide this kind of comprehensive support.
Dr. Jason L. Zaremski, M.D., CAQSM, FACSM, a professor and chief of the University of Florida College of Medicine’s Division of Sports Medicine, highlighted this role:
UF Health provides expert comprehensive, world-class, health care to all our patients, including our Team USA athletes, whether they are from down the street in Gainesville or from around the world. We’re the experts next door. It’s also an indescribable feeling when you see a patient going for the gold who was treated at UF Health.
This sentiment captures both the pride and responsibility UF Health carries in caring for athletes at the pinnacle of their sport.
