ELON, N.C. – Elon University Director of Athletics Dave Blank has announced the hiring of Dr. Kenneth Barnes as the Phoenix's new Director of Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Team Physician. Last year, Barnes served Elon's athletic teams as a Sports Medicine Fellow through Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro, N.C. and Kernodle Clinic Orthopedics in Burlington, N.C.
"We consider ourselves very fortunate to have secured the services of Dr. Barnes," Blank said. "He will provide an invaluable service to all of the student-athletes who represent Elon University in our 16 NCAA Division I sports. Dr. Barnes did an outstanding job for our teams last year and we are excited to have him back with us in his new position."
Barnes earned Bachelor degrees in Physical Education from The University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario, Canada) and Kinesiology (specialized honors) from York University (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). He also completed a Masters of Science degree in Medical Science (Orthopaedic Biomechanics) from The University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) prior to receiving his Doctor of Medicine from The National University of Ireland (University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland).
Following medical school, Barnes went on to complete a Combined Residency Training Program in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Baystate Health System (Springfield, Mass.) and recently completed a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at Moses Cone Health System (Greensboro, N.C.).
"I am excited and very grateful for the opportunity to be the first Sports Medicine Physician at Elon," stated Barnes. "I am eager to begin the process of initiating and developing the Sports Medicine focus on campus to mirror the growth and professional movement of Elon Athletics with an aim to benefit all Elon University student-athletes, students and the entire Elon community."
In addition to his work for the Phoenix via Kernodle Clinic last year, Barnes has gained experience in Sports Medicine by spending elective time with The University of Massachusetts (Amherst, Mass.), The University of South Carolina (Columbia, S.C.), College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, Mass.), The Springfield Falcons Hockey Club (Mass.) and New England Orthopedics (Springfield, Mass.).
More recently, Barnes has been as a volunteer physician at the 2007 United States Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. and the Team Physician for student-athletes at Eastern Alamance High School (Mebane, N.C.) during the 2007-2008 seasons.
Barnes is a member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American College of Physicians (ACP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Medical Association (AMA). He has an extensive research background with regional, national and international presentations and publications most notably on the kinematics and kinetics of the patellofemoral joint and exercise-induced asthma in NCAA athletes.
Barnes has also worked as a Hospitalist at Mercy Medical Center (Springfield, Mass.), UNC Greensboro Sports Medicine and Student Health, Moses Cone Urgent Medical Care, and was involved with the Moses Cone Family Medicine Residency Program as an Attending Physician for the Inpatient Teaching Service.
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