17 JUL 2019

Good Sports! NFL Star, Free Physicals a Big Hit with Young Athletes

NorthBay Sports Medicine scored a homerun – or was that a touchdown? – Saturday, July 13, with a special day of free sports physicals for student athletes at the VacaValley Wellness Center in Vacaville.
NorthBay Sports Medicine scored a homerun – or was that a touchdown? – Saturday, July 13, with a special day of free sports physicals for student athletes at the VacaValley Wellness Center in Vacaville.

NorthBay Sports Medicine scored a homerun – or was that a touchdown? – Saturday, July 13, with a special day of free sports physicals for student athletes at the VacaValley Wellness Center in Vacaville.

Eager athletes and their parents and coaches from throughout Solano County and beyond started lining up at 8 a.m., an hour before the scheduled opening.

“This is just great,” said Fairfield High School football coach Matsu Matsukado. “We really appreciate everything NorthBay is doing for our students, and it’s also a great opportunity to get the coaches together.”

The clinical team — including physicians, providers, medical assistants and technicians — saw more than 100 students between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“The success of this event can be directly attributed to the dedication of our Sports Medicine surgeons and providers, invaluable partnership with our primary care physicians and stellar event execution lead by Administrative Support Specialist Stephanie Pagan and Centers for Orthopedics Supervisor Ashley Massaro” said Justine Zilliken, assistant vice president for specialty and surgical services. “They truly owned 100 percent of this event from start to finish, and it was absolutely apparent during the event.  It ran like clockwork, food and fun were plentiful and the compliments kept coming. The providers were over the moon!”

Vallejo High School Coach Michael Wilson brought more than a dozen of his players, noting that it would be a real challenge for many of them to get physicals done in time for the start of the season.

Juanita Williams brought her grandson, Avery Beal, who is trying out for freshman football at Will C. Wood.

“The school let us know about this event, and it’s just great,” she said. “What an excellent opportunity. We really appreciate NorthBay.”

A highlight of the event was the chance to meet and get a photograph with Darian Thompson, safety for the Dallas Cowboys. Darian, son of NorthBay orthopedic technician Shannon Thompson, said he was happy to do it.

He not only posed for photographs, he signed autographs and even played corn hole, challenging a few of the patients as well as physician Kevin Miller, D.P.M., who gave him a run for his money.

Other providers who volunteered to perform the sports physicals were Robert Peterson, M.D., Neil Pathare, M.D., Michael Ginsberg, M.D., Angela Brennan, D.O., Elizabeth Milne, P.A., and Joseph Mashinchi, P.A.

“Of course, the stars of the show were our providers,” noted Justine. “They were the purest reflection of The NorthBay Way with each athlete and parent they met, and all with huge smiles. It was a privilege to watch. I had several parents ask me how to choose NorthBay as their care center as they were so impressed by the experience provided!”

Organizer Stephanie Pagan was pleased with the turnout. “We weren’t sure what to expect, but to see all these people here, and to see how happy they are to get this service, it’s very humbling.”

Her counterpart, Ashley Massaro, agreed.

“People were very thankful. A lot of the families told us they were having a hard time getting their child in to see their primary care physician in time. Our timing was perfect; we helped them meet their deadline.

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