May 21, 2020
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Phoenix, Philadelphia’s professional ultimate team, is pleased to announce Rothman Orthopaedic Institute as a new partner. The partnership will focus on a series of injury prevention and educational public service announcements from Rothman Orthopaedics featured on the Phoenix social media platforms, Rothman Orthopaedics sponsoring two pregame youth clinics during the Phoenix season, presence at several future Phoenix Ultimate Academy events as well as serving as the official team physicians for the athletes.
“We’re excited to expand the Rothman Orthopaedics sports medicine reach here in Philadelphia with our partnership with the Phoenix,” said Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD, PhD, MBA, President of Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, Richard H. Rothman Professor and Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedics, and Professor of Neurosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals. “This is another great opportunity to not only work with and deliver high-level orthopaedic care to elite athletes, but also reach the youth through the various initiatives. Youth sports was on the rise prior to COVID-19, so we’re thrilled to be able to educate young athletes and their parents on the latest evidence-based recommendations, prevention and treatment options which are essential for keeping all athletes safe.”
Ultimate has been around for over 50 years, and in recent years has seen rapid growth and expansion, especially among younger demographics. The Phoenix have a large fan base in Millennial and Generation Z demographics, plus offer support for young local athletes through training programs with the Phoenix Ultimate Academy. Professional ultimate is growing quickly as well, and with the future of the sport bright, building partnerships with entities such as Rothman Orthopaedics is the next step. Phoenix President, Christina Lee Chung, MD said, “As a lifelong athlete and physician, I understand the need to deliver specialized, comprehensive and quality care to high-performance athletes. Rothman is the gold standard here in Philadelphia, and I am thrilled to embark on a partnership that both provides Phoenix players with the highest quality orthopaedic care and brings injury awareness education to the ultimate community.”
In conjunction with the new partnership, the Phoenix welcomes Sommer Hammoud, MD as Head Team Physician. A board-certified Sports Medicine Surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedics, Dr. Hammoud will bring a wealth of skill and knowledge to the Phoenix organization.
“Being the team's first head team physician and helping to establish medical protocols is unique. I'm looking forward to helping create the standard for medical clearance, care and treatment of athletes in the Phoenix organization, and excited to learn more about the sport of ultimate and unique needs of ultimate athletes,” said Dr. Hammoud. “Moreover, as a member of the AUDL COVID Medical Advisory Task Force, working to guide athletes and teams through safe re-establishment of play during these unprecedented times is invaluable experience. Along with my colleagues, our goal is to provide guidelines and protocols for safety during these unprecedented times as well as provide world-class musculoskeletal care/treatment.”
Dr. Sommer Hammoud
Sports Medicine, Phoenix Head Team Physician
Dr. Hammoud is highly experienced, having completed her training at several top programs in the US, and was fellowship trained in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is no stranger to high-level athletics, she has previously worked in conjunction with the NFL, MLB and MLS, as well as in collegiate athletics. Dr. Hammoud also serves as the Head Team Physician for Saint Joseph's University and as an assistant team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies, and is currently using her skills to help professional sports organizations, including the AUDL, navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to her work with athletes, Dr. Hammoud is an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University and specializes in the minimally-invasive treatment of cartilage disorders, meniscus tears, and ligament injuries including ACL tears and multiligament knee injuries. She also specializes in shoulder surgery, including arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, shoulder instability and latarjet reconstruction. She offers her patients cutting-edge surgical treatments including cartilage restoration, meniscus transplantation, and realignment osteotomies.
