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April 4, 2005
Emory Healthcare to ride with Tour de Georgia, April 19-24

BY chanmi kim

Emory Healthcare (EHC) has been named the official health care provider for the 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia, to be held April 19–24. Designed to promote healthy lifestyles, the annual Tour de Georgia is a six-day, professional cycling race that draws top cyclists from around the world. Racers will cycle through 11 Georgia cities to raise support for the Georgia Cancer Coalition, the state’s comprehensive cancer initiative.

Fifteen international teams—including the United States’ Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team, led by defending Tour de Georgia champion Lance Armstrong—will compete in the race.

“Emory Healthcare is a great addition to the tour,” said Stan Holm, executive director of Tour de Georgia. “We have some of the best athletes in the world participating in the race, and it’s comforting to know an institution with the international reputation of Emory will be traveling with the tour.”

“Working with athletes the caliber of those participating in the tour requires a level of expertise in emergency and sports medicine that Emory Healthcare is uniquely equipped to provide,” said Douglas Lowery, vice chair and associate professor of emergency medicine.

Doctors, nurses, and medical trainers will ride alongside the cyclists, according to EHC Marketing Manager Kara Stark, providing any necessary emergency medical care to the racers as well as their staff.

Lowery said EHC has put together a team of orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians, as well as trainers, “who understand the unique needs of these athletes.”

“We’re prepared for the special challenges associated with a race of this magnitude,” he said.
Gary Teal, senior associate vice president for administration for the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, said EHC’s sponsorship of the tour reflects Emory’s commitment to the community and to its health.

“It’s a way to reach out to all of Georgia with a message of health and healing,” Teal said.

In addition to providing medical support, Stark said EHC will play its role as a signature sponsor of the race by presenting the stage winner award at the end of each day. “It’s a really exciting time for us to show the community that we’re in a partnership with them,” she said.

Last year, more than 750,000 spectators from 38 states came to support the cyclists.

“The world will be watching Georgia from April 19–24,” Teal said. “Having the banner of Emory Healthcare leading the racers is another example of Emory’s commitment to be a destination university and a destination health care system.”

 

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