BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—World-famous orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews served as the guest speaker at the Samford Bulldog Club's Priority Program Networking Luncheon, Friday in the Coca-Cola Hospitality Suite in the Pete Hanna Center.
 
The event began with lunch, catered by Piggly Wiggly and Tracy's Restaurant. Assistant Director of Development/Bulldog Club Sarah Kate Masters opened the program by welcoming everyone and introducing the featured student-athlete of the month, Warren Handrahan of the football team. Masters also recognized the featured staffs of the month, which were the strength and conditioning and sports medicine staffs.
 
Masters also recognized the Bulldog Club's Priority Program's Members of the Year, which were Joe McDade and Bill Stevens.
 
Following Masters' comments, Assistant Director of Athletics for Development/Bulldog Club Hal Langston introduced the featured speaker, Dr. Andrews.
 
Speaking to a full room, Andrews spoke on several topics, including: what is sports medicine, hallmarks of a good physician, duties of a medical team, priorities relevant to responsibilities of a sports medicine team, sports medicine post-graduate educational programs and teams their sports medicine fellows work with (including 12 of 14 SEC schools).
 
Andrews also talked about the Eagle Fund, which provides wounded warriors with the pro-athlete model of care. He then talked about his patient philosophy and current sports medicine policies and procedures.
 
Andrews talked about unique challenges faced by team physicians in college, communication lines in sports medicine and medical ethics. He concluded the talk by speaking about the STOP Sports Injuries program. For more information on the STOP Sports Injuries program, go to www.stopsportsinjuries.org.
 
Following his speech, Andrews took several questions from the audience.
 
Friday's luncheon was the final of a series of networking luncheons held by the Bulldog Club for its Priority Program members throughout the 2014-15 academic year. Past speakers have included: Director of Athletics Martin Newton, Executive Director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Scott Myers, Samford Men's Golf Coach and WJOX radio personality Al DelGreco, Alabama Media Group's lead sports columnist Kevin Scarbinsky, Jim Dunaway from WIAT 42 and WJOX, Samford Head Football Coach Chris Hatcher and Founder of the Big Oak Ranch John Croyle.
 
For more information on the Bulldog Club, contact Hal Langston by phone at 205-726-2050 or by e-mail at hlangst1@samford.edu.