Hello, and welcome to the University of Pennsylvania's Sports Performance Department!
Our Mission Statement.
Igniting and sustaining holistic health and performance
The Sports Performance Department was created to ensure that all of our student-athletes are holistically developed, achieve positive experiences for life-long impact, win championships, and learn how to champion their own lives so that they can help others do the same.
We utilize an integrated, “Team Around the Team” whole-person approach to prevent, assess and treat issues related to safety, health, wellness and performance.
Our Associate AD/Director of Sports Performance is
Dr. Andrea Wieland.
Our Core Values
University of Pennsylvania
Impact · Inclusion · Innovation
DRIA
Character First · Aiming Big · Humility · Enjoyment · Community Matters
Sports Performance Department
Growth · Character · Communication · Collaboration · Innovation
SP Department’s Expectations
- Fun & Energy
- Respect, Dignity & Ethics
- Commitment to Excellence & High Performance
- Collaboration, Cooperation & Support
- Professionalism, Responsibility & Positive Engagement
- Growth Mindset & Constant Learning
Our Core Areas
SPORTS MEDICINE/ATHLETIC TRAINING & MEDICAL SUB-SPECIALTIES
The Athletic Training Staff is committed to using the latest advances in technology and continuing education for delivery of athletic medicine services. Collaborative efforts are made to educate practitioners, student-athletes and coaches about athletic injuries and physical fitness so that all may be empowered to lead healthier, injury-free lifestyles.
Athletic Trainers are first responders with any and all health and medically-related needs for our student-athletes. Student-athletes work with and through their assigned team’s athletic trainers to arrange for consultations, treatment, and injury prevention with our team of 42 and growing Official Penn Medical Consultants in 26 sub-specialties.
Our Head of Athletic Training is
Emily Dorman.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
Every sports team works with an assigned expert in Strength & Conditioning. Team training times and open hours are made available to student-athletes with customized programs to meet the demands of the sports and accommodate individual needs. All workouts are tracked through the TEAMBUILDR app in order to adjust programming for the individual position, injuries or limitations. Every student-athlete has athletic performance measures that are tracked over the course of the year and their collegiate career to ensure the safety and optimization of their athletic and health potential.
Our Director of Strength & Conditioning is
Cory Walts.
NUTRITION
Sports Performance provides individual and team consultations to student-athletes to help them meet nutritional demands for their respective sports and for better health. Every team has an assigned Sports Nutritionist who works with the team and individuals to provide education and consultation for better performance and health through optimal nutritional choices. Priorities are given to more urgent issues or weight-dependent sports. Bod Pod Testing—a lean muscle mass assessment—is made available and scheduled to meet team needs.
Our Head of Sports Nutrition is
Jill Joseph.
MENTAL HEALTH & PERFORMANCE
Individual and team consultations to meet mental health and mental performance needs are made available to all student-athletes. Through a strong partnership with Penn’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Center for Student-Athlete Success (CSAS), priorities are given to student-athletes with mental health concerns. All teams have a mental performance liaison who helps teams and individuals learn more about the mental aspect of their sport as well as the mental skills, emotional resilience and attitudes needed for excellence in the classroom and as a person…on and off the fields of competition.
Our Head of Mental Health & Performance is
Dr. Andrea Wieland.
Our Projects
Penn Athletics-Penn Medicine Partnership
Both Penn Athletics and Penn Medicine recognize the value and mutual benefit of expanding and strengthening an already strong partnership. Starting in 2018, several Penn Medicine physicians and consultants were onboarded as “Official Medical Consultants to Penn Athletics” and recognized for their selfless service to the Penn Athletics community. More than 40 consultants from 26 sub-specialties in medicine are now onboarded, and the commitment continues to grow. This partnership allows our student-athletes to quickly and seamlessly be seen by specialists so that they can return to play safely and expediently. Wellness initiatives, research, education and technology sharing are just some of the ways in which Penn Athletics and Penn Medicine mutually grow and benefit from each other’s strengths, skills and talent.
Collaborative Research Projects
The Sports Performance Department has a tremendous opportunity to partner with the best of the best when it comes to research. Wharton Neuroscience Initiative, Penn Injury Science Center, SPARTA, and Penn Medicine Dermatology are just a few examples of research projects underway with our student-athletes. By gaining insights to cognitive performance, behavior, athletic measurement and change, we are able to both help our practitioners and coaches make relevant decisions on athletic management while also serving the field of sports medicine as well as athletic health and performance. Future collaborations may include the Penn Center for Nutritional Science and Medicine (PenNSAM), Penn’s Human Motion Lab, and Penn Sleep Medicine.
CPR Training for All Student-Athletes
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training for all freshmen and juniors is a new program inspired by student-athlete Jeff Zucker, Men’s Tennis Class of 2022. CPR training is designed to prepare student-athletes to effectively manage the response to a cardiac event of any person in any situation on the athletic fields and beyond. The objective of CPR training is to provide bi-annual training for all student-athletes so that they can be leaders in the event of a cardiac emergency and potentially save a life. These life and leadership skills will benefit student-athletes beyond their time at Penn.
Comprehensive Mental Health Screening
In partnership with Penn Medicine, CAPS, and Student Health Services, the Sports Performance Department aims to screen all student-athletes for mental health and well-being concerns annually with a medical or health professional trained in mental health. Penn Athletics would be the first Athletic Department in the country to comprehensively screen all student-athletes annually. The objective of an annual screening is to educate all student-athletes on resources that are available; reduce stigma and fear around meeting with a mental health provider; normalize mental health as part of a holistic well-being program; and safely screen all student-athletes for any current or potential future concerns and provide the individual with support, resources and services as needed.
Health & Wellness Captains
The Penn Athletics Health & Wellness Captains are a newly formed group of student-athletes who share a passion for supporting the overall well-being of their peers. The Sports Performance and Center for Student-Athlete Success have partnered to serve as mentors and guides for the Health & Wellness Captains as they offer peer-to-peer education, share resources, and provide support for all student-athletes. More than 60 student-athletes across all 33 varsity sports have self-identified as Health & Wellness Captains for their programs, focusing on a variety of topics including nutrition, mental health, academic support, career resources and more.
