Washington Nationals Name Inova’s Robin West, MD Lead Team Physician
FALLS CHURCH, VA – November 19, 2015 – The Washington Nationals this week named Robin West, MD, as new Lead Team Physician. As the medical director of the Inova Sports Medicine Institute (ISMI), Dr. West will continue to oversee ISMI while serving as team doctor for the baseball organization.
With a focus on being proactive and utilizing injury-prevention techniques, the Nationals announced a new medical structure and expansion, with several personnel additions and changes. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.
In an innovative shift, the Nationals are transitioning their medical department to one that utilizes a proactive model, with significant analytic input. This will allow the Nationals to home in on predictive factors to thwart potential injurious situations, and increase performance, by maintaining the health and wellness of their players.
The Nationals’ new approach to team health aligns with Inova’s innovative personalized care and comprehensive treatment of athletes. ISMI methods include a concierge approach to sports medicine with a customized treatment plan based on the needs of each patient. ISMI will be part of Inova’s new 117-acre Center for Personalized Health.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the Nationals’ new medical team,” said Dr. West. “At the Inova Sports Medicine Institute, we develop individualized plans tailored to each athlete – from injury prevention, care and rehabilitation, to nutrition and mental and physical performance. I’m looking forward to working with these premier athletes to keep them on the playing field.”
Dr. West, a board-certified orthopedics and sports medicine surgeon, oversees the Inova Sports Medicine Institute’s clinical, strategic, administrative and academic affairs. She has a special interest in the prevention and management of injury and focuses on the whole health of athletes to determine the root cause of an injury and develop prevention strategies that will minimize recurrence and maximize athletic performance for the future.
In addition to her role as lead physician, Dr. West will serve on the team’s medical services advisory board, chaired by Dr. Keith Pyne. Harvey Sharman will serve as the Nationals’ Executive Director/Medical Services and will oversee the board, training staff and strength and conditioning programming.
Prior to joining Inova, Dr. West served as the assistant team physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the head team physician for the Carnegie Mellon University athletic department, and as the head team physician for the University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, and swimming and diving programs. She joined Inova is July 2014 after more than 11 years of clinical experience as an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
Media Contact: Tracy Connell, tracy.connell@inova.org