Certified Athletic Trainers

Joe Friedrich, ATC - Head Athletic Trainer
Office:  732-987-2687;  Secure Fax:  732-987-2031
Email:  friedrichj@georgian.edu

Jodi Anderson, ATC, CSCS, EMT-B - Assistant Athletic Trainer
Office:  732-987-2777;  Secure Fax:  732-987-2031
Email:  andersonj@georgian.edu

Hours of Operation

An athletic trainer will be on-site for all home practices and games (with the exception of fitness-center workouts).  Hours of operation vary season to season, week to week and day to day.  In general, an athletic trainer will be on-site 1 hour before the start of each practice (2 hours before each game) and will remain available for at least ½ hour after the conclusion of the practice / game.  Appointments for rehabilitation will be scheduled most mornings.  Operating hours will be posted weekly.  Changes to these hours will be posted whenever possible; however some situations may prohibit changes from being posted.  Your understanding of this is appreciated.

Office of Athletic Training Program Goals

The Office of Athletic Training delivers athletic training and sports medicine services to the student-athletes of Georgian Court University.  The health and welfare of the student-athlete, is always regarded as the highest priority in all aspects of services provided.   These services include:

• Injury Prevention and Risk Management
• Recognition, Evaluation and Assessment of Injuries and Illnesses
• Immediate Care of Injuries and Illnesses
• Treatment, Rehabilitation and Reconditioning
• Health Care Organization and Administration

Emergency Procedures

The athletic training department has an emergency action plan that will be activated in the event of serious illness or injury. The emergency action plan outlines the actions of the emergency response team which includes coaches, athletic trainers, physicians, nurses, and security personnel. When appropriate, EMS can be contacted by dialing 9-1-1. Whenver 9-1-1 is called, campus security should also be notified (ext. 2611). Below are some additional emergency contact numbers. Please also note that there are currently 4 AED units on the GCU campus.  One is wall mounted in the Lobby outside the Wellness Center Arena.  The others are portiable units held by: Athletic Training, Health Services, and Security.

Emergency Numbers

The Student-Athlete Medical Team

The GCU athletic training staff are the keystone members of the Student-Athlete Medical Team which is made up of multi-disciplinary health care professionals who provide medical care to GCU athletes.  The team is lead by Team Physician, Dr. Stephen Rice, M.D.  Dr. Rice is a board certified pediatric sports medicine physician and the director of Jersey Shore Sports Medicine Center in Neptune, NJ.  Dr. Rice oversees a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship and annually trains two physicians through this program.  The Fellowship candidates for the 2008-2009 academic year are Dr. Ruchi Mehta, M.D. and Dr. Jim Petrucci, D.O.  The sports medicine fellows cover most home events and regularly visit the GCU campus to examine athletes and keep in touch with the athletic training staff. 

Georgian Court athletic trainers work under the supervision of the team physician guided by standing orders.  The athletic trainers, team physician, and fellows interact regularly either in person or via phone/email/fax so as to provide the best care to GCU athletes.  This ongoing communication will guide decisions regarding treatment and return to play.  The physician always has final say regarding participation, but athletic trainers often work in the absence of the physician and are the next persons in the chain of command to make return to play decisions which are always based on clinical experience, sound medical decision making, and communication between the student-athlete medical team, coaches, and players. 

In addition to the services provided by Dr. Rice and his fellowship program, the Office of Athletic Training has also established relationships with other providers to whom we may make referrals.  One such relationship that has been long-standing is with Dr’s Torpey, Foos, and Bade of Professional Orthopaedic Associates.  When athletes are seen by providers that regularly work with GCU athletics, communication tends to be more effective and efficient.  Athletes are free to see any provider of their own choosing, but must always provide documentation of all medical care received before being return to play.  The team physician has the ultimate authority to make final decisions regarding participation.

Quick Links

• Hours of Operation
• Emergency Numbers
• Policies 
• Visiting Team Information 
• Printable Forms
• Directions to Medical Centers 
• Important Dates 

Related Links

• CACC Athletics
• ECAC
• National Athletic Trainers' Association
• New Jersey Athletic Trainers' Society
• Woman's Health