Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina University Athletics and Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva today announced the renewal of its longstanding partnership agreement and sponsorship with the Catamounts. This renewed partnership underscores the hospital's continued commitment to supporting the health and well-being of WCU's student-athletes through providing orthopaedic and sports medicine care and expanded access to other essential healthcare services.
The partnership between Western Carolina and Harris Regional has long been a cornerstone of community collaboration, emphasizing the region's shared values of health, wellness, and excellence. As part of this ongoing relationship, Harris Regional Hospital will continue to serve as the exclusive healthcare partner for WCU Athletics, providing essential medical support and resources to ensure that student-athletes can perform at their best, both on and off the field.
The partnership renewal was officially celebrated with a signing event on Friday, Aug. 23, at WCU's Ramsey Center Hospitality Room, with members of Harris Regional's and WCU Athletics' leadership teams in attendance. Western Carolina Chancellor Dr. Kelli R. Brown and Director of Athletics Alex Gary both took part in the signing, with Harris Regional and Swain Community Hospitals CEO Ashley Hindman signing on behalf of the hospital.
While formally established in 2015 with the Ascent Partnership, the agreement includes a decades-long legacy of support for essential health services to student-athletes both on the sidelines and on the field, including physician-led game and injury coverage and physical therapy and sports medicine services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the partnership expanded to include essential testing and treatment services to ensure the health and safety of student-athletes. Additionally, student-athletes receive access to important general health services through Harris Regional, including primary care, imaging, lab services, emergency care, and other specialty care. WCU's emergency services team works closely with Harris Regional to help students access timely emergency care and stabilizing treatment when needed, further ensuring that students have access to local care.
"We are thrilled to renew our longstanding partnership with Western Carolina University Athletics," said Hindman. "This collaboration allows us to continue our vital role in supporting the health and safety of WCU's student-athletes, and we are proud to be a continued part of their journey to success."
Gary expressed his enthusiasm for the continued partnership, stating, "The health and well-being of our student-athletes is of utmost importance, and we are grateful for the hospital's ongoing support. This partnership has been invaluable in ensuring that our student-athletes have access to quality healthcare, and we look forward to building on this relationship in the years to come."
Harris Regional Hospital is proud to offer orthopaedic and sports medicine care through Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, a practice comprised of highly skilled providers Lawrence Supik, MD, Doug Gates, MD, Ryan Slechta, MD, Joshua Patton, DO, John Songer, MD, Jarod Schoeberl, MPA, PA-C and Alexis Willey, PA-C. Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine specializes in both injury prevention and intervention, helping all patients, including athletes, to achieve optimal health and return to their activities as safely and quickly as possible.
Harris Regional Hospital has officially been a proud partner of WCU Athletics since 2015. The renewed agreement reaffirms the hospital's commitment to
making communities healthier, working hand-in-hand with the university to support the next generation of athletes and leaders.
A member of The Southern Conference since 1976, Western Carolina Athletics supports 16 NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports for over 350 student-athletes.
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About Harris Regional Hospital & Swain Community Hospital
Harris Regional Hospital, established in 1925, is an 86-bed acute and specialty care facility serving western North Carolina with more than 100 physicians practicing in locations throughout a multi-county region, including Harris Regional Hospital Medical Park of Franklin, an outpatient facility in Macon County. Swain Community Hospital, established in 1950, is a 48-bed Critical Access Hospital serving a multi-county region with primary care, emergency medicine and subspecialty care including a pain clinic and a transitional care unit. Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital began an affiliation in 1997 and joined Duke LifePoint Healthcare in 2014.
About Western Carolina University
Founded in 1889, Western Carolina University is a regional comprehensive institution serving as the westernmost school in the University of North Carolina System. WCU attracts students from around the globe for its nationally ranked programs, affordability through NC Promise, and exceptional student support. Nestled in a valley of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains and widely recognized as a top adventure college, WCU students can explore the region's vast natural diversity through unrivaled experiential learning and recreational activities. The institution offers residential, hybrid and online programs for undergraduate and graduate degrees at our main campus in Cullowhee, WCU in Asheville located at Biltmore Park, and wherever students are through distance learning.
