The Community Memorial (CMH) Center for Orthopedics and the Utica Blue Sox, of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL), are thrilled to announce a new partnership that will bring expert athletic training and comprehensive orthopedic care to the Blue Sox program.

This collaboration underscores Community Memorial’s commitment to supporting local athletes with sports medicine care. “A partnership with Community Memorial is an integral component to our operations, not only with the Utica Blue Sox teams but also with our Academy members,” stated George Deak, Utica Blue Sox team owner. “This agreement ensures that all Utica Blue Sox members and players will receive the highest level of care in the event of injury.”

As the official orthopedic and athletic training provider for the Utica Blue Sox, Community Memorial will offer a range of services, including on-field injury assessment, game-day medical coverage through an athletic trainer, and access to their team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians.

“Our Certified Athletic Trainer, Cody Herbert, onsite at games will provide Blue Sox athletes with exceptional care,” stated Dr. Richelle Takemoto, of the CMH Center for Orthopedics. “With over 12 years of Division I sports performance experience and collaborative work with sports medicine team members, Cody will work as a direct connection between players, coaches, and parents to our team of orthopedic specialists, ensuring prompt care with excellent results.”

“This partnership provides the Blue Sox’s talented athletes with the highest level of orthopedic care,” noted Cody Herbert, Certified Athletic Trainer and Physician Liaison of CMH. “The care offered through this partnership will help these skilled players perform at their best and ensure their long-term health.”

Reinforcing Community Memorial’s role as a trusted provider of orthopedic care for individuals of all activity levels in our communities, the new collaboration with the Blue Sox will add one more layer of services offered within the Center for Orthopedics.

With a focused initiative to improve access to quality specialty care in the region, CMH has focused efforts to grow its provider team and support staff. The Community Memorial Center for Orthopedics is open within the Center for Specialties building at 160 Broad Street in Hamilton, streamlining services for patient efficiency. Offering a walk-in clinic daily, the practice grants patients ease and convenience, with same or next-day appointments following an Emergency Department visit. The Orthopedics team provides specialty care for knee, hip, and shoulder joints, along with spine and sports medicine treatment for injured athletes.

Recently, the Community Memorial Center for Orthopedics has expanded care into New Hartford each Wednesday within the CNY Brain and Spine Neurosurgery building at 83 Genesee Street.  As this expansion has grown in volume, orthopedic care is now also provided in the Cazenovia with Dr. Kamal Banga, specializing in sports medicine and upper extremities. These expansions aim to improve access to specialized orthopedic care for residents throughout the region.

Community Memorial offers primary care in six locations (Hamilton, Cazenovia, Morrisville, Munnsville, Sherrill and Waterville) and warmly welcomes patients for all services, including specialty care. Regularly check the ‘News and Events’ section of the website for the latest updates as services continue to expand.

To learn more about any of the Community Memorial services, visit www.communitymemorial.org. For the most up-to-date Utica Blue Sox schedule, visit www.uticabluesox.net/ubs-schedule/ .