[VIDEO] NCCU Athletics Team Doctor Harry C. Stafford Talks About New Dept. Enhancements & Focus
Durham, NC – Santisha Walker met with Dr. Harry Stafford, Head Team Physician for North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Athletics Department, to discuss recent
enhancements for NCCU’s athletes and the department’s desire to focus on total well-being. She highlights their on-field medical tent, onsite x-ray capabilities, fueling station and mental health support. Dr. Stafford discusses the reason each of these features were added to NCCU’s athletics department, and how it benefits the athletes.
Santisha also got a chance to speak with Sean Thomas, Head Athletic Trainer, who is responsible for the healthcare and well-being of all student athletes. He expressed that the athletic department’s goal is to intervene as needed to help heal NCCU’s athletes through private evaluations, x-rays, providing proper nutrition to fuel the body and offering support for any mental health concerns. He believes they have built a solid program centered on a healthy athlete from the inside out.
About Harry C. Stafford, MD
Dr. Harry Stafford has served as a team physician at the University of North Carolina since 2008. He is currently the head primary care physician for Women’s Basketball, as well as the Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country Teams.
Dr. Stafford received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the varsity track team. He also completed his medical training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon completion of medical school, Dr. Stafford completed the family medicine residency at Duke University in 2005. Following his residency, Dr. Stafford went on to complete his sports medicine fellowship training at Duke University in 2006. At which point he joined the Duke Sports Medicine faculty. In 2008 Dr. Stafford returned to UNC to become the Director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship.
Dr. Stafford is also an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Orthopedics and Family Medicine specializing in platelet rich plasma procedures, specifically targeting treatment of acute and chronic muscle injury and sports hernias. Additionally, he is the current Head Medical Team Physician for North Carolina Central University.
Dr. Stafford is an active member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and American College of Sports Medicine. He has authored many book chapters and journal articles. He is currently doing research in the areas of Sports Nutrition, EKG changes in African American Athletes, and Sickle Cell Trait in Athletics.
He and his wife Bethany, reside in Durham.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit https://nccueaglepride.com/