We work throughout the year, from pre-season to post-season, to prevent injury, optimize performance, and maintain overall wellbeing. Our eHealth Team physicians uniquely understand the dedication and commitment, athletes devote to their sport to gain a competitive edge.
Esports Team Physician
Hallie Zwibel, D.O., Director of Sports Medicine Assistant Professor, Family Medicine
As a primary care physician, Hallie Zwibel maintains a 360-degree view of your health to uncover, and solve, potential issues wherever they may be lurking. Team physicians are conscious of all aspects of athletic performance, including strength and conditioning, nutrition, ergogenic aids, substance abuse and psychological response to injury. Doctors Zwibel and Donoghue are experts at synthesizing information to create a comprehensive plan utilizing all necessary resources from the eHealth Team. They also act as liaisons between the esports athlete and the medical team to ensure good communication and superior care.
Responsibilities
- Conducts comprehensive preparticipation examinations for esports athletes to identify risk factors which could impact overall health and athletic performance
- Evaluates and provides medical treatment for acute and chronic injuries or illnesses
- Coordinates and recommends care from allied health professionals and specialists
- Conducts research examining the impact of prolonged esports competition on memory and attention, and health behaviors of the esports athlete
Esports Physical Therapist
Mark Gugliotti is a licensed physical therapist responsible for evaluating and treating esports athletes who have sport-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform during their physical training or competition. He examines and develops a plan of care for each athlete, using skilled interventions to improve mobility loss, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent injury.
Responsibilities
- Evaluates and treats acute and chronic injury, prescribing individualized exercise programs for each athlete in order to maintain and enhance any care provided
- Provides preventative care through conditioning, training, and education
- Performs ergonomic assessment of gaming station to optimize biomechanical performance and minimize the threat of potential repetitive micro- or microtrauma while gaming
- Conducts research on injury prevention and performance enhancement
Esports Exercise Physiologist
Joanne Donoghue is an expert in exercise physiology and nutrition. Her knowledge of physiology and metabolic testing in healthy and diseased populations has lead to explore novel ways to improve quality of life for all ages. As an exercise physiologist, Joanne Donoghue conducts maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) testing and anthropometrics on our athletes, allowing her to customize their regimens to help them to play the sport they love, while improving performance, and preventing detrimental side effects.
Responsibilities
- Conducts V02 max testing to measure of aerobic fitness and determine overall fitness and all risk factors of chronic disease
- Performs duel x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) tests to assess body fat percentage and lean body mass. Being sedentary can result in less muscle mass, which can lead to earlier fatigue while gaming and health risks in the future
- Performs ergonomic assessment of gaming station to optimize biomechanical performance and minimize the threat of potential repetitive micro- or microtrauma while gaming
- Prescribes individualized exercise and wellness regimens to improve focus and endurance, increase personal health, and lessening fatigue
Esports Occupational Therapist, Wellness and Behavioral Health
Melanie C. Austin-McCain is a licensed healthcare professional specializing in wellness, mental health, and health behavior of the esports athlete. She utilizes a holistic mind-body-spirit approach to address the personal, social, virtual, and environmental contexts of the esports athlete, promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors for the prevention of illness, injury and chronic conditions.
Responsibilities
- Provides lifestyle wellness and health behavior assessments of the esports athlete
- Partners with the athlete to develop person-centered healthy lifestyle goals utilizing health education and motivational health behavior change strategies for optimal emotional and physical well-being and quality of life
- Focuses on the esports athlete's social skills, stress management, sleep routines, physical activity, healthy eating habits, and self-efficacy
- Conducts research examining sleep routines, risk of injury and chronic diseases, social media use, and health behaviors of the esports athlete
Esports Occupational Therapist, Certified Hand Therapist
Pamela Karp is a licensed healthcare professional specializing in upper quarter assessment, evaluation, and treatment of the esports athlete. She utilizes a comprehensive, client-centered approach which considers musculoskeletal, sensory, cognitive/perceptual, and occupational history components. She addresses upper quarter injury prevention, ergonomics, lifestyle balance, and provides skilled intervention to enhance the esports athlete's performance and reduce repetitive stress injuries and trauma that may result from gaming.
Responsibilities
- Conducts assessment, evaluation, and treatment of the esports athlete with a focus on the upper quarter
- Provides holistic preventative care of the esports athlete through education and training
- Provides ergonomic assessment, education, and training with a focus on postural implications of high-level gaming
- Conducts research focusing on injury awareness, prevention, treatment, and lifestyle balance for the esports athlete
For general inquires about New York Tech Esports, or Partnership opportunities with us, please contact: esports@nyit.edu
