Dr. Reeser Presented FIVB Special Honor

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

FIVB contributed to this release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 13, 2011) – Dr. Jonathan Charles Reeser (Marshfield, Wis.), a physician from the United States who has been highly involved with USA Volleyball’s team of doctors, was presented with a special Sport Science Award on the opening day of the first FIVB Medicine Congress being held in Bled, Slovenia.

The FIVB Sport Science award was established to recognize significant career contributions to the field of Volleyball medicine and science and Dr. Reeser received USD$5,000 as well as a special FIVB medal after being announced as the winner. He was presented the award by FIVB President Mr. Jizhong Wei.

“I’m honored to receive this award,” said Dr. Reeser, who went on the thank all those whose contributions to his career helped him get to this point.

“During his professional career he (Dr. Reeser) has not only made a meaningful contribution to the growth of not only the sport, but to our understanding and knowledge of volleyball sports science,” Dr. Amr M. Elwani, FIVB executive vice-president, said in his speech.

Dr. Reeser, M.D., Ph.D, began his career in volleyball science 19-years ago in 1992 when he spent a month with the then-U.S. Men’s National Team physician Dr. Lee Rice before he was appointed to the USA Volleyball Sports Medicine and Performance Commission in 1995, a commission he became chair of in 1999. During his leadership, Dr. Reeser helped direct the formation of USA Volleyball’s Team Physician Program, designed to ensure that U.S. National Team athletes received expert care from a team physicians while competing both domestically and internationally. His program design is still in place today.

As well as having an influence on USA Volleyball, Dr. Reeser has been able to assist with many initiatives at a global level after being appointed to the FIVB Medical Commission in 1998. As a member, he helped initiate discussion concerning a range of subjects such as the process of gender verification, the participation of transsexual athletes and the prevention of heat illness among beach volleyball athletes.

USA Volleyball established an award in Dr. Reeser’s honor in 2008 as he was the first recipient of the Jonathan Reeser Sports Science Award. The award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the sport science of volleyball through either volleyball-specific research or through clinical contributions in the care of volleyball players. Research may be in the areas of injury epidemiology, prevention or treatment, or performance enhancement. These contributions may be recent and of significant benefit to the sport, or longstanding over the course of time.

The 2011 FIVB Medicine Congress continues through Jan. 15.

Tags: Awards, FIVB, U.S. Men's National Volleyball Team, U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team