Pittsburgh Review

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) has introduced a new Primary Care Sports Nutrition Program to support student-athletes' performance and health. This program is a collaboration between AHN's Sports Medicine and Primary Care departments, offering services to athletes aged 12-18, as well as those from two universities and 30 high schools already partnered with AHN for athletic training.

Pediatric and sports dietitian Julia Kuczynski highlighted the importance of nutrition in achieving athletic goals: "We see athletes every day who are eager to improve their performance, but don’t fully understand the role proper nutrition plays in achieving their goals." She will oversee the telehealth program, which includes initial consultations for $75 and follow-up sessions at $37.50. The focus will be on creating personalized dietary plans that help balance school schedules with sports commitments.

Craig Castor, Manager of Orthopaedics and Athletic Training Services at AHN, emphasized the benefits of telehealth: “Julia’s expertise is the perfect complement to the high-level sports medicine care we already provide.” This approach aims to extend access beyond Pittsburgh, benefiting athletes statewide.

The program also addresses special dietary needs such as diabetes management or vegan diets. Patrick J. DeMeo, MD, Chair of the AHN Orthopaedic Institute stated: “With over 30,000 student-athletes served annually within AHN’s network, the Sports Nutrition Program is a strategic extension of AHN’s commitment.”

Appointments for this program require referrals. For further details, Craig Castor can be contacted via email.