Penn State once again finds itself defending itself after a Sports Illustrated article published this week alleges that changes to the football team's medical staff raise "questions about the [school's] promises to rein in the athletic department and operate transparently."
The article centers on Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, whom the article reports has been "relieved of his duties as the longtime director of athletic medicine and orthopedic surgeon-head physician for the football team" by new athletic director David Joyner, at the recommendation of coach Bill O'Brien. Per SI, the change was "done summarily, without reference to performance issues," and suggests it could be motivated by personal animosity between Sebastianelli and Joyner, a former Penn State Board of Trustees member and an orthopedic surgeon like Sebastianelli.
But Penn State issued a forcefully worded statement to the magazine specifying that Sebatianelli "remains the doctor in charge of the University's entire medical program for intercollegiate athletics, including football," implying that only Sebastianelli's day-to-day contact with the program has been reduced.
The absence of a permanent orthopedic surgeon like Sebastianelli has resulted in "less on-site coverage," according to the article, though Penn State still employs a primary physician at every practice. It also states athletic trainer Tim Bream has conducted medical procedures "normally reserved" for medical doctors, and that the changes have also been made as a cost-cutting measure.
The Penn State response, though, calls the article "erroneous" and takes issue with other characterizations. The statement in full:
"To characterize the medical care Penn State provides our student-athletes as anything other than the highest quality is erroneous. Access to urgent and quality care for our athletes is no less than where it was at any point in the past 20 years. We provided Sports Illustrated with facts and data that demonstrate our commitment to our student athletes and how we compare to other peer institutions. Instead, the article sensationalizes in order to insinuate lower standards and largely ignores statements from the Dean of the College of Medicine.
Contrary to the reporter's assertions, Dr. Sebastianelli remains the doctor in charge of the University's entire medical program for intercollegiate athletics, including football. Further, there has been no change in the support provided by State College-based Penn State orthopedic surgeons, including Dr. Sebastianelli."
Sebastianelli and new team doctor Peter Seidenberg each works for the university's college of medicine.
Per the Associated Press, O'Brien told reporters in April that the moves were "more about the reorganization of the medical team." His statement on Wednesday:
“When I was hired as the Head Football Coach at Penn State, I was asked to observe areas of the football program and then make recommendations. After observing our medical organization in the football program for a full year, I recommended that it would be in the best interests of our program, and most importantly our student-athletes, to make a change in the team physicians. Dr. [Scott] Lynch and Dr. Seidenberg were identified as excellent doctors who could serve in this role. Dr. Seidenberg will attend our practices and Dr. Lynch will be here on game day. From a coverage standpoint, we have exactly the same level of medical care as we had previously. The same surgeons as last year are available to players who would need that level of attention. Nothing about our level or quality of athlete care has changed. These young men mean a great deal to me and our staff. They give their all to Penn State. I will always recommend what I feel is best for our student-athletes in every area of the football program.”
