Northeast College of Health Sciences and Syracuse University have formed a new partnership that will allow Northeast College massage students to provide massage therapy services to Syracuse University’s NCAA Division I student-athletes.
Through the partnership, a press release noted, advanced massage therapy students from Northeast will work directly with Syracuse University’s sports medicine team, supporting athlete health, recovery and performance under the supervision of licensed clinicians. The experience offers future healthcare professionals a unique, hands-on opportunity to apply their clinical skills in a high-performance sports environment.
Innovative partnership in collegiate sports care
“These kinds of partnerships do exist, but this will be a truly unique opportunity for Northeast and Syracuse University,” said Massage Therapy Adjunct Instructor Kyle Hierholzer, who will serve as Northeast’s onsite massage therapy faculty member for the partnership. “Our massage therapy students will gain immersive, real-world experience treating Division I athletes while integrating with Syracuse’s sports medicine department.”
Hierholzer noted that Syracuse University has previously worked with independent practitioners to provide massage services for its football and basketball teams. However, this collaboration marks the first time the university has partnered at this level with another higher education institution to deliver care across multiple sports programs.
“Syracuse’s student-athletes will benefit from additional recovery and self-care resources while working alongside their existing trainers and physical therapists,” Hierholzer said. “Meanwhile, Northeast students will gain invaluable experience supporting rehabilitation, maintenance and performance—on recovery days or possibly onsite at competitions.”
Powerfully prepared to provide exceptional care
Northeast College massage therapy students give back through hands-on community outreach, partnering with organizations such as Clear Path for Veterans and supporting athletes at events, such as the Mountain Goat Run in Syracuse.
To participate, Northeast College massage therapy students must complete both their sports massage and clinical orthopedic massage therapy courses and demonstrate exceptional professionalism and patient care in the classroom and clinic.
Northeast College has a long-standing reputation for excellence in sports chiropractic, and its massage therapy program has quickly risen to rank number one in the Northeast and number 6 in the US, according to massage-colleges.com.
A collaboration built on shared excellence
Northeast has a long tradition of partnering with community sporting events across the Finger Lakes and Rochester, New York, where chiropractic students gain hands-on experience that prepares them to graduate ready to support athletes and sports teams.
“This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration,” said Northeast College Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Anne Killen. “Our students are gaining invaluable real-world experience while Syracuse University athletes benefit from dedicated, evidence-informed care. Both institutions share the same discipline, dedication and drive for excellence. We’re proud to see this partnership enhance both the educational and athletic experiences of everyone involved.”
For more information, visit northeastcollege.edu.
About Northeast College of Health Sciences
For more than a century, Northeast College of Health Sciences has been dedicated to training healthcare’s future leaders. At Northeast, health and wellness are our central focus, driving everything we do. The College’s graduate and undergraduate academic programs in areas such as chiropractic, physician assistant studies, nutrition, human anatomy instruction, massage therapy, and the imaging sciences are rooted in Northeast’s mission and commitment to academic excellence, leadership and professional best practices. From our 286-acre main campus in New York’s Finger Lakes region and our state-of-the-art branch campus on Long Island to our renowned faculty of expert practitioners, Northeast College provides a transformative educational experience, 100% dedicated to health sciences.
