GALLIPOLIS — An athlete herself, chiropractic and sports injury physician Dr. Kelly Roush enjoys not only attending to the health needs of area high school sporting teams, but the competitive spirit of the players who come through Holzer Clinic’s sports medicine program.

Sharing that enthusiasm and giving back to the athletes and coaches who utilize the program is a goal she meets each year at the start of fall athletic season with her “Get Back in Action” luncheon and recognition ceremony, held Saturday at the clinic’s Sycamore Branch in Gallipolis.

“Our job is to provide a safe environment for the kids,” Roush said. “We try to be efficient and get things done.”

To that end, and in addition to the services offered through sports medicine, clinics for athletes are held by Roush at the Sycamore Branch on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until noon. She also offers a night clinic at Meigs High School, where she is the team physician, on Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m., and at Sycamore on Thursdays from 1 to 7 p.m. Roush is also team physician for the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College and Will Power Tumbling.

Clinics for athletes at Rio Grande are available at Sycamore on Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m., and at 6:30 a.m. four days a week.

Roush introduced her staff at the luncheon, which includes Alicia Simpkins, Adam Koch, Shaumber Reed, Regina Hall, Amy McGuire and Heather Clifford. Athletic trainers who were recognized included Lori Ward, Jason Crawford, Richard Tibbits and Tara Gerlach.

Holzer Clinic provides stipends for sports medicine coverage at 13 area schools, with team physicians designated for 10 of those schools. Athletic trainers from Ohio University recognized were Bethany Stafford, Kathleen Lopez, Kimberly Sovey, Greta Forgeng, Brinkman Murray, Stephanie Curfman, Felicia Dorsey, Kristine Ensign and Josh Long.

New to the sports medicine staff are Dr. Jeffrey Shook, podiatrist and lower extremity specialist, and Dr. Bruce Haupt, orthopedist. They join Drs. Glenn Fisher, Michael Canaday, David Blevins, Stephen Popper, Wilma Mansfield, Nicholas Economides, Jackie Heiser, Aaron Ramsey, Travis Neely, Lance Broy and Vivien Newbold.

Roush also recognized 21 area coaches who have been in the profession for 20 or more years: Carl Wolfe, Sharon Vannoy, Jim Osborne, Matt Bokovitz, Howie Caldwell, Rick Ash, Gene Layton, Mike Jenkins, Bob Willey, Dave Barr, Ed Cromley, Garry Adkins, Rick Howell, James Niday, Pam Douthitt, Jack James, Donald Saunders, Harvey Brown, Brack Houchens, Tom Cullen and Joe Johnson.

“Sometimes we don’t realize the impact you have on the lives of these kids,” Roush said. “I am honored to be with these coaches.”