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EVMS Sports Medicine volunteers at East Coast Surfing Championship

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Two men and one woman wear shorts and t-shirts while standing on the beach in front of a sign that reads EVMS sports medicine community focus world impact

As professional and amateur surfers took to the waves at the 61st annual Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championship in Virginia Beach, providers from EVMS Sports Medicine stood by — ready to assist as the primary medical team of the contest. 

“The most common injuries in surfing are lacerations (cuts) and musculoskeletal injuries like sprains and strains,” says Gregory Bentz, MD, Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at EVMS. “Luckily, head injuries are not as common in surfing as some other sports, but they do occur.” Two women and one man. Two doctors use a device to examine a patient's arm under a tall tent at the beach.

Dr. Bentz, who specializes in Sports Medicine, was joined by EVMS residents JB Navarro, DO, Family and Community Medicine; Taylor Drake, MD, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and Emily Sealy, MD, Emergency Medicine.

“Our residents are from various specialties and gained experience working together in a unique setting,” says Dr. Bentz. “They were able to get first-hand experience in the pre-event planning and covering a mass sporting event. They really played a big role and did an excellent job.” 

The team was stationed on the beach in a tent with exam tables, and medical equipment including first aid, suture material, portable ultrasound machine and medications. They were prepared to treat acute injuries and any other medical concerns that happened during the week’s events. With sports medicine providers on-site, Dr. Bentz says athletes were evaluated quickly, treated with high-quality medical care and able to get back to doing what they love.

Three men wearing dark surgical scrubs smile at the camera while standing next to a pop-up tent on the beach“This is a unique event given the athletes are out in the ocean,” says Dr. Bentz. “We were able to work alongside Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service lifeguards who were responsible for the action in the water.”

Fortunately, there were no major injuries. The team treated several lacerations from surfboards, muscular strains and sprains. They also managed bee stings and skin rashes known as sunbather eruption that occurs from contact with jellyfish and anemone particles.

If you would like more information about EVMS Sports Medicine or to make an appointment with Dr. Bentz, call 757.446.5955 or 757.397.6344.