Alex Diamond, DO, MPH, professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Pediatrics and Neurological Surgery at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, was recently named the chair of the National Federation of State High School (NFHS) Associations Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.
His duties will begin immediately as he replaces the former chair, Greg Elkins, MD, who died in March.
NFHS is the national leader and advocate for high school athletics and fine and performing arts programs. It provides playing rules for high school sports and provides guidance on many national issues.
“I’m incredibly honored to be assuming this role and grateful to the NFHS and its leadership for this opportunity to serve their 51-member state associations and the nearly 12 million students participating in high school sports and activity programs,” said Diamond. “I look forward to working with the other talented members of the committee to provide information, vision, guidance and best practices around current medical and safety issues and conditions, both physical and mental, to all entrusted in our care across the country.”
A longtime advocate for safety in youth sports, Diamond is the director of the Youth Sports Health Center at Monroe Carell. In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health, Diamond created and serves as the director of Tennessee Safe Stars Initiative, the first youth sports safety rating system in the country.
He is a consultant for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association and a member of the Commissioner’s Council for Injury Prevention for the state of Tennessee. Recognized as the Pediatrician of the Year in 2019 by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, he is a staunch community advocate and has testified multiple times before the Tennessee Legislature on key sports medicine issues affecting youth, successfully resulting in several bills being signed into law.
“I genuinely care about our kids and teens and want to continue to help produce and support initiatives and platforms that create as safe and healthy an environment for sports programs as possible,” he said. “To be an effective advocate, it’s important to engage all stakeholders and collaboratively provide guidance on best practices to ensure the health and safety of student athletes across the nation.”
As the newly appointed NFHS chair, Diamond hopes to bring awareness to and increase the public health value of school-based sports and the performing arts.
“I believe that positive and risk-minimized participation in these activities can serve as a critical intervention to some of the mental and physical health conditions most faced by our young people today,” he said.
With more than 50 publications, Diamond’s research focuses on injury prevention and the promotion of health and safety in youth sports.
He is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed a residency in pediatrics at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, and received both his fellowship training in primary care sports medicine and his Master of Public Health at Vanderbilt University. He serves as a team physician for several high schools, Vanderbilt University, and the Nashville Predators.
