FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence
Björn Engström, Magnus Forssblad, Eva Broström, Suzanne Werner,
Karin Henriksson-Larsén, Michel D´Hooghe, Lars Peterson
The new FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence is a collaboration of the Stockholm Sports Trauma Research Center(CIFU), Karolinska Institutet), the Capio Artro Clinic, the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), the Heart Clinic at Sophiahemmet and Motor Function Laboratory at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital.
About 100 invited guests attended the inauguration where Michael Santoft, Secretary General of the Swedish Football Association, was in attendance as well as Prof. Lars Peterson, the longest standing FIFA Medical Committee member and world-renowned knee surgeon.
Dr Michel D'Hooghe briefly elaborated on the objectives and aims of the worldwide network of centres. The concept of the FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence is aimed at improvement of the football medical care for players at all levels both in the short and long term by focusing on prevention and education as well as on research. The Stockholm centre is the first in Sweden and one of now 22 in the world who are considered by FIFA to possess the required medical expertise with regard to clinical experience, research and education.
"We are certainly proud and pleased to receive this nomination, and it encourages us to continue the development in the field of football medicine," said Professor Suzanne Werner, director at CIFU.
"Our partnership with sport in general and especially in terms of football is now being strengthened even more through this," explains Magnus Forssblad who is CEO and orthopedic surgeon at Capio Artro Clinic. "Football is the most popular sport but also accounts for the largest part of our sports injuries".
"We hope that the campus cooperation with our neighbors at CIFU and Capio Artro Clinic will now only even more increase in intensity. Our joint intention is that the area around Sophiahemmet. The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences and Stockholm Stadium will become a sports campus," said Karin Henriksson-Larsén, Rector of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences.
"This is a much deserved recognition for a centre that has built up at unique expertise and has gathered care, research and education all under on roof," said Micheal Santoft, Secretary General of the Swedish Football Federation.