For the third straight year, Emory Healthcare has been named the official health care provider for the Tour de Georgia. Each year world-class athletes descend on Georgia for one of the world’s premier cycling events, and this year they will again be joined by Emory’s world-class physicians and nurses providing health care to the participants.

The 2007 Tour de Georgia, which will run from April 16 through April 22, will take cyclists and spectators through 12 host cities across Georgia and Tennessee. The race will cover more than 600 miles through various terrains and altitudes, and in weather ranging from hot and sunny to cool and rainy.

The services provided by Emory Healthcare will ensure that the racers will have the opportunity to participate in the premier annual North American professional cycling stage race, and that they will have the best physical condition support.

The Emory team will provide staffing and supplies for all medical needs, including the coordination of local EMS agencies and medical facilities at all host cities along the route.
“This is an epic race filled with world-class athletes. We bring the pooled world-class resources and talent of Emory Healthcare out to the race course. It is our pleasure to play a part in this premier international event that highlights Georgia and the Georgia Cancer Coalition,” says Ian Greenwald M.D. FACEP, assistant professor of emergency medicine in the Emory University School of Medicine.

Medical staff members will wear special apparel with Emory branding to inform cyclists and spectators of the medical support available when needed. Emory will also have a medical “suite” at each host city hotel for cyclists to receive special medical attention during non-racing hours. Emory Healthcare, through its helicopter flight program (Emory Flight), will also coordinate air medical responses for emergency health situations.

Athletes of this caliber require specialized care that is a major focus of our everyday operations at the Emory Sports Medicine Center. For the week of the Tour, we just happen to take our show on the road,” says Forest Pecha, clinical coordinator and director of athletic training services.

Medical Team Leaders:
• Ian Greenwald MD, FACEP - Dr. Greenwald is a board-certified emergency physician practicing in Atlanta, Georgia. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Greenwald is the Director of Emory University Hospital’s Clinical Decision Unit and the Assistant Director of the hospital’s Emergency Department. He also serves as the medical director of Rural Metro Ambulance/North Georgia Operations and is a faculty member in Emory’s Section of Pre-Hospital and Disaster Medicine.

Dr. Greenwald has been a commissioned officer in the United States Army since 1999.
He has served as an Emergency Physician in both forward and rear positions during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, and continues to serve as reservist through the 3297th US Army Hospital out of Atlanta. Dr. Greenwald will be the medical coordinator for the 2007 Tour de Georgia.

• Forrest Pecha MS, ATC, CSCS, OTC - Pecha is director of Athletic Training Services and clinical coordinator for the Emory Sports Medicine Clinic. A certified athletic trainer (ATC), Pecha not only helps prevent injuries from happening during physical activity, he helps rehabilitate athletes after injuries occur.

After earning his Master’s degree and working at the Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine Clinic, in Vail, Colorado,

Pecha was named the head ATC for the U.S. Men’s Alpine Ski Team, including the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a member of the medical team for the 2007 Tour de Georgia.
Emory Healthcare is the clinical arm of the Emory University Woodruff Health Sciences Center.

Emory Healthcare has revenues of $1.5 billion and approximately 10,000 employees. Since 1905, Emory has been at the forefront of medicine, putting cutting-edge interventional research and technology into lifesaving action.

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