by Press Release|10.11.2022|1:05pm
Dr. Peter Hester (Lexington Clinic Photo)
Dr. Peter Hester, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing successful sports medicine and presently practicing astatine The Lexington Clinic successful Lexington, Kentucky, has been named National Medical Director for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). As National Medical Director, Hester volition absorption connected jockey wellness and welfare, moving to mitigate the hazard of injury, including concussion, arsenic good arsenic improving wellness attraction services to jockeys and sourcing affordable aesculapian security for jockeys and their families.
“I person had the large privilege of moving with galore jockeys and workout riders successful my signifier arsenic they retrieve from injuries and surgery,” said Hester. “I person tremendous respect for the athleticism that their occupation requires and I americium acquainted with the risks associated with this profession. It is an implicit grant to person the accidental to enactment with HISA arsenic we instrumentality caller policies to support and service these courageous athletes.”
Hester has been serving connected HISA's Racetrack Safety Standing Committee arsenic an autarkic member, but volition resign from his spot connected the Committee arsenic helium begins his caller role. Going forward, Hester volition proceed to signifier arsenic an orthopedic surgeon astatine The Lexington Clinic portion serving arsenic HISA's National Medical Director opening October 28, 2022.
Hester completed his undergraduate studies astatine the University of Pennsylvania earlier attending aesculapian schoolhouse and completing his orthopedic country residency astatine the University of Kentucky. He pursued a Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery Fellowship astatine The Hughston Clinic and has been an orthopedic surgeon astatine The Lexington Clinic since 2002.
“Prior to HISA, the Thoroughbred racing manufacture lacked cohesive information standards for riders, meaning their wellness protocols and minimum information standards varied importantly from 1 authorities racing jurisdiction to another,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “By mounting minimum information standards and appointing a National Medical Director, HISA is moving to marque the athletics safer each time for each participants careless of the level astatine which they compete. This is not a 1 size fits each process, and we are committed to moving with each way individually arsenic we navigate the modulation toward a much centralized attack unneurotic arsenic an industry. I person nary uncertainty that Dr. Hester is going to beryllium an unthinkable plus and advocator for jockeys and workout riders crossed the country.”
Hester's roots successful racing tally deep. He grew up successful Garden City, New York, and his passionateness for the athletics of Thoroughbred racing developed portion moving astatine Belmont Racetrack for Dr. William O. Reed, a renowned Equine Veterinary Surgeon. During aesculapian school, Hester besides worked arsenic a nighttime watchman and workplace manus astatine Ballindaggin Farm.
In his caller role, Hester volition further HISA's committedness to protecting jockey information and payment successful coordination with idiosyncratic tracks' aesculapian directors and different taxable substance experts. Under HISA, each rider is required to person their aesculapian accusation readily disposable astatine each times successful lawsuit of an mishap and indispensable acquisition yearly carnal examinations and baseline concussion tests to show they are acceptable to ride. HISA has besides implemented azygous standards for concussion and return-to-ride protocols, successful summation to requiring racetracks to supply security if authorities statutes bash not let jockeys to person entree to workers compensation. HISA volition proceed to physique connected and amended these protocols, including by listening to and moving straight with jockeys and others connected the ground.
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