Memorial Ortho and Sports Medicine Center to Oversee Medical Care at Orange Blossom Classic

There will be a familiar sight on the sidelines of the Orange Blossom Classic at this year’s anticipated showdown between Jackson State University and Florida A&M University – doctors will be standing by.

Memorial Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Center will have two of its elite physicians, Marvin Smith, MD, and Geden Franck, MD, serving as medical directors for FAMU’s football team during their visit in Miami Gardens for the Orange Blossom Classic. The Memorial physician team has been attending FAMUs football practices since the team arrived Thursday before the big game. Practices have been held at St. Thomas University. Dr. Smith and Dr. Franck will be on the sidelines to oversee all medical needs the players may have throughout the game.

“We are highly skilled in managing and treating all kinds of athletic injuries, and having our medical team supporting the players on the sidelines creates a safer environment for all so that the athletes can truly focus on the game,” said Dr. Marvin Smith, vice chief, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Memorial Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Program. “We have a multi-disciplinary team to serve the sports medicine community with expertise from orthopedics and surgery to sports cardiology and rehabilitation, and we are happy to serve during the game and throughout the season.”

About Memorial Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Center

Memorial Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Center is a fully-integrated, multi-disciplinary program based at Memorial Regional Hospital South consisting of specialists in orthopaedic surgery, primary care sports medicine and sports physiatry, sports cardiology, and sports medicine physical therapy. The program provides injury care, treatment for chronic musculoskeletal conditions, and routine checkups that include cardiac screening for athletes, performing artists, first responders, and other active adults. Specialists provide nonsurgical as well as advanced surgical care for injuries and conditions affecting bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The program also offers health and wellness care, including injury prevention strategies. To learn more about Broward County’s only comprehensive adult sports medicine program and the care provided by board-certified, fellowship-trained doctors, or to schedule an appointment, call 954-265-8326.

About the Orange Blossom Classic

Founded in 1933 by the son of Florida A&M University’s president, J.R.E. Lee Jr., the Orange Blossom Classic quickly became the post-season’s must-see game. The inaugural Orange Blossom Classic welcomed 2,000 fans to the “blacks-only” ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida, where FAMU beat Howard 9-0 and successfully established the foundation of HBCU classics. From 1933 -1978, the Orange Blossom Classic reigned supreme as the post-season’s premier HBCU classic event. After a 43-year hiatus, the Orange Blossom Classic made its return to Miami Gardens in 2021.