University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Performance & Development Hosts Women’s Health Symposium
09/26/2023 | Spider Performance
RICHMOND, Va. – Spider Performance & Development hosted a Women's Health Symposium for University of Richmond female student-athletes Friday, September 22, inviting Dr. Anna Bauer, MD, FACOG of Commonwealth OBGYN at Henrico Doctor's Hospital to speak at Spider Hall.
As part of the year's programing, SPD is focusing on the importance of whole-body Women's Health education for female student-athletes. Dr. Bauer's discussion helped to open a dialogue of what is going on their bodies and how it effects not only their day-to-day lives, but their mental health and performance on the field or court.
"One of my greatest passions is educating my patients so that they can make informed decisions that are right for them, not just what someone else is telling them to do," said Dr. Bauer. "I think it is so important for us to understand ourselves, to know what is normal or abnormal, what risks there may be in certain situations, and what options are out there to help with any issues that arise."
"I hope the students felt empowered to advocate for themselves based on what they may have learned," Dr. Bauer continued.
"We felt it was important to have a female doctor that our female student-athletes were comfortable with discussing their personal health," said Sara Spencer, MS, LAT, ATC, one of the UR athletic trainers.
Dr. Bauer earned her doctorate at the Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, followed by a residency and internship in obstetrics and gynecology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to medical school, Dr. Bauer earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biological Sciences, graduating with honors from the College of Charleston.
Spider Performance & Development is a performance optimization and student-athlete development model that integrates student-athlete leadership and development, academic services, strength and conditioning and performance, career and alumni engagement, diversity and inclusion, sport science and analytics, mental health and well-being, and sports medicine, to build champion leaders for life.
As part of the year's programing, SPD is focusing on the importance of whole-body Women's Health education for female student-athletes. Dr. Bauer's discussion helped to open a dialogue of what is going on their bodies and how it effects not only their day-to-day lives, but their mental health and performance on the field or court.
"One of my greatest passions is educating my patients so that they can make informed decisions that are right for them, not just what someone else is telling them to do," said Dr. Bauer. "I think it is so important for us to understand ourselves, to know what is normal or abnormal, what risks there may be in certain situations, and what options are out there to help with any issues that arise."
"I hope the students felt empowered to advocate for themselves based on what they may have learned," Dr. Bauer continued.
"We felt it was important to have a female doctor that our female student-athletes were comfortable with discussing their personal health," said Sara Spencer, MS, LAT, ATC, one of the UR athletic trainers.
Dr. Bauer earned her doctorate at the Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, followed by a residency and internship in obstetrics and gynecology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to medical school, Dr. Bauer earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biological Sciences, graduating with honors from the College of Charleston.
Spider Performance & Development is a performance optimization and student-athlete development model that integrates student-athlete leadership and development, academic services, strength and conditioning and performance, career and alumni engagement, diversity and inclusion, sport science and analytics, mental health and well-being, and sports medicine, to build champion leaders for life.
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