Drs. Robert Dimeff and Kimberly Harmon Receive AMSSM Founders’ Awards

AMSSM Past Presidents Kimberly Harmon, MD, FAMSSM and Robert Dimeff, MD, FAMSSM, both received the Founders’ Award on April 17 during the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) Virtual Annual Meeting. The award is bestowed when AMSSM leadership determines that a member exemplifies the best that a sports medicine physician can be and do.

Dr. Harmon was named the 2020 Founders’ Award winner for her many contributions to AMSSM and to the field of sports medicine. In addition to serving as Past President, she is the Outgoing AMSSM Foundation President and has served as the lead author on multiple AMSSM position statements.

She is the Head Football Team Physician at the University of Washington, team physician at Bishop Blanchet High School and has been a member of the NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport committee. Dr. Harmon also serves as a consultant to the NCAA on special projects.

“She truly fits the nature of the award,” said Stephen Paul, MD, FAMSSM, a previous recipient of the Founders’ Award. “Throughout her career, she has embodied what it is to be a sports medicine physician, and a trailblazing woman in sports medicine. She has been a mentor to many and a strong advocate for evidence-based clinical research.

“Her impact on the field of sports medicine, internationally and within our organization is amazing. Congratulations.”

Dr. Dimeff was presented with the 2021 Founders’ Award during the Virtual Annual Meeting. He is a Past President of AMSSM and the AMSSM Foundation and has personally mentored and educated numerous fellows who later became fellowship directors, who then brought decades of their own mentees into the active ranks of AMSSM membership.

He currently serves as the team physician for the NHL’s Dallas Stars, consultant physician to the World Olympic Gymnastic Academy, medical director of the Dallas Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon, and member of the United States Anti-Doping Review Board. Dr. Dimeff previously served as the team physician for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers.

Dr. Dimeff has authored over 40 articles and frequently lectures at regional, national, and international medical conferences.

“To honor what Dr. Dimeff has done on so many levels, so consistently, for the benefit of AMSSM over himself or any individual seems to exemplify what the founders had in mind to move our entire profession onward under the collegial auspices of AMSSM,” said Incoming AMSSM Foundation President Susan Joy, MD, FAMSSM.

About the AMSSM Annual Meeting: The 2021 meeting features the theme “Come Together: Sports Medicine for Everyone” and brings together a line-up of speakers from around the country and around the world that will inspire, energize and educate.

About the AMSSM: AMSSM is a multi-disciplinary organization of sports medicine physicians dedicated to education, research, advocacy and the care of athletes of all ages. The majority of AMSSM members are primary care physicians with fellowship training and added qualification in sports medicine who then combine their practice of sports medicine with their primary specialty. AMSSM includes members who specialize solely in non-surgical sports medicine and serve as team physicians at the youth level, NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, MLS and NHL, as well as with Olympic and Paralympic teams. By nature of their training and experience, sports medicine physicians are ideally suited to provide comprehensive medical care for athletes, sports teams or active individuals who are simply looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle. www.amssm.org