Dr. Joe Congeni
What’s among the most important life skills learned by playing sports? Teamwork. And Dr. Joseph Congeni can attest to it. He used teamwork to help to build the Akron Children’s Sports Medicine department from the ground up, launch a pediatric primary care sports medicine fellowship and provide decades of collaborative care for athletes. As he cuts back on his Sports Medicine responsibilities after nearly 38 years, he’s taking that team approach to a new role with the Akron Children’s Foundation.
“As a basketball point guard, I found I had a gift of bringing people together,” Dr. Congeni said. “That focus on teamwork seemed to be a good formula as I started my medical career, and it’s been the most gratifying aspect of my professional life.”
The early days
When Dr. Congeni joined Akron Children’s in 1988, the Sports Medicine department didn’t exist. Some high schools had orthopedic or family medicine doctors for game-day injury care, while most injured athletes went to their primary care doctor or the ER. “Colleagues in Pediatrics and Orthopedics, along with former Akron Children’s CEO Bill Considine, and I talked about creating a primary care sports medicine department,” Dr. Congeni shared. “I love sports and teamwork – so primary care sports medicine seemed like a natural fit for me. Bill gave us the green light and one year to make it happen.”
In those early days, the Sports Medicine staff consisted of Dr. Congeni, an athletic trainer, physical therapist and secretary. “Athletic Trainer Aaron Galpert and I would hang out in the Akron Children’s ER on Friday nights and Saturday mornings,” Dr. Congeni said. “We looked for injured athletes we could bring to Sports Medicine. The concept was new, as ours was the first sports medicine program of its kind in the country.”
In 2009, Dr. Congeni appeared on the Today Show with anchors Ann Curry and Tiki Barber.
Today’s Sports Medicine program
Akron Children’s Sports Medicine now has 11 providers. Care is available on the Akron and Boardman campuses, The University of Akron campus and five Akron Children’s regional locations. Dr. Congeni is proud of the nearly 50 Sports Medicine fellows – with the best of the best doctors staying to work at Akron Children’s.
Another aspect that has helped Akron Children’s Sports Medicine soar is the teamwork with Orthopedics and Sports Rehabilitation. The three departments are now part of the Akron Children’s Sports Health division. “We all know how important it is for injured athletes to be seen quickly, and we work together to make that happen,” Dr. Congeni said. “We have experts in many different treatment techniques, plus newer services including sports psychology and sports nutrition. Whatever need an athlete has, we can help.”
The evolution of concussion care
Looking back on his career, Dr. Congeni calls concussion care the feather in Sports Medicine’s cap. “Concussions kind of fell in our lap, and we said we’d figure out the problem,” he recalled. “We’ve dedicated significant resources to research, including the concussion studies using pro2cool, and a lot of trial and error. We know that receiving prompt medical care and getting ample rest are essential elements of recovery. Concussions aren’t completely solved yet, but we’ve come a long way in educating athletes, parents and coaches about concussions. We made great strides over the past decade in helping to save contact sports.”
On the Ohio State University football field, Dr. Congeni and his team celebrate the Akron Hoban state football championship.
A covenant, not a contract
For Dr. Congeni, practicing medicine is much more than a job. “What’s so special to me about medicine is that it’s not just a contract, getting paid a certain amount of money to do a certain job,” he explained. “It’s a covenant. We truly care about our athletes and will do whatever it takes to help them find answers.”
Although Dr. Congeni is a fan of all sports and athletes of all ages, dancers and gymnasts hold a special place in his heart. “Some people don’t think of dancers as athletes, but they sure are,” he said. “If you learn to ‘talk the talk’ of a gymnast or dancer, you’ll earn their trust. We have some patients who drive more than an hour each way for care because we make them feel comfortable.”
Dr. Derrick Eddy recently succeeded Dr. Congeni as director of Akron Children’s Sports Medicine. Dr. Congeni has been the Archbishop Hoban High School team physician since 1988, a role he recently turned over to Dr. Brian Reilly.
Graduates of the Akron Children’s Sports Medicine fellowship program include (left to right): Drs. Derrick Eddy, Julie Kerr, Matt Kornswiet, Brian Reilly and Michelle Burke.
Foundation and family
Dr. Congeni carried his teamwork-focused mindset to the Akron Children’s Foundation. “I started serving as medical liaison for the Foundation earlier this year, and my role has expanded as I transition out of Sports Medicine responsibilities,” he said, “Continuing to use the network in schools and the community, I help to increase visibility of Akron Children’s and attract potential donors/teammates. I go out with the Foundation team when they meet with potential donors, and I share my perspective from the medical side. Supporting the Foundation is a great way for me to give back to Akron Children’s.”
Dr. Congeni and his devoted wife, Karen, enjoy vacationing with their kids and grandkids.
Dr. Congeni has not only been a role model to colleagues, medical students and patients – but his own family. “I’m so blessed by my kids. All six are married and in the medical field. Three of the six spouses are in the medical field, too,” he shared. “I don’t want to walk away from Akron Children’s completely yet. But I am looking forward to spending more time with my family, including my eight grandkids. They’re the best team I’ve been a part of, and I’m unbelievably blessed.”
