HICKORY — Frye Regional Medical Center, a Duke LifePoint hospital, and Catawba Valley Community College announced Aug. 13, 2026, a partnership to provide Red Hawk student-athletes with on-campus athletic training and coordinated orthopedic and sports-medicine care.
As the Official Healthcare Provider for the Red Hawks, Frye Regional will provide on-site athletic training through its Sports Medicine program. FryeCare Orthopedics and Neurosurgery will provide specialized orthopedic and sports-medicine care. Sports-medicine specialist Dr. Michael Simhachalam will serve as team physician, joined by Dr. Reid Russell, team orthopedic surgeon. The college said they will evaluate, treat, and plan rehabilitation for sports-related injuries and work with Frye Regional’s athletic trainer when a physician evaluation is needed.
Frye Regional Chief Executive Officer Lindy White and CVCC President Dr. Garrett Hinshaw announced the partnership at a campus event.
“Student-athletes perform at their best when they have access to exceptional health care close to where they train and compete,” White said. “This partnership allows us to provide expert athletic training and orthopedic care while investing in the health, safety and long-term success of Red Hawk student-athletes.”
“At CVCC, we’re committed to creating an environment where students have every opportunity to succeed,” Hinshaw said. “We are grateful to partner with Frye Regional Medical Center in supporting our Red Hawk student-athletes. Together, we’re strengthening the support system that allows our students to compete with confidence, achieve their academic goals, and prepare for success long after graduation.”
A certified athletic trainer with Frye Regional’s Sports Medicine program will be the primary on-campus health-care resource, present at practices and competitions for injury prevention, immediate evaluation, emergency response, rehabilitation support, and specialty-care coordination.
“Athletic trainers are often the first point of care for injured athletes,” Simhachalam said. “They build trusted relationships with student-athletes and play a critical role in injury prevention, evaluation and recovery. Working closely with physicians, they help identify concerns early, coordinate treatment and support athletes throughout recovery and guide a safe return to competition.”
A photo caption on the college page lists, left to right, Simhachalam; Nick Seiler, MA, LAT, ATC, regional manager of Sports Medicine & Community Outreach, and White, both of Frye Regional; and Hinshaw, Nicholas Schroeder, executive director of Student Life & Athletics, and Tisha England, athletic director, all of CVCC.
The Aug. 13 notice does not list a contract dollar amount or a start date for on-campus coverage beyond the announcement.
Official release from Catawba Valley Community College, Aug. 13, 2026. https://cvcc.edu/frye-cvcc-partnership/
