ATHENS, Ga. --- Dr. Ron Elliott, longtime team physician for the UGA Athletic Association, was recently named the Southeastern Conference Team Physician of the Year. The award is voted on by the sports medicine staffs of the league's member institutions.

"Ron has done a great job with us over the years," said Ron Courson, Director of Sports Medicine for the UGA Athletic Association. "He always puts the health and welfare of our student-athletes first, and he also serves as the medical director for our undergraduate athletic training program. This honor is well deserved."

Dr. Elliott has been a member of the staff at the University Health Center since 1985. A native of Macon, he received his BS degree from Georgia Tech, his medical degree from Medical College of Georgia and completed his Family Medicine residency in the Greenville (S.C.) Hospital system where he served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Elliott currently serves as Lead Physician for the Dr. John "Bud" Robinson Sports Medicine Clinic and has served as Team Physician for the UGA Athletic Association since 1988.

Dr. Elliott is a member of the American Academy of Family Practice, the Georgia Academy of Family Practice and the American College of Sports Medicine. In addition, he is past chairman of the Georgia Academy Sports Medicine Committee, a charter member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and was among the first primary care physicians to receive his National Certification in Sports Medicine.

Dj Orthopedics sponsors the SEC Team Physician of the Year award in conjunction with the Southern Orthopedic Association and will grant a $1000 award in Dr. Elliott‚s name to the University of Georgia Athletic Training Education Program to be used for student athletic trainer scholarship or education.