Southwest Health in Platteville will celebrate its recent expansion — including its new Orthopedic Institute and Women’s Center as well as The Edge, a new sports performance facility — with a special Grand Opening Celebration Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon.
The event at 1400 East Side Road is free and open to everyone and will feature a special appearance by the Green Bay Packers’ all time leading rusher, Ahman Green. Fans may get a free autograph and a photo with the four-time Pro Bowl Packer legend.
“We are very proud to offer our communities exceptional new physicians and services,” said Southwest Health CEO Dan Rohrbach. “The experts who lead these new programs are true champions in their respective specialties, and that’s why Ahman Green is joining us. He is here to help us recognize the high level of athletic performance training that The Edge will bring our area. And as a record-setting professional who’s performed at the highest levels in the NFL, Ahman also helps us celebrate the true champion caliber quality of the physicians and services we’re offering at Southwest Health.”
Home-grown and Harvard-trained orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Joshua Lindsey, M.D., heads the Orthopedic Institute, while former UW Hospitals obstetrics and gynecology specialist Kim Christopher Mackey, M.D., OB/GYN, directs the new Women’s Center. Athletic trainer Brian Regan, MS, ATC. LAT, will lead The Edge sports performance center.
Southwest Health has completed two major portions of their 20,000 square foot addition housing largely new medical clinic spaces and a larger, enhanced Rehabilitation Department. Lindsey and his team began seeing patients in the new Orthopedic Institute Aug. 11. The institute provides general orthopedic care, joint pain solutions, including advanced knee and hip and other joint surgeries as well as comprehensive sports medicine care and physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation services.
Just three weeks later, Mackey and his team moved into the new Women’s Center at Southwest Health as did Southwest Health’s Specialty Clinic staff which includes visiting physician specialists in cardiology, gastroenterology, pediatric cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery, pediatric neurology, pain management, otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat), and Urology.
“These advances and the many others we have made recently are the direct result of tremendous dedication on the part of our 430-plus employees as well as exceptional vision and planning by our volunteer Board of Directors,” said Rohrbach. “It’s a very rewarding experience to work with a championship caliber team like we have at Southwest Health. This Grand Opening is all about letting the people of our region know about the achievements our team has made for the benefit of all our area communities.”
Green played eight seasons with the Packers and a total of 12 in the NFL. He also played two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and two with the Houston Texans. While a Packer, he was selected to the Pro Bowl four consecutive seasons from 2001 through 2004. From the time he joined the Packers in 2000 through the end of the 2004 season, no NFL player gained more total yards than Ahman Green (9,036) or more rushing yards (6,848). In 2003 he set the Green Bay Packer franchise single season rushing record by running for an astounding 1,883 yards. On Nov. 8, 2009, after returning to the Packers from his stint with the Texans, Green broke Jim Taylor’s record to become the all time leading rusher in Green Bay Packer history.
Green was a standout running back for the Nebraska Cornhuskers as well as a track and field champion. He still holds the 10th fastest ever 100 meter dash in the State of Nebraska at 10.61 seconds. Green is a co-owner of the Green Bay Blizzard indoor football team.
Green will speak briefly at Southwest Health at 10 a.m. before touring the new facilities, after which he will be available to fans for photos and autographs. Additional signed memorabilia will also be available for purchase.
Grand opening visitors will also meet Mackey and Lindsey and athletic trainer Regan. Southwest Health staff will provide tours of new spaces and discuss details of all the new services provided. As part of the grand opening celebration, Southwest Health will also offer visitors light brunch fare for free, giveaways, and door prize drawings.
