Essentia Health, Fosston Public Schools extend sports medicine contract

Essentia Health and Fosston Public Schools are extending their sports medicine contract. The new, 10-year agreement builds on a successful partnership and marks a significant investment in the health and well-being of students in the community. Essentia Health and Fosston Public Schools have had a similar agreement in place for the past 12 years.

The new contract, approved by the Fosston School Board on Monday, July 21, has a value of more than $1 million to the district and ensures Essentia will remain the sole provider of sports medicine services for student-athletes at Fosston High School. In addition to a $100,000 sponsorship, Essentia will continue to provide a full-time athletic trainer. Jennifer Francis has been Essentia’s athletic trainer in Fosston since 2018.

“This has been an impactful relationship for Essentia and Fosston student-athletes,” said Mike Curtis, administrator at Essentia Health–Fosston. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity to deepen our roots here and continue supporting talented students who work so hard at what they do. This is another example of Essentia’s long-term commitment to Fosston and the people in this community that we’re honored to serve.”

In addition to providing care before, during and after practices and games, Essentia’s athletic trainers may also:

• Educate and advise athletes on injury prevention.
• Conduct baseline testing and post-injury concussion testing.
• Evaluate athletes for injuries and concussions.
• Provide preventive care.
• Coordinate care for student-athletes.
• Provide support and guidance in the weight room.

"It is with a great deal of excitement that we enter into this new 10-year relationship with Essentia Health,” said Todd Selk, superintendent of Fosston Public Schools. “This agreement ensures that our student-athletes will continue to have quality care as they participate in our athletic programs. We publicly say thank you to Essentia Health for investing their resources into our school district, so that we in turn can offer resources to our student-athletes, coaches and athletic programs.”

Added Ryan Hanlon, director of athletics at Fosston High School: “We have been so fortunate to have Essentia Health Sports Medicine working with our student-athletes for over a decade now. With this exciting new agreement, this partnership will continue for many years to come. Essentia Health has been instrumental in ensuring our student-athletes’ health and safety, and their financial support for our department through the years has been unmatched. We want to thank Essentia Health for investing in the future of our student-athletes and the vision of our athletic department.”

Essentia’s sports medicine team is proud to maintain partnerships with about 40 school and community organizations, or 250 teams, serving about 25,000 students across our service area.