Indiana University Athletics announced the loss of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andy Hipskind, who passed away Saturday after a long battle with cancer.
Hipskind was an integral part of IU Athletics’ medical team since joining the staff in 2003 as the Director of Sports Medicine and the football team’s physician. Since 2014, he served as the Senior Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine and Sports Performance as well as IU Athletics’ first-ever Chief Medical Officer.
His contributions were never more apparent than during the last 18 months, when he served as a member of the IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group as well as the COVID-19 Operations Team that led the department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Andy dedicated himself to serving our student-athletes and has been the absolute best in his profession,” said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson in a release by the school. “He helped our students grow, develop, recover, pursue and fulfill their dreams. But in addition to all that he did on behalf of our student-athletes, he’s also been a trusted colleague, a tremendous leader, and a wonderful friend to so many in our department, university, and Bloomington communities. He will be deeply and dearly missed.”
A Bloomington native, Hipskind’s relationship with IU Athletics began when he was a student-athlete for IU’s cross country and track and field programs, where he competed for legendary IU Coach Sam Bell. He graduated from IU in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, and earned his M.D. from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1999.
IU Athletics recently honored him for his enormous contributions by renaming the IU Athletics Chief Medical Officer Physician’s Office in his honor. The Dr. Andy S. Hipskind Chief Medical Officer Physician’s Office is located in the Dr. Lawrence D. Rink Center for Sports Medicine and Technology in the IU Athletics Excellence Academy.
Hipskind was 48 years old.
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