CHARLESTON, Ill. - Sarah Bush Lincoln has extended its partnership with Eastern Illinois University as both the healthcare provider for EIU student-athletes and a corporate partner.
"We are excited to be able to continue our long-standing relationship with Sarah Bush Lincoln," EIU Athletic Director Tom Michael said. "Not only will this partnership continue to provide sports medicine care and support for our student-athletes, but it will also enhance the other types of medical coverage we can provide to current and future Panthers."
"I want to thank the President and CEO Kim Uphoff and Sarah Bush Lincoln Board of Directors for extending our partnership," Michael added. "This partnership demonstrates Sarah Bush Lincoln's belief in what we are doing as a University and an Athletic Department. We are proud to call SBL an EIU Athletics Partner."
The partnership includes exclusivity for orthopedic care, physical therapy and healthcare coverage for EIU student-athletes as well as continued sponsorship rights and other benefits. The Sarah Bush Lincoln logo will continue to adorn the playing surface at O'Brien Field and Sarah Bush Lincoln will continue its title sponsorship of the EIU Basketball C.A.R.E. games. In the last seven years, the EIU C.A.R.E games garnered more than $75,000 for the SBL Regional Cancer Center to help people fighting cancer.
Sarah Bush Lincoln will be able to use EIU Athletics for promotional purposes, including serving as the Official Health Care Provider of EIU Athletics. It will have a significant presence on EIU radio broadcasts, signage in the department's athletic training facilities, digital website exposure on EIUPanthers.com and serve as the host site for the annual Sarah Bush Lincoln Races for All Paces event each spring.
Sarah Bush Lincoln President and CEO Kim Uphoff explained that supporting its community is an important part of the hospital's mission. "EIU and its students are an integral part of our community and we're pleased to provide our medical expertise to help keep student-athletes healthy. We look forward to our continued relationship."
Sarah Bush Lincoln is a 150-bed, not-for-profit, regional hospital centrally located in East Central Illinois' Coles County, and offers a full range of healthcare services including orthopedics, cardiology, oncology, robotic surgery, and obstetrics and many other specialties. It is the recipient of the 2024 Women's Choice Award for Orthopedics, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Cardiology services and Patient Experience.
Eastern Illinois competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference with affiliate membership in The Summit League and Horizon League.
