Mizzou Athletics, Missouri Orthopedic Institute, MU Health Care Form Advanced Medical Partnership to Care for Student-Athletes
2/3/2026 10:00:00 AM | General
Dr. Tiffany Bohon named Chief Medical Officer for Mizzou Athletics.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Athletics, Missouri Orthopedic Institute, and MU Health Care have announced a landmark collaboration that will significantly enhance medical care and support for Mizzou student-athletes. The unique partnership ensures that all Mizzou student-athletes have access to comprehensive, high-quality physical and mental health services.
"Student-athlete health and safety is our highest priority, and this collaboration with MU Health Care represents a massive step forward in how we support our young men and women," said Mizzou Director of Athletics Laird Veatch. "We are incredibly grateful to Dr. James Stannard for his leadership and the commitment of his team at the Missouri Orthopedic Institute for their thoughtful collaboration. We are fortunate at Mizzou to have world-class medical care literally across the street from our athletics teams, and this partnership will optimize that opportunity to benefit our student-athletes."
"This collaboration represents the best of what an academic health system can provide to its student-athletes," said Dr. James Stannard, chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and medical director of the Missouri Orthopedic Institute. "By combining the expertise of our physicians, surgeons and therapists with the daily environment of Mizzou Athletics, we are ensuring that athletes receive the most advanced and coordinated care possible. As both a doctor and a proud member of the Mizzou community, I'm excited about what this means for the future of our Tigers."
Central to the partnership is the creation of a full-time Chief Medical Officer (CMO) position embedded within Mizzou Athletics. Mizzou Athletics has named seasoned sports and family medicine physician Dr. Tiffany Bohon, a Missouri alumna and former student-athlete to this role. Dr. Bohon will lead medical services across all programs, bringing together physicians, orthopedic specialists, rehabilitation therapists and other experts to provide care for Mizzou student-athletes.
"By embedding Dr. Bohon as the full-time Chief Medical Officer within Mizzou Athletics, we are elevating the level of care available to our student-athletes and ensuring they have access to world-class medical expertise every day," Dr. Stannard added. "Mizzou teams will benefit not only from enhanced medical resources but also from care that is responsive and integrated within their daily routines."
Additionally, Dr. Clayton Nuelle will assume the role of Head Team Physician for Orthopedics. A Columbia native who, like Dr. Bohon, grew up rooting for the Tigers, Dr. Nuelle earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame and his medical doctorate from Loyola University's Stritch School of Medicine. Nuelle, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and joint restoration, returned home to complete his orthopedic surgery residency and sports medicine fellowship at the University of Missouri and has treated Mizzou student-athletes in football, soccer, swimming and diving and tennis as part of the Missouri Orthopedic Institute.
Under this new agreement, student-athletes will benefit from the following:
- Physician Support: Full-time Chief Medical Officer plus team physicians to cover all Mizzou Athletics teams.
- Orthopedic Services: Missouri Orthopedic Institute will serve as the primary provider for all orthopedic care for student-athletes.
- Student-Athlete Health Clinic: A daily clinic dedicated for Mizzou student-athletes, with drop-in and scheduled appointments staffed by MU Health Care professionals.
- Rehabilitation Services: Missouri Orthopedic Institute to support both post-surgical and ongoing rehab needs, rendering services within Mizzou Athletics Training Facilities.
Dr. Bohon brings both deep personal connection to Mizzou and extensive experience in sports medicine, making her uniquely positioned for this leadership role. She is a native of Columbia and was a four-year letterwinner for the Mizzou swimming and diving program, serving as team captain as a senior while setting multiple team records.
"I am honored to step into this role at such an important moment for Mizzou Athletics," Dr. Bohon said. "From my experience as a Mizzou student-athlete, I know firsthand the pride, intensity and challenges that come with competing and studying here. My experiences, both as an athlete and a physician, have taught me that strong medical support is essential to performance, recovery and overall well-being. This collaboration lets us build a system that supports our athletes on all fronts — on the field, in the classroom and beyond."
While completing medical school and Family Medicine residency at MU, Dr. Bohon trained under Dr. Jim Kinderknecht, a longtime Mizzou Athletics physician. She then completed a sports medicine fellowship in New York at the Hospital for Special Surgery, also with Dr. Kinderknecht, during which she worked with St. John's University, the New York Giants, and the New York Mets.
Dr. Bohon began working with the Mizzou swimming and diving teams in 2015. She has also served as a team physician for USA Swimming. In 2020, she was promoted to Mizzou Athletics' Associate Head Team Physician and began working closely with the football program.
The agreement goes into effect immediately, ensuring sustained support and continuity of care for current and future student-athletes.
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