Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Named the Official Hospital of The PGA of America

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The PGA of America announced today that Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), a world leader in orthopedics and rheumatology, has been named the Official Hospital of The PGA of America. HSS will partner with The PGA on future health and wellness initiatives, including sponsorship of the Let's Move On Course! program at the upcoming 93rd PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga.

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With this partnership, HSS will become the Official Hospital for The PGA's marquee events, including the PGA Championship, 2012 Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship and co-presenting sponsor of the PGA Winter Championships. HSS is the medical center of choice for many of New York's professional sports teams.

As sponsor of the Let's Move On Course! program, HSS will partner with The PGA of America to distribute 25,000 branded pedometers to spectators on-site, Aug. 8-14, at the 93rd PGA Championship. Let's Move On Course! encourages golf fans to walk the course, enjoy the health benefits it provides and keep track of their steps. Fitness experts advocate a daily regimen of 10,000 steps – equivalent to five miles or walking 18 holes of golf – to improve one's overall fitness and help control weight.

"The PGA of America and its member professionals could not be in better hands than with Hospital for Special Surgery," said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka. "There is a reason HSS has upheld a lofty perch among the nation's top medical institutions. It comes from a commitment to excellence in sports medicine and healthcare. We are fortunate to have HSS as a partner to support our industry's efforts to proclaim the health and wellness benefits of exercise through golf."

"We are extremely excited about our relationship with The PGA of America," said Louis A. Shapiro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hospital for Special Surgery. "This sponsorship, including the Let's Move On Course! program and initiatives with PGA of America members, allows us to highlight the shared commitment between our hospital and the PGA to advance the benefits of staying active through a healthy lifestyle."

About Hospital for Special Surgery

Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics, No. 2 in rheumatology, No. 19 in neurology, and No. 16 in geriatrics by U.S. News & World Report (2011-12), and has received Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. From 2007 to 2011, HSS has been a recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award. HSS is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College and as such all Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are faculty of the Medical College. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu.

About Let's Move On Course!

"Let's Move on Course!" reflects The PGA of America's continual support of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign, which attempts to combat childhood obesity by encouraging healthier food alternatives for children, as well as aiming to increase children's opportunities for physical activity. The Let's Move On Course! initiative began in 2010 at the PGA Championship, with the distribution of thousands of pedometers to juniors along with golfers of all ages to track their steps at the Season's Final Major.

About The PGA of America

Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

SOURCE The PGA of America