Athens, Ga. (January 18, 2024) — The Sports Medicine department at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center named senior University of Georgia Ice Dawg hockey club player Daniel Barto Athlete of the Month, an award given each month to a student athlete who has shown perseverance while dealing with an injury or illness.

During his junior year season, Barto was diagnosed with a severe labral tear in the left shoulder. He attended physical therapy sessions twice a week in an effort to strengthen the shoulder while the injury healed and continued to play with a sully brace on the shoulder. Unfortunately, the injury was too severe and Barto experienced multiple dislocations. To repair the injury, he underwent surgery with Eric Gordon, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedics and Sports Medicine practice, ending his playing season.

"Throughout this process, Daniel continuously showed how committed he is to both the sport and to his team," said Jamie Dukes, a Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedic Athletic Trainer who works with the UGA Ice Dawgs. “Whether it was trying to play in spite of his injury or the way he stepped up as a leader from the bench following his surgery, he played a big role in the team’s overall success last season.”

The labrum is a thick type of cartilage that attaches to the shoulder, keeping the ball of the joint in its socket. Injury to the labrum can be caused in a number of ways, from repetitive shoulder motions to trauma such as dislocation. Treatment for the tear is determined based on the severity and location of the tear. Some tears will heal in six to 14 weeks with physical therapy, while other injuries, like Barto’s, require surgery to repair.

"After surgery, Daniel was out for six months, which meant he was unable to compete in the SEC championship or the national championships," said Dukes. "But he participated in other ways, making sure the team’s sticks and extra equipment were in good shape for practices and games, coaching the team from the bench, and cheering them on throughout the remainder of the season.”

According to Dukes, Barto was again prescribed physical therapy following surgery, and he was extremely dedicated to the process, working hard in the clinic gym and at home. Due to his hard work, he was cleared to return to play for his senior year. He is now demonstrating the same servant leadership and loyalty on the ice.

The Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedic Sports Medicine team established the Athlete of the Month program to recognize the dedication of student athletes in the area.

"The athletes we work with are truly amazing and have to overcome so much in order to play sports again after an injury or illness," said Katie Terrell, athletic trainer and outreach coordinator for the hospital’s sports medicine program. "The award was developed to celebrate their hard work in our sports medicine rehab program. We’re excited to be able to expand our program from high school sports to include the UGA intramural and club sports teams that we provide athletic training for, such as the UGA Ice Dawgs."