The Specialist Sports Medicine Centre at Miranda, owned and operated by Sharks Chief Medical Officer Dr George Pitsis, was the venue when Paul Gallen dropped in to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a special fan.
Panayiotis Stefanakis, a ten-year-old with mild disabilities affecting mostly his hands, is a big Cronulla fan, with the Sharks skipper his favourite.
A patient at the Specialist Sports Medicine Centre, Dr Pitsis heard of Stefanakis’s fanatical support of the Sharks and was only too happy to arrange for him to meet the club captain.
“Panayiotis and his family was introduced to us by one of our patients and he is also in one of the youth sporting teams that our Strength & Conditioning Coach teaches,” Dr Pitsis explained.
“As part of our commitment to the Shire community our practice is highly focussed on improving the lives of our patients and general public in need and when I heard of his love of the Sharks I did what I could to have Panayiotis meet Paul.”
With the help of the Sharks Dr Pitsis has also arranged Reserved Seating for Panayiotis at the upcoming Sharks v Wests Tigers clash, for him to run out onto the field with Gallen and to meet the playing group after the game.
Specialist Sports Medicine Centre is a multi-disciplinary Sports and Exercise medical practice and has a variety of patients which not only includes elite athletes but also the elderly and children suffering from various disabilities.
The practice has recently celebrated its five-year anniversary in its current location at Miranda and has received Sutherland Shire Business awards over the past two years in the Health Improvement Services Category and Professional Medical Services Category.
The practice is a unique facility with over 13 practitioners consisting of Specialist Doctors, Orthopaedic Surgeons and Allied Health Practitioners.
It also has a recently refurbished fully equipped Gymnasium, Café and Learning Loft for Practitioner Education and Workshops.
Photograph - Chris Lane, St George and Sutherland Shire Leader
