Dr. Alex Diamond has been named the new Chair of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC). He replaces Dr. Greg Elkins who passed away on March 17, 2024. Dr. Diamond was a member of the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee from 2019-2023. He will start his duties as the new NFHS SMAC Chair immediately.
In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health, he is the creator and director of the Tennessee Safe Stars Initiative, the first youth sports safety rating system in the country. He also serves as a consultant for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) on issues related to athlete health and safety.
“Dr. Diamond’s practical approach to providing support and best practices to ensure the health and safety of student athletes has been an incredible asset for our organization,” stated Mark Reeves, Executive Director of TSSAA. “He will bring this same perspective to the table as chair of the NFHS SMAC.”
Dr. Diamond is the Director of the Vanderbilt Youth Sports Health Center and a Professor in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatrics and Neurological Surgery at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed a residency in Pediatrics at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and received both his fellowship training in Primary Care Sports Medicine and his Masters of Public Health at Vanderbilt University. He serves as a Team Physician for several high schools, Vanderbilt University (NCAA) and the Nashville Predators (NHL).
“For the short time that I’ve known Dr. Diamond, I’ve been immensely impressed by not only his knowledge of sports medicine, but also his genuine care and passion to help produce programs that create as safe and healthy of an environment for youth sports programs as possible,” stated Assistant Executive Director, Joe Blair. “His work in developing the Safe Stars Initiative is a clear example of that. Tennessee has greatly benefitted from having him as a resource and now the entire nation will get to share in that benefit also. I’m very excited to have him stepping into the role as NFHS SMAC Chair.”
Dr. Diamond is a past member of the executive committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. He also served as the Vice-Chair of the practice and policy committee for the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) as well as the first-ever chair of their community advocacy subcommittee.
He is a member of the Commissioner’s Council for Injury Prevention for the state of Tennessee and was the prior physician representative appointed by the Governor to the Tennessee Board of Athletic Trainers. Recognized as the Pediatrician of the Year in 2019 by the Tennessee Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics, he is a staunch community advocate and has testified multiple times before the Tennessee Legislature on key sports medicine issues effecting youth successfully resulting in several bills being signed into law. Dr. Diamond has over 50 publications and his research focuses on injury prevention and the promotion of health and safety in youth sports.
