To the South Fayette School District Athletic Community:
UPMC Sports Medicine is proud to partner with the South Fayette School District athletic program. South Fayette and UPMC Sports Medicine both highly value innovative excellence, creating a unique environment for athletic healthcare. We strive to ensure every athlete receives the right care at the right time every time. Our sports medicine team is committed to combining evidence-based medical research with the examination of site-specific results of our daily medical practice.
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we would like to introduce our sport medicine team. UPMC Sports Medicine provides two on-site, full-time athletic trainers to South Fayette who are available during the school year at athletic practices and events. Athletic trainers are licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine, enabling the prevention, recognition, and management of athletic-related injuries at campus facilities under the supervision of a licensed physician. In addition to a supervising physician, South Fayette benefits from a consulting neuropsychologist who specializes in concussion diagnosis and management.
Sarah Papapietro, MS, LAT, ATC, became a South Fayette High School Athletic Trainer in the fall of 2022. She has provided athletic training services for UPMC in various settings since 2016. Her previous experiences include Duquesne University, Thomas Jefferson High School, and USA National Hockey Tournaments. Sarah has worked with a vast number of athletes and sports during her tenure with UPMC Sports Medicine. She is also the leader of the Staff Engagement Committee through the UPMC Sports Medicine department. Additionally, Sarah enjoys substitute teaching in various classrooms throughout the district. As a retired college student-athlete herself, she knows the lengths it takes to be a successful and healthy student athlete.
Tyler Vannucci, DAT, LAT, ATC, enters his second year providing athletic training services at South Fayette. He has worked in the high school setting since 2017. His previous experiences are at Forsyth Schools and Waynesburg Central High School. Tyler is also a member of the Pre-Hospital Care Committee through UPMC Sports Medicine, educating staff members and local EMS groups on best practices for the emergency care of injured athletes. Having sustained multiple injuries in his time playing sports, he understands what it is like to work back from injury. He aims to be a resource and facilitator through this process for the student athletes of South Fayette so that they can successfully return their sports and hobbies.
Bryson Lesniak, MD, is a knee and shoulder orthopedic surgeon with vast experience in sports medicine. He specializes in the athletic population through his affiliations with University of Pittsburgh athletics, Carnegie Mellon University athletics, and South Fayette School District, as well as other Pittsburgh-area high schools. Dr. Lesniak has overseen the athletic healthcare at South Fayette since 2014 and many of our athletes have benefitted from his leadership and medical care.
Nathan Kegel, PhD, has served as South Fayette’s consulting neuropsychologist since 2021, and has quickly become a valued and trusted member of the Sports Medicine team at South Fayette. He demonstrates a deep understanding of this complex injury and provides individualized treatment plans that focus on academic and athletic success. Dr. Kegel has coordinated academic accommodations for injured South Fayette athletes and understands our student-athletes' desire to maintain their studies.
In Health,
Sarah Papapietro, MS, LAT, ATC
Athletic Trainer II, UPMC Sports Medicine
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tyler Vannucci, DAT, LAT, ATC
Athletic Trainer I, UPMC Sports Medicine
[email protected]
[email protected]