OSI Medical Centers Partners with Wounded Warrior Project to Help Heal Recovering Veterans in the San Antonio, Texas Area

PRWeb

Saturday, June 16th 2012

OSI Medical Centers President and Founder, Doctor Steven J. Cyr, M.D., FAAOS recently announced the partnership with the regional Wounded Warrior Project http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs.aspx office located in San Antonio, Texas to assist Veterans with the healing process by connecting animal therapy with the Project.

San Antonio, Texas (PRWEB) June 16, 2012

Dr. Cyr, an Air Force Iraqi veteran himself, and OSI orthopedic surgeon and decorated Army surgeon, Dr. Joel B. Nilsson, M.D., FAAOS connected the Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship (UTTH) non profit with the Wounded Warrior Project to help Veterans. Dr. Cyr spoke about the contribution to UTTH and the need to dedicate it to the Wounded Warrior Project as part of the medical services organizations effort to give something back to the men and women of the Armed Forces who’ve personally sacrificed for our Country.

Dr. Cyr and Dr. Nilsson both understand sacrifice as they served more than one tour in Iraq. Also, Dr. Nilsson served as part of the Iraqi invasion force and was recognized for treating more combat wounded patients than any other surgeon while maintaining the highest technical standards. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service with the 86th Combat Support Hospital. The Bronze Star is the fourth-highest US Armed Forces combat individual medal and the ninth-highest military individual award.

UTTH Executive Director, Amber Higgs remarked that her organization was delighted to receive the large cash contribution by OSI and as a result, was able to coordinate the upcoming “Warrior Day” for the Wounded Warrior Project. Ms. Higgs said, “horse therapy is good for the body and mind, and since the Wounded Warrior Project has ridden in the past, the OSI donation would be dedicated the Veterans with a day long rider bash!”

In addition to the Wounded Warrior Project, OSI has recently supported the United Services Organization (USO) with a large contribution on behalf of Army Staff Sargent Harris who was injured in Iraq. SSgt Harris was recognized in January 2012 by ABC’s hit show Extreme Makeover Home Edition in Floresville, Texas. OSI was part of that project and sought to give a cash contribution to the USO in order to support the active duty troops overseas.

Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship’s mission is to enhance the lives of people with physical, emotional and mental challenges through horse-related programs. The UTTH center is a positive, safe environment allowing those in need to escape their daily challenges with the goal of allowing them to become more independent. UTTH provides the programs that allow each rider to achieve the maximum independence that their circumstances will allow.

Upward Transitions serves Bexar, Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr and Medina counties. We serve individuals with challenges, special needs school classes, wounded warriors including any veteran with a disability, juvenile justice systems, and at risk youth from a variety of organizations.

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors and its organization’s vision is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history. The WWP core values include:

To raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members.
To help injured service members aid and assist each other.
To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.

OSI is a medical services organization providing a multi-discipline, integrative approach to medicine through specialties to include vascular, aesthetics, orthopaedic, rehab, exercise and weight loss centers. For more additional information about OSI treatments, procedures, and doctors please visit us at http://www.saspine.com or call us at 210-487-7463.

For more information about OSI please contact Dave Howell, Director of Marketing, 210-618-6566, dhowell(at)saspine(dot)com.