Cleveland Clinic is rolling out WISER, short for the Women’s Integrated Sports, Exercise and Research center, a purpose-built sports medicine program focused squarely on the health, performance and long-term wellbeing of female athletes. Led by co-directors Dr. Marie Schaefer and Dr. Tamanna Singh, the center uses an athlete-centered model that pulls medical care, mental health support and performance services into one coordinated hub. WISER is part of the clinic's larger human-performance push ahead of the 210,000-square-foot Global Peak Performance Center scheduled to open in 2027.
According to Cleveland Clinic, WISER will link specialists in orthopedics, sports cardiology, gynecology, endocrinology, nutrition and behavioral health through an Athlete Support Team and four clinical care paths tailored to female-specific needs. The model is built around confidential, holistic visits that pull together recommendations from multiple disciplines into one clear plan for long-term follow-up. Clinic leaders also note that WISER will drive female-focused research meant to improve training, recovery and hormone-related care for athletes at every level.
How the care team works
The Athlete Support Team is designed to keep everyone on the same page, coordinating care so athletes are not left to juggle specialists on their own, as reported by Spectrum News 1. Social workers, athletic counselors and clinicians will work alongside sports medicine specialists, orthopedists, sports cardiologists, gynecologists, endocrinologists, physical therapists and certified athletic trainers. The idea is to cut down on fragmented care and speed up appropriate follow-up.
Services and research focus
WISER will tackle reproductive and endocrine health, from menstrual cycle management to fertility and thyroid concerns, while also providing diet, nutrition and mental health support aimed at getting the most out of training and recovery, Cleveland.com reports. The center plans to work with recreational competitors and professional athletes alike and to prioritize research areas where women have historically been underrepresented. Clinic staff say the integrated setup is meant to close long-standing gaps in evidence and care in sports medicine.
Why it matters
Women now account for roughly 44 percent of all NCAA student-athletes, a milestone the NCAA spotlighted in recent data. At the same time, female athletes face distinct injury patterns, including higher rates of ACL tears in certain sports, and experts say sex-specific prevention and training programs are increasingly necessary, according to The Washington Post.
How to get care
Appointments at WISER can be made by calling 216.444.9133 or emailing [email protected], per Cleveland Clinic. For now, the program is embedded within the Clinic's network of specialty teams, while staff build out longer-term research and performance initiatives tied to the Global Peak Performance Center.
