After over ten years of partnering with Orthopedic Associates (OA) in Brunswick, the athletic department announced in an email on Monday that a new, on-campus physical therapy (PT) clinic serving all students is now open on the second floor of Farley Field House. The department hopes that the clinic’s services will be more accessible to students, as the facilities are no longer separate from the College’s campus.

“We used to have a PT clinic on campus in the training room adjacent to Morrell Gymnasium, and over time, we transitioned to a partnership with Orthopedic Associates,” Ashmead White Director of Athletics Tim Ryan said. “As we’ve moved in a different direction with our PT partner, we decided this was a great opportunity to bring that service back to campus.”

Availability to all students, not just varsity athletes, is a highlight of this clinic.

“This program is in line with that philosophy that we have of having our facilities open to everyone,” Ryan said. “We don’t have a varsity athletes-only fitness center or things along those lines, and that’s intentional. The placement of the fitness center is right in the middle of campus, as opposed to off on a satellite island by itself, so it is open and available for all students.”

However, the cost of PT sessions will not be subsidized by the College. When asked about the cost per session, Head Trainer Dan Davies emphasized that it will depend on the insurance company.

“That’s up to insurance. So many people have different insurances, I can’t comment on that,” Davies said. “That is their responsibility.”

The baseline cost for PT will depend on the amount set by Mid Coast Medical Health, Bowdoin’s new partner. Ryan was excited about this new partnership, highlighting the   organization’s leadership team’s level of experience

“Todd Lamoreau, who is overseeing the clinic on campus, was actually the person who oversaw the clinic on campus just over a decade ago for a different provider,” Ryan said. “So we’re excited about having Todd back on campus, and he’s very familiar with Bowdoin and works really well with our athletic training and Health Center staff.”

Despite the decision to make PT an out-of-pocket expense to students, the department is expecting significant interest in this clinic from students, as trainers have recommended over 3,000 visits to OA for PT in the past few years.

“We used to have it on campus, and we sort of outgrew it because of the need for it … it’s something where we need [it] back on campus,” Davies said.

As of now, the clinic will be open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but these hours are subject to change as the department assesses student interest and availability.

Overall, the department is excited to get the clinic up and running, hopeful that it will provide athletes and non-athletes on campus with an easy and convenient way to return to their full physical health.

“The whole process of setting appointments up and transitioning into the physical therapy treatment process will hopefully be a little bit easier for all students,” Ryan said.

Andrew Cohen contributed to this article.