Northeast College Massage Students to Provide Care for Syracuse University Division I Athletes
Northeast College of Health Sciences and Syracuse University have announced a new partnership that will allow Northeast students to provide massage therapy services to Syracuse University’s NCAA Division I student-athletes. The collaboration represents an important step forward in both institutions’ shared commitment to innovation, excellence and the advancement of healthcare education and athletic performance.
Through the partnership, advanced massage therapy students from Northeast will work directly with Syracuse University’s sports medicine team, supporting athlete health, recovery and performance under the supervision of licensed clinicians. The experience offers future healthcare professionals a unique, hands-on opportunity to apply their clinical skills in a high-performance sports environment.
Innovative Partnership in Collegiate Sports Care
Massage Therapy Adjunct Instructor Kyle Hierholzer, who helped shape the collaboration, emphasized how distinctive this partnership is within higher education and collegiate athletics.
“These kinds of partnerships do exist, but this will be a truly unique opportunity for Northeast and Syracuse University,” said Hierholzer, who will serve as Northeast’s onsite massage therapy faculty member for the partnership. “Our massage therapy students will gain immersive, real-world experience treating Division I athletes while integrating with Syracuse’s sports medicine department.”
Hierholzer noted that Syracuse University has previously worked with independent practitioners to provide massage services for its football and basketball teams. However, this collaboration marks the first time the university has partnered at this level with another higher education institution to deliver care across multiple sports programs.
“Syracuse’s student-athletes will benefit from additional recovery and self-care resources while working alongside their existing trainers and physical therapists,” Hierholzer said. “Meanwhile, Northeast students will gain invaluable experience supporting rehabilitation, maintenance and performance—on recovery days or possibly onsite at competitions.”
Powerfully Prepared to Provide Exceptional Care
To participate, Northeast massage therapy students must complete both their sports massage and clinical orthopedic massage therapy courses and demonstrate exceptional professionalism and patient care in the classroom and clinic.
Northeast College has a long-standing reputation for excellence in sports chiropractic, and its massage therapy program has quickly risen to rank No. 1 in the Northeast and No. 6 in the nation, according to massage-colleges.com. Through the new partnership with Syracuse University, massage therapy students will continue that legacy by providing care to elite athletes and gaining valuable professional experience.
A Collaboration Built on Shared Excellence
“This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration,” said Northeast College Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Anne Killen. “Our students are gaining invaluable real-world experience while Syracuse University athletes benefit from dedicated, evidence-informed care. Both institutions share the same discipline, dedication and drive for excellence. We’re proud to see this partnership enhance both the educational and athletic experiences of everyone involved.”
By combining rigorous academics, hands-on learning and innovative partnerships like this one, Northeast College continues to expand and diversify the opportunities available to its students. The collaboration with Syracuse University underscores the College’s commitment to preparing practice-ready professionals who understand the demands of athletic performance and the importance of integrated, team-based care.
Together, Northeast and Syracuse University are helping shape the next generation of healthcare leaders, those ready to help patients move better, perform stronger and live healthier.
For more than a century, Northeast College of Health Sciences has been dedicated to training healthcare’s future leaders. At Northeast, health and wellness are our central focus, driving everything we do. The College’s graduate and undergraduate academic programs in areas such as chiropractic, physician assistant studies, nutrition, human anatomy instruction, massage therapy, and the imaging sciences are rooted in Northeast’s mission and commitment to academic excellence, leadership and professional best practices. From our 286-acre main campus in N.Y.’s Finger Lakes region and our state-of-the-art branch campus on Long Island to our renowned faculty of expert practitioners, Northeast College provides a transformative educational experience, 100% dedicated to health sciences.