JACKSON — Dr. Gene Barrett of Jackson was recently honored with the “Jack C. Hughston, M.D., Sports Medicine Person of the Year” award by the South Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association at their 2009 meeting in Panama City, Florida.

The award was established in 1988 to honor Dr. Jack C. Hughston, one of the pioneers in sport medicine and knee surgery. It is the highest award given by the SEATA, and is presented to someone other than an athletic trainer, who has significantly contributed to the care of athletes and betterment of the athletic training profession

Barrett is one of the founding members of Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Jackson. He runs a sports medicine clinic in Natchez once a week.

He is board certified in the specialty of orthopaedic surgery with a special interest in anterior cruciate ligament surgery and other advanced knee procedures.