Penguins hire Harner as new team physician

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins have named Dr. Christopher Harner to lead the team's medical staff.

Harner replaces Dr. Charles Burke, who was removed after 24 years on the job earlier this week.

Harner is a co-founder of the UPMC Center of Sports Medicine and was recently named president of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine. Dr. Tanya Hagen will join the team as an associate physician and Dr. Dharmesh Vyas will serve as an assistant team physician. One of the three will travel with the team on every road game.

The moves come as part of an overall restructuring of the Penguins' medical program and will give the team access to UPMC doctors in more than 15 specialties.

Updated July 20, 2012