Girls are roughly nine times as likely to suffer tears of the anterior cruciate ligament than are boys who play the same sports. UPMC Sports Medicine is offering a free clinic Thursday night on how to reduce that distressing disparity.

Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon who is director of the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters' Athletes, will headline the program, which will be held in the main gym at Oakland Catholic High School, 144 N. Craig St., beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Also participating will be Ron DeAngelo, director of sports performance at UPMC Sports Medicine, and athletic trainers for Oakland Catholic, Winchester Thurston School and the Ellis School.

At the conclusion of the formal program, students will receive free screenings to determine their risk of ACL injury.

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