FEATURE STORY / CHIROPRACTORS AT TORONTO 2015
Taking part in my first major games
experience. Watching the para athletes
train for track and field and being in awe
of their abilities.”
The Games made for a memorable,
engaging experience for chiropractic
volunteers. Dr. Howard Kirsh shared a
similar story. “The speed-walkers were
crazy!!! For the speed-walk marathons
where the finish of the race was ‘all
hands on deck’ I was part of a team that
was also very close to the action when
a member of the Puerto Rico woman’s
baseball team suffered a C/spine
injury. “My staff handled the situation
calmly and efficiently. There was great
teamwork between us and EMS. The
player was evacuated to the Polyclinic
and after several tests was released.”
These experiences are part of the magic
of working in a major games setting.
Dr. Julia Callaghan was struck
“I saw a lot of medal performances from
Canadian athletes, particularly diving. It was
amazing to watch the heats from a field of play
position and see them progress through dive
after dive, accumulating points, and finally to
watch them get their medals.”
Dr. Julia Callaghan
that did whatever was needed to be
done, like ‘catching’ the athletes after
the race, elevating their legs, icing them
down and, on occasion, interacting
with EMS personnel to send an athlete
to hospital.” His most memorable
experience: “ALL OF IT!!!! It was certainly
a highlight I absolutely want to do
again!”
The Pan Am and Parapan Am
Games supply a heady mix of grandeur,
high performance athletes, celebrities
and a demand for a high level of
care. Dr. Mark Poray’s experience was
enhanced by getting to meet several
notable sports personalities, including
CFL legend Mike 'Pinball' Clemons and
former Blue Jay Ernie Whitt and World
Series Champion Roberto Alomar. He
by the enthusiastic support from the
international crowd for the athletes they
had the pleasure of seeing compete.
“I saw a lot of medal performances
from Canadian athletes, particularly
diving. It was amazing to watch the
heats from a field of play position and
see them progress through dive after
dive, accumulating points, and finally
to watch them get their medals,” she
recalls. Dr. Tim Marshall said “marching
into the Opening Ceremonies with
Team Canada and hearing the roar of
support from the hometown crowd was
amazing.”
As you might assume, there were
times when getting close to the action
was as challenging as it was exhilarating.
Gaps in communication were a
ON Chiropractic
common source of consternation for
volunteers. Chiropractic volunteers’
patient-centred instincts kicked in and
resulted in some fantastic stories. Dr.
Michelle MacDonald shared one such
story. “One of my most memorable
moments was dealing with a visually
impaired athlete who spoke only
Spanish. I had to use a whole new
level of communication and used the
people around me the best I could so
he understood the problem and what I
could do to help. He and his coach were
very appreciative of the quick response
and the difference it made so he could
play.”
Dr. Donald Millar overcame a
language barrier to deliver great care
and patient education.