Remembering… David H. Jones

On May 20, 2014, the death of our colleague, David H. Jones, affected many of us. The athletic therapist’s passing was sudden, tragic and completely unexpected. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, the man we all called Dave influenced the lives of several generations of therapists. The word passionate has dotted so many of the speeches given in his honour over the last year, and seems to be the most accurate adjective to describe him.

This article isn’t meant to be a eulogy to Dave Jones; I think that has already been done in the year since he died by those that were closest to him. I would, however, like to take the time to share all the initiatives that have been undertaken in his honour, not only to demonstrate the impact that he had on so many of our lives, but to underscore the heart-filled generosity of our community of professionals. Few professions can claim to have such a tight-knit family as ours. We all go back to one and the same place and we have all crossed paths at one time or another. The profession of athletic therapy is one of dedication, and who better to understand this than a colleague? It’s a shared feeling that unifies us all and united us in good times and bad. Dave’s passing was a testimony to this.

To begin with, many therapists were in attendance at Dave’s funeral, where Jean-Baptiste Laporte, a former member of our association, gave a moving eulogy. After the ceremony, Dave’s colleagues came together to think of some ways to commemorate his body of work and his spirit in a more lasting way. After several meetings, discussions and undertakings, a few projects came together. Concordia University’s Department of Exercise Science decided to rename one of its labs in honour of David H. Jones, and a ceremony was held on the first anniversary of his passing. His name will also forever be tied to a new bursary that will be offered to a student of athletic therapy each year. The money for the bursary will be donated by the David H. Jones endowment fund, which has received and continues to receive donations from several members of the community. The annual Wellness Week, organized by Concordia’s ESSA association, has also offered all the profits from its 2015 edition to the David H. Jones Fund. There was also a celebration in Dave’s memory on the first anniversary of his death, with the first edition of the Born to Run race. All profits were donated to the endowment fund in his name. On another note, Dave was inducted into the CTSQ Hall of Fame at the 2015 annual banquet. His family accepted the honour and shared a very emotional moment with us. Dave was inducted for a second time at the CATA’s Halifax conference, where his work was recognized on the national stage. Discussions are also underway to offer Dave a post-mortem doctorate, since he was preparing to defend his thesis when he passed away. We hope this initiative will see the light of day, like the others mentioned above.

A lot of energy and effort was invested in all of these events in order to provide a humble, yet sufficient tribute to David H. Jones. A simple thank you just wouldn’t be enough to acknowledge all the people who worked on these projects. You have demonstrated that our profession is one of compassion, strength, determination and enthusiasm…much like Dave exuded over his career!

Eric Grenier-Denis, CAT (C)
Executive Director

Batting in the Big Leagues

This summer, Toronto will be rolling out all the gear and throwing on its best kicks for the Pan-American and Parapan American Games. This competition will bring athletes of all ages, levels and disciplines to the city. And it’s in this spirit of effervescence that Christina Grace, a certified athletic therapist of nearly 14 years, has joined the National Teams Committee for the Parapan American Games to help bring their dreams of success to life. We recently sat down with Christina to discuss the various facets of hosting such a large-scale sporting event.

What is your role on the Canadian teams heading into the Para Pan-Am Games?

The Committee named me head athletic therapist for Canadian teams. In all, Canadian athletes will be competing in fourteen different disciplines, and of these, five of the teams won’t have medical staff on hand. The others will have their staff with them, but won’t necessarily have access to athletic therapists. For example, the national swim team will have coaches and massage therapists in tow, but if an injury occurs, they can come see me. My role during these games will be to treat athletes on all of these teams.

What process did you have to go through to get this position?

The process is similar for all large-scale events. The CATA has a selection committee, and when major events are on the horizon, it sends out a call for applicants. Interested therapists, like myself, need to complete an application to join. Once the committee has processed all the applicants, it submits a list of recommended individuals to the CMO (chief medical officer), who makes the final decision. The CATA Committee generally focuses on candidates’ experience. There is a points system that helps them evaluate the different events in which therapists have participated, and it’s a standardized scale for selection.

Describe the personal journey that got you here. What other major events have you taken part in?

Personally, I’ve been applying for elite competitions ever since I got certified. At first, I wasn’t selected, but I kept applying and, in 2005, I got my first opportunity with the Canada Summer Games. I then had a chance to work at four more consecutive Games – alternating between the summer and winter editions. I also participated in the Innsbruck and Nanjing Youth Olympic Games. Before embarking on this amazing journey, I tried to gain as much experience as possible in Quebec. I was involved in several provincial Games, along with Défi sportif and IronMan competitions in Tremblant. Those are just a few examples of the kinds of events that I’ve been involved in.

What advice would you give to therapists who want to take part in big events like these?

In my humble opinion, the first rule of thumb is getting a variety of experience. Participating in major events requires therapists to treat people in a variety of sports. Candidates with varied experience are a big asset to medical teams. Every event counts on your resume – so don’t underestimate the importance of each. A stint as a head therapist for a local tournament is just as valuable as acting as a first responder at a big Oasis Marathon. Secondly, networking is also a good skill to have. Although experience is essential, meeting other therapists and people in charge of events will help you build a name for yourself. A recognizable name alongside a good list of events will truly give a better impression than remaining anonymous. The CATA Annual Conference is a good outlet to do some professional networking.

As a head athletic therapist, do you get to take part in preparations leading up to this event?

Yes, and I have been for a while already. It all got underway in March, with a five-day meeting in Toronto. We discussed various needs and visited the athletes’ village, competition sites, and various fields, etc. I also met with various staff members on different teams to get to know their specific needs, and I’ve been corresponding regularly with the head medical officer. I also have to stock our clinic with equipment, procedure manuals, medication, etc. Right now, I’m mainly trying to make sure I have all TUE’s (therapeutic use exemption). Certain athletes need to obtain authorization to use certain types of medication that are normally banned at competitions.

You last point brings us to a very specific question regarding your situation: is there any special preparation you have to do for para-athletes?

In fact, working with para-athletes requires some preparation, but not necessarily in terms of the injuries I will have to treat.. After all, a sprain is a sprain, whether an athlete has two legs or one. However, certain disabilities are associated with systemic conditions that can induce attacks. It is therefore essential to understand the many related signs and symptoms. Thankfully, I have some good resources, and the head medical officer is a great help and has sent me several articles on various medical conditions to look out for. He has lot of experience working with parasports. In my circle, I also know four athletic therapists that specialize in or have extensive experience working with para-athletes. They represent an invaluable source of information for these games.

Why did you apply specifically to this position?

The Parapan American Games are an opportunity for me to exert the profession that I love. The specific role of the head therapist was very enticing in this case, since it presents a challenge for me without taking me out of my comfort zone. The fact that the Games are in Canada means that I don’t have to learn the healthcare system, which makes my job much easier. I already know that the healthcare professionals I will be working with have high quality training. This keeps the standards the same. There are also fewer athletes at these games than at other competitions, which makes my job a little easier as well, although I’m not as familiar with this specific clientele. I consider myself lucky to be able to have so many professional contacts that I can count on, and who have already filled the shoes I’m about to fill. I can depend on their experience if I ever find myself having trouble solving a given task.

Are you nervous?

Well honestly, yeah. There are a lot of unknowns this time around. Although I’ll be working with high-level athletes, managing to meet the specific needs of each is my biggest concern. I will have several senior athletes under my watch, which will bring its own set of challenges, despite their level of preparation and experience. I also have to watch out for the signs and symptoms of a specific condition that can be fatal – that is autonomic dysreflexia. Of course, it’s just one condition among many, but in this case, some athletes use autonomic dysreflexia as a natural doping agent, as the increase in adrenaline can help boost their performance. I guess their drive to win is pretty strong!

To end with, here are a few rapid-fire questions:

Most beautiful place you’ve visited for major games? Innsbruck
Biggest culture shock? The Francophone Games in Lebanon
Most pleasant? Canada Games in Whitehorse
A key factor that can help candidates get a position? Be able to speak French
Most surprising discovery? The Olympic Committee and the Paralympic Committee have no connection whatsoever – absolutely none!
Next step? Hopefully the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil!

We wish Christina all the best at the Games – she deserves everything this experience will have to offer. She has also promised to provide a photo feature for our upcoming edition of the newsletter. Stay tuned!

Eric Grenier-Denis, CAT (C)
Executive Director