Thirty years and thousands of medical procedures later, I am proud of what my team and I have accomplished as sports medicine professionals in the Ohio Valley and beyond. I have learned a lot from my personal journey, successes and failures, and foray into leadership roles. I thought I would take a moment to look back on where we began, see how far we have come, and examine what I have learned along the way.
Bringing Sports Medicine to the Ohio Valley
After my residency and fellowship I started my career as a sports medicine physician at Ohio Valley Hospital. There was a budding physical therapy (PT) department with some ATC’s taking care of a few local high schools. There was no sports medicine physician in our area at that time, and as a matter of fact, I was in the first fellowship class to take the first Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) boards in sports medicine. At that time, no one knew how this specialty would operate. I was fortunate to have a CEO who appreciated sports and wellness, and an excellent surrounding staff.
My first year I took the plunge into actually developing how this new sports medicine program would work. Fortunately, after one year, we were still standing, and not only standing, but flourishing. We had not only incorporated sports and wellness into the program, but were able to treat other musculoskeletal injuries from local workers and members of the community.
Through cooperation with the hospital, the staff, and the community, I was able to expand our role into community education including local high schools, the community college, and Franciscan University of Steubenville. This cooperation influenced our whole tristate area and made our program a household name that people trusted.
We were also expanding procedures and techniques that included cutting edge rehab. This included services such as diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, and using ultrasound and fluoroscopy to repair damaged tissue using minimally invasive procedures. This grew into one of the first programs anywhere to incorporate orthobiologics as a possible treatment option for patients.
Making dreams a reality
I enjoy having an active role as one of the Sports Medicine Fellowship faculty, transforming our clinic into a teaching center for medical students, residents, and fellows. As the medical director of our great staff and management team, we have not only been able to continue to grow the program, but also continue to develop and apply cutting edge treatment methods with the ultimate goal of offering the best options possible for our patients.
From early on, our long-term goal was to have a new facility incorporating the sports and wellness program. After much planning and work, that facility is now a reality that houses a state-of-the-art sports medicine practice with a full Rehab Department including PT, ATC’s, PTA’s, a dedicated ultrasound and fluoroscopy procedure suite, along with multiple exam rooms, a complete YCMA gym with an indoor track, soccer and basketball courts, and a hospital sponsored sports and wellness performance program. We now have two full time sports medicine physicians, one part time sports medicine physician, a sports chiropractor, and a physicians assistant.
My guiding principles as a leader
Throughout my journey, I have found myself in leadership positions. I have learned that great leadership cannot happen without a great team, and a great team thrives when they have leaders who truly care. Here are the two factors that have guided me as a leader.
1). Set the example yourself.
After working in the medical field for over thirty years, I recognize the immense importance of structure, protocol, and clear direction. While it is the leadership’s job to set or enforce rules and desired behavior, these efforts are futile and a breeding ground for discontent unless I am acting upon them myself. Many of us have experienced the frustration and disappointment that happens when a leader displays hypocritical behavior or lords his or her power over the team. While certainly imperfect myself, these experiences have reinforced my desire to strive for integrity, not only setting an example for those around me, but coming alongside them with conviction, and not asking them to do something I would not be willing to do myself.
2) Get consensus with your staff.
A true leader is not looking for recognition or power. A true leader is a servant, there to help his or her team thrive, and in my case, provide my patients with the best possible care. If I am not listening to my staff’s observations and experiences, then I am missing out on a significant opportunity to make our practice better. While the weight of responsibility falls on me, I have learned that truly listening and considering what is shared are imperative parts to any leadership role.
