Bill Moreau, D.C.,
Davenport ’81,
DACBSP, CSCS, FICC |
In 2009, Dr. Bill Moreau became the director of
the U.S. Olympic Committee’s (USOC) Sports
Medicine Clinics. He continues to serve as
coordinator of DConline, a continuing education
website he founded. For more than 28
years, he has worked with Olympic, collegiate,
high school and recreational athletes.
How did you become the USOC’s
director
of Sports Medicine Clinics?
The USOC learned that I was looking for a
clinical position in a multiple disciplinary setting
and encouraged me to apply for a clinic
manager position. Since joining the USOC,
I have been promoted from clinic manager
in Colorado Springs, Colo., to director of the
USOC Sports Medicine Clinics. There are
clinics at each of the three U.S. Olympic
Training Centers – Colorado Springs, Colo.;
Chula Vista, Calif.; and Lake Placid, N.Y.
What does your position entail?
The clinics are an unusual environment where
more than one provider is typically engaged
during the course of a clinic encounter. The
team includes a wide range of healthcare
professionals including chiropractors, athletic
trainers, physical therapists, family practice
doctors, sports nutritionists and massage
therapists, just to name a few. These professionals
work together for the good of the
athlete, and I am privileged to coordinate
the overall care of an athlete along with the
sports medicine team.
Are there any other chiropractors
at these clinics?
There are a total of four D.C.s employed by
the USOC, including Dr. Dustin Nabhan in
Colorado Springs and Dr. Chad Barylski in
Chula Vista. Both have sports specialty certifications.
We also use contracted chiropractors
to assist at the Lake Placid clinic.
What role do chiropractors now
play in the health and success of
U.S. Olympic athletes?
It is great to see chiropractors working
side-by-side with other healthcare providers.
Many of the healthcare providers who’ve not
worked with a chiropractor before are pleased
with what we do and how we do it.
How significant was it for
chiropractic to be included in
the Polyclinics at this year’s
Winter Games?
At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games, chiropractors were,
for the first time, included in the Polyclinics.
Countries that did not have the ability to bring
large sports medicine teams, along with athletes
seeking special services like MRI, musculoskeletal
ultrasound or CT, accessed these clinics for
additional services or primary care. It was great
to see chiropractic recognized as a part of the
sports medicine team!
What are some of the rewards
of your job?
I’ve found that each day —and each athlete—
is inspiring. The athletes are some of the
finest individuals I have encountered. From
gold medalists to hopefuls, they are gracious
and always express gratitude when we are
done with their care. Paralympians also have
taught me so much more about life. A doctor
of chiropractic can be successful in a multiple
disciplinary setting at the highest level,
provided they receive proper training and
understand their role on the team.