The Brand New England Rugby Team Physician Course – A Student’s Experience

Article by Elle Trezise

Elle Trezise, a final year medical student and rugby player, talks about her experience attending the first ever England Rugby Team Physician Course. She is incredibly grateful to have been selected for a place that was sponsored by the RFU following a written application she submitted to BASEM.

HEARING ABOUT THE COURSE
One lunchtime I was scanning through my emails when I stumbled across a BASEM mailshot dedicated solely to a new two-day course on rugby medicine, the England Rugby Team Physician Course. I checked out the programme and was increasingly drawn to click the booking link. But when I saw the course cost, I knew there was no way I would be able to afford it.

Gutted, I decided to keep scrolling through my unread messages and look into attending the course in future once I was working as a doctor.

Around a month later another BASEM mailshot came through. It announced that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was offering a sponsored place to an undergraduate student. To have a chance of getting it, I needed to submit a written application to BASEM. I did just this and feel incredibly grateful and fortunate that I was selected. I want to express my thanks to BASEM and the RFU for the fantastic opportunity, especially Dr Richard Tingay and Dr Simon Kemp.

DAY ONE AND THE EVENING DINNER
It had been a number of years since I had last been to Twickenham Stadium and I was excited to return. As I approached in my little red car the huge stadium came into view, towering above the houses that surround it. I parked up and headed to Rugby House.

After registering, being greeted by a couple of the course organisers and collecting a free tote bag, I grabbed a coffee and found myself a spot at one of several big round tables. On my table were mostly junior doctors who were early on in their careers, but many already had experience working at sports events and with rugby clubs. It was helpful to hear about what they were already doing as it gave me an idea of what I might be able to do in the first few years after I qualify.

The day was split into four sessions. Each session covered a different theme. On day one the themes were: challenges and strategies for team physicians, upper limb injuries, knee /hamstring injuries and concussion. I really enjoyed that after a handful of talks from experts, each session was rounded off with case discussions that challenged us to apply what we had learnt to real life scenarios. Concussion, as I am sure everybody reading this will know, is a very worthy hot topic and so I was especially keen to improve my understanding of its optimal management. There were also opportunities between sessions to get talking to other attendees and through this I met doctors from a range of backgrounds and who had various levels of experience, including one retired doctor, as well as other students.

After the fourth session we were all invited to attend a stadium tour. We split into groups and got to see the medical facilities, pitch, changing rooms and gym.

Next up, after a gap in the schedule that allowed us time to do any outfit changes, we were treated to a dinner in a room that overlooked the pitch. I was very lucky that rugby legend Will Carling, who was a guest speaker for the dinner, ended up sitting at the same table as me. Medical Services Director for the RFU, Dr Simon Kemp, invited him up to the stage and asked him some questions to which Will responded very honestly. His answers provided some fantastic insight into effective leadership and the importance of having an excellent culture in elite sport environments. When it began to approach 11pm, belly full and becoming tired, I said goodnight and headed to bed.

DAY TWO
The second day covered the spine, facial injuries, contusions, ankle/foot injuries and other medical issues such as illnesses and travelling with a team. Again, there were opportunities to apply our new knowledge and network. All the sessions were interesting, although I was especially interested in the talks on ankle injuries as I suffer from a dodgy ankle myself!

HOW I WILL USE MY NEW KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN THE FUTURE
The course has definitely inspired me to continue to pursue a career in sport and exercise medicine and particularly to become a team doctor one day. Without a doubt I will use the knowledge I have gained from this course in a rugby medicine elective that I have organised to take place later this year with huge thanks to Dr Sriskantharajah Arun-Castro, Club Doctor at London Scottish Rugby Club. I will also use what I have learned to reflect on the medical decisions I observe as a player and spectator to help my own future practice as a physician.

During my foundation years I hope to gain experience volunteering as a sports medic with local clubs and again I will undoubtedly call on what I have learned during this course. I also hope that when future employers see on my CV that I attended this course, it will show them my aspiration to deliver the highest standard of medical care as well as my enthusiasm for sports medicine.

A huge thank you again to BASEM and the RFU for this opportunity as well as to all the course organisers and speakers who provided a fantastic couple of days. I thoroughly recommend the course to anyone keen on rugby medicine including those who are very early on in their careers just like me.

Elle Trezise (Twitter @eleanortrezise, Instagram @elletrezise) is a final year medical student and rugby player in the London Irish Women Premier Academy. She is also one of four hosts in the Football Medicine and Performance Association’s podcasting team. She previously completed a one-year full-time internship with the Sports Medicine and Science Department at Southampton FC.

 

Article Featured in BASEM Today Issue 62.