Author name: Nayak

Team News

USMST Returns to the WMFC in Vienna!

USMST roared back from a Covid hiatus to participate in the 2023 WMFC in Vienna, Austria July 1-8, 2023. Both the Open and Masters (45 and over) teams took big strides with amazing play and growth towards future success. In the Morell Cup, the Open team played in the group of death, including against eventual champion Ireland, and while we did not advance, each match was decidedly close. The showing in all 6 matches was widely hailed as the best performances by any USMST team in our 14 year history, and the team was proud of all they achieved. In the Vogel Cup, the Masters team advanced to the final round with 3 excellent preliminary round matches, but eventually fell to Brazil and finished the week strong with 2 additional hard fought matches. In all, the teams enjoyed a terrific week in Vienna with each other, their families, and friends from around the globe. 2024 can’t come fast enough!

Team News

USMST Makes Strides At WMFC 2019

USMST traveled to Riviera Maya, Mexico for the 2019 World Medical Football Championship from June 29-July 6, 2019. 21 countries from around the world participated, and USMST took big steps forward in both the Morell (Open) Cup and Vogel (Masters) Cup, as the US representative. The week featured an incredible week of soccer, medical education, and a break from our daily clinical lives. Friendship drove the event, and USMST was honored to participate in this incredible event bringing soccer-loving physicians from around the globe together.

Team News

WMFC 2018: USMST Represents in Prague

The US Medical Soccer Team competed in the 2018 World Medical Football Championships in Prague, Czech Republic from June 30-July 7, 2018.  It was an amazing week of soccer, friendship, medical education and sightseeing in arguably the most beautiful city in Europe.  Both squads (Morell “Open” Cup, Vogel “Masters” Cup) finished in the middle of the pack, which was a step forward .  The teams played incredibly well and competed valiantly under the guidance of Coaches Kenn Schmidt Nielsen (Open team) and Roger Silveira (Masters team).   The comraderie was phenomenal and both squads clearly enjoyed the competition and bearing the fruits of months of hard work and training.  Leading busy lives as physicians often left us challenged to train, but the teamwork displayed during the week and lack of significant injuries paid dividends on the pitch.  The competition was intense, but after a week of soccer, everyone left tired but optimistic for next year!  Martin Wakeham, a pediatric intensivist from Milwaukee, WI, was selected as the “Best Goalkeeper” for the Vogel Cup, an amazing honor for the heart and soul of the squad and a testament to the defensive alignment conceived by Coach Silveira throughout the week. In addition to the soccer, USMST represented at the “24th Global Congress on Medicine and Health in Sport”.  Five players from our team were selected to present, more than any other country.  Here were the presenters: Dr. Chris Grysbauskas, “Well-Being in Adolescent Athletes:  A Review” Dr. Felipe Lobelo, “Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction through Recreational Group Interventions in Adults:  A Meta Analysis” Dr. David Machado-Aranda, “The Impact of a Prehabilitation Program on Major Abdominal Surgery” Dr. Suraj Achar, “Hidden Danger: Vascular Injury in Sports” Dr. Kevin Gregg, “Football and the Risk of Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus”   The week was incredible and the players and their families enjoyed Prague immensely.  In addition to the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony, a kids match allowed our children to join their friends from around the world for an evening of soccer.  The team also enjoyed a river cruise and plenty of sightseeing.  We can’t wait to see everyone again in Cancun, Mexico for WMFC 2019!

Team News

Martin Wakeham Recognized as the Best Goalkeeper for WMFC 2018

Martin Wakeham, a pediatric intensivist from Milwaukee, WI, was recognized as the Best Goalkeeper in the Clemens Vogel “Masters” Cup at the 2018 World Medical Football Championships.  Martin was simply outstanding during the week as the goalkeeper for USMST.  Battling injuries and a game designed for high scoring, he allowed an average of one goal per game for the week, and defined himself as the heart and soul of the USMST Masters Team.  Martin’s award is also a testament to the defense in general, with well-conceived and directed defensive schemes set forth by Coach Roger Silveira.   From the first game, the team was clicking defensively, and Martin’s award culminated an incredible week and big step forward for USMST!

Team News

USMST Competes in the First Medical Copa America

The US Medical Soccer Team met in Cancun, Mexico for the first ever Medical Copa America from May 4-6, 2018.  The Mexican Medical Soccer Team hosted an incredible weekend of soccer, medical education and friendship.  Along with Mexico and the United States, the Canadian and Colombian Medical Soccer Teams participated with an eye towards preparing for the 2018 World Medical Football Championships in Prague.  The weekend was a huge success, and allowed the US Medical Soccer Team an opportunity to take a big step forward together with our colleagues and friends from the Americas.

Medical Matters

Academics Abound at the 2018 USMST Congress on Health and Sport

The 2018 USMST Congress on Health and Sport took place on February 9 and 10, 2018 at the Renaissance Hotel, Long Beach.  This year’s Congress, part of the Physicians Soccer Summit, brought together outstanding speakers attending the PSS along with over 60 physician attendees from around the country.  The Congress, co-sponsored by University of California – San Diego, awarded CME credits and was a great way to start each day prior to the soccer competition.  Dr Suraj Achar, an attending physician at UCSD, was the Congress chairman and put together an outstanding, unique educational program.                                               Congress Agenda and Objectives Day 1:  February 9, 2018 Injury Prevention and Treatment 1)“The Evolution of Soccer/Football Footwear: Strategies to Prevent Soft Tissue Tegumentary Injuries” David Machado, MD 2) Elite athletes in adolescence: unique challenges for the pre-teen and teenager. Chris Grybauskas, MD 3) Balance in the aging athlete Hernan Goldstein MD 4) The effect of Age on Ankle fractures Sam Frankel MD 5) Common core and its connection to injury Jeff Madachy, DO Day 2 8-10 am Saturday, February 10, 2018 Injury: Evaluation and Treatment   1) Turf vs Grass: Cost of Fields Vs. Cost to Athletes Dave Mitzman MD 2)Risk for Acute Kidney Injury in Sports Juan Carlos Velez, MD 3)Adductor Injuries in Soccer JP Valette, MD UCSD family medicine resident 4)Vascular Injuries in Sport Suraj Achar MD 5)Happiness Based Medicine — A Shift in Mindset for Improved Patient and Physician Satisfaction Garrett S. Hyman, MD Faculty and Course Objectives Day 1 David Machado, MD, FACS Assistant Professor of Surgery Co-Director Trauma Burn Intensive Care Unit Division of Acute Care Surgery University of Michigan Health System “The Evolution of Soccer/Football Footwear: Strategies to Prevent Soft Tissue Tegumentary Injuries” 1) We will perform a brief review of the anatomical structures of the foot and ankle and their soft tissue coverage 2) We will review the changes of professional footwear over time and revise their relationship to injury 3) We will review different strategies to prevent injuries to skin and its appendages and other foot soft tissues Chris Grybauskas, MD Pediatric Hospitalist, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, Division of Quality and Safety Medical Director, Pediatric Clinical Care and Research Unit (9 North) 1800 Orleans Street, Bloomberg 9411 Baltimore, MD 21287 Cgrybau1@jhmi.edu Elite athletes in adolescence: unique challenges for the pre-teen and teenager. 1. Participants will learn the biological and psychosocial limitations of adolescents, especially in the context of elite athletic competition. 2. Participants will learn from the failures of specific cases. 3. Participants will learn some common features of successful elite athletes under 18yo Hernan Goldstein MD Otology Neurotology Pacific ENT Medical Group Balance in the Aging Athlete At the end of this presentation the attendant will be able to: 1) Describe the changes that occur in balance as the human body ages. 2) Explain the impact that these changes have on the athlete 3) Elaborate at least 3 strategies to decrease chances of injury. Sam Frankel MD Georgetown Medicine 2016, UCSD Emergency Medicine 2020 The effect of Age on Ankle fractures 1) age has a linear effect on the rate of ankle fracture. 2) This effect has a peak at 40 years old 3) Further research will look into other co founders Jeff Madachy DO Clinical Assistant Professor Family Medicine Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Columbus, Ohio “Common core and its connection to injury” Learning objectives Discuss the abdominal core Core strength and connection to injury Effect of training on injury prevention Day 2 Dave Milzman, MD Associate Dean for Innovation and Student Research Professor of Emergency Medicine Georgetown University School of Medicine Turf VS Grass as playing surface in Soccer: Cost of Fields VS. Cost to Athletes 1. Cost of natural grass fields in most colleges has become prohibitive. Know the basic advantages and disadvantages of turf 2. Understand the mechanism of ankle and knee sprains on turf and grass 3. Understand the differences in injury prevalence with NCAA Soccer compared with other collegiate sports. Juan Carlos Q. Velez, M.D. Associate Professor, Ochsner Clinical School / The University of Queensland Interim Chair, Department of Nephrology, Ochsner Clinic Foundation Adjunct Associate Professor of Physiology, Tulane University School of Medicine @VelezNephHepato / juancarlos.velez@ochsner.org Risk for Acute Kidney Injury in Sports 1. To recognize the potential risk of kidney injury associated with strenuous exercise 2. To identify sport-related scenarios that carry a risk for rhabdomyolysis 3. To familiarize with the mechanisms of nephrotoxicity of drugs consumed by athletes JP Valette MD UCSD school of Medicine 2016, UCSD department of Family Medicine and Public Health 2019 Adductor Injuries in Soccer 1) review anatomy of the adductors 2) Understand diagnosis of adductor injuries 3) understand treatment of adductor injuries Suraj Achar MD, FAAFP, CAQSM Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine Team Physician San Diego Sockers, UCSD Tritons Hidden Danger: life threatening clots in athletics! How do we miss vascular injuries? Why do athletes get clots? Primary and secondary prevention Garrett S. Hyman, MD, MPH, FACSM, FABPMR, CAQSM Lake Washington Sports & Spine www.lakewass.com www.seattlesoccermedicine.com “Happiness Based Medicine — A Shift in Mindset for Improved Patient and Physician Satisfaction” Learning objective #1: The learner will be able to define happiness in operational terms that allow for measurement and goal setting Learning objective #2: The learner will be able to identify systemic barriers to incorporating happiness into their clinic, and will be able to utilize tactics to overcome them Learning objective #3: The learner will be able to learn three specifics tactics for training their staff in how to incorporate happiness into their clinic on a daily basis

Team News

2018 Starts Explosively with the Physicians Soccer Summit

The USMST started 2018 with the second annual Physicians Soccer Summit, an incredible weekend of soccer, CME and friendship that took place from February 9-11, 2018 in Long Beach, California.  Over 60 physicians from around the country attended and in addition to multiple soccer training sessions and three full soccer games at Long Beach State University,  they took part in the 2018 USMST Congress on Health and Sport.  The Congress, co-sponsored by UC-San Diego, was comprised of outstanding talks from the physician attendees, and was chaired by Dr. Suraj Achar, a USMST player and attending physician at UCSD, and took place at the Renaissance Hotel-Long Beach.  Overall, the weekend was outstanding and brought new players into the fold and allowed USMST veterans a chance to rekindle old friendships .   Coaches Kenn Schmidt Nielsen and Roger Silveira were able to evaluate players in various game situations and also hold dedicated training sessions designed to incorporate tactics to be used in the Open and Masters tournaments this year at the World Medical Football Championships.   Next year’s PSS is sure to continue our organizational growth and be an outstanding venue to recruit and reunite.

Team News

USMST Travels to Austria for WMFC 2017

The US Medical Soccer Team had the honor of competing in the 2017 World Medical Football Championships in Leogang, Austria.  Teams from 22 countries competed in this weeklong Physicians World Cup.  The setting was incredible, with the Alps in the backdrop and amazing wellness hotels providing a relaxing setting for the team and their families.  Both the Open and Masters team competed hard and exceeded expectations.  New coaches Kenn Schmidt Nielsen (Open team) and Roger Silveira (Masters team) provided expert guidance and fostered team growth, both on and off the pitch.  The weather was a challenge, with frequent rain (and lightening!) disruptions, but the setting was incredible and the friendship of the Austrians made this tournament the best WMFC to-date for the USMST.   The team played a friendly with the Canadian team prior to the start of the tournament, which led to a successful week of fun and friendship.  Team members Suraj Achar, David Machado, Alan Shahtaji and Felipe Lobelo all presented at the 2017 Global Congress on Medicine and Health in Sport, the academic conference running concurrently with the soccer championships.    

Team News

USMST Hosts First Physicians Soccer Summit

The US Medical Soccer Team organized and hosted the first ever Physicians Soccer Summit from February 10-12, 2017 in Long Beach, California.  This incredible event brought together 45 physicians from around the country for a weekend of soccer, medical education and friendship.  An outstanding medical conference, “The USMST Congress on Health and Sport”, included talks by our physician participants on topics as varied as sleep, optimal  hydration, fitness devices, injury prevention and pain management.   The CME conference was sponsored by UC-San Diego and kicked off each morning at the Renaissance Long Beach with stimulating academic interactions.  Following the conference, the physicians came together for a competitive round robin soccer tournament with outstanding coaching, with four full matches in 3 days, including a samba band on Saturday for added motivation!  Needless to say, the evening social gatherings were a welcome reprieve from an active, fun weekend.  The team looks forward to 2018 and hopes to grow this amazing event with even more physicians!

Team News

USMST Competes and Presents in Barcelona

USMST competed in the 2016 World Medical Football Championships in Barcelona, Spain from July 9-16, 2016. The weeklong event featured an outstanding international soccer tournament pitting physician teams from 22 countries at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, practice home of FC Barcelona. USMST competed mightily, finishing 4th in the Masters bracket but finding the competition much stiffer in the Open bracket, playing hard in the consolation rounds. Overall, the matches were competitive and USMST left Barcelona optimistic about finishing even stronger in the 2017 Championships in Leogang, Austria. Five physicians from the team gave well-received presentations at the 2016 Global Congress on Medicine and Health in Sport. Felipe Lobelo’s presentation was awarded as one of the best in the Congress, though all the talks made the weeklong medical conference truly outstanding. Here are the presentations: Felipe Lobelo, MD PhD: Effectiveness of Brief Counseling and an Exercise Referral Among Hypertensive Patients: The Exercise is Medicine Cluster Randomized Pragmatic Trial David Machado-Aranda, MD: The Michigan Surgical and Health Optimization Program (MSHOP). Taking Control of your Surgery. Suraj Achar, MD: Abuse of anabolicandrogenic steroids in athletes Gautam Nayak, MD: Exercise is Medicine. But What is the Optimal Dose? Ricardo Vasquez-Duarte: A Conclusive Methodologic Approach to Ultrasound of the Piriformis: A Pilot Study                                     The Closing Ceremony brought everyone together for one last hurrah to re-visit the incredible Barcelona experience and plan for next year’s WMFC in Leogang, Austria! A big highlight of the trip included the first ever children’s soccer matches, with WMFC kids from around the world having the incredible opportunity to play together on Messi’s practice fields! Needless to say, these games were the true highlight for the kids and their parents!

Scroll to Top