Naples Florida Weekly
Loading...

Naples doctor volunteers at 2020 Youth Winter Olympic Games


Dr. Patrick Joyner with Yodli, the mascot for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games, in Lausanne, Switzerland. COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. Patrick Joyner with Yodli, the mascot for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games, in Lausanne, Switzerland. COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. Patrick Joyner, a board certified orthopedic sports medicine physician at Naples-based OrthoCollier, a division of Neuroscience & Spine Associates, recently attended the 2020 Youth Olympic Winter Games in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a volunteer team U.S.A. doctor. During his three-week assignment, which ran from Jan. 9-22, Dr. Joyner resided in Olympic Village housing where he was on-call 24/7 to attend to the medical needs of a team of 100 youth athletes.

“It was a huge honor to be part of the three-person volunteer medical team that made sure these kids stayed healthy and were cared for during their competitive performances,” said Dr. Joyner, who added that his participation demanded he be away from his Naples practice during the height of its busy season.

“It was a sacrifice but being able to help these kids fulfill their Olympic dreams is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t go.”

During his Olympic residency in Switzerland, Dr. Joyner said his mornings often started at 5 a.m., when athletes required Kenesio taping, and ended at 11 p.m., when the medical team finished discussing the day’s health issues. “At one point, several athletes and trainers came down with a terrible stomach virus and we had to act fast to temporarily quarantine them.”

“It was a sacrifice but being able to help these kids fulfill their Olympic dreams is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t go.” — Dr. Patrick Joyner, orthopedic sports medicine physician

“It was a sacrifice but being able to help these kids fulfill their Olympic dreams is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t go.” — Dr. Patrick Joyner, orthopedic sports medicine physician

The assignment meant Dr. Joyner had to be physically present, typically on the slopes in freezing weather, during daily competitions.

“At least five athletes were airlifted by helicopter off the slopes each day. One American female skier broke a small bone in her leg, but she was able to make it down to the bottom of the mountain on just one ski. Instead of being air lifted, she chose to endure a two-hour ambulance ride to a nearby hospital. The physicians at the local hospital were very professional, but the athlete’s parents turned to me for assistance because they were worried about travel mobility and her recovery when they returned to America. After discussing their concerns with the Swiss hospital staff, she was fitted with a temporary boot and given crutches so her journey home would be more comfortable.”

Dr. Joyner’s journey to the 2020 Youth Olympic Games was preceded by his participation as a volunteer doctor at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in October 2018. Prior to moving back to Naples where he started his current practice, Dr. Joyner taught orthopedic surgery as an academic Naval officer and also became the head physician for Seal Teams 2 and 4. Eventually, he would become the military’s international sports competition team medical doctor. This military-only athletic group, known as the CISM, is the second largest international sports organization next to the International Olympic Committee.

Dr. Joyner is a self-proclaimed “Olympic nerd,” and admitted that his obsession with the Olympics began as a young boy growing up in Naples. A former member of the Naples High School wrestling team, Dr. Joyner said he knew a future in sports medicine would allow him to help athletes stay competitive and healthy. Today, he volunteers as the on-site physician at many Barron Collier, Immokalee and Palmetto Ridge high school football and baseball games. ¦

— Dr. Patrick Joyner practices sports medicine and is an orthopedic surgeon at OrthoCollier, a division of Neuroscience & Spine Associates. For more information, visit www.orthocollier.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *