Spark Movement leader, Olympic DOs headlined OMED21 on Sunday

During OMED21 on Sunday, participants had the opportunity to attend sessions on topics ranging from cardiovascular diseases and Olympic DOs to wellness. The day’s highlights included:

• A symposium on omega-3 and cardiovascular diseases
• Keynote headliner Simon T. Bailey
• A keynote panel on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
• The Student Track
• A joint CME session on resilience and physician wellness presented by Miko Rose, DO, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, the American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists, the American Academy of Osteopathy and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine.

The keynote headliner was Simon T. Bailey, leader of the Spark Movement, which seeks to make sustainable transformation in people, individuals, systems and nations.

Bailey, who has spent more than 30 years in the hospitality industry, praised DOs and discussed how adaptive resilience and overcoming the unexpected can reveal you who are at the core.

“You’re the individuals who don’t just see patients, you see people,” said Bailey. “You are the difference the world has been waiting for – it is not just a job; it is a calling.”

Four questions

Bailey posed four main questions throughout his presentation, and urged listeners to consider what they mean for themselves and their position.

1. Where have I been?
2. Why am I here?
3. What can I do?
4. Where am I going?

Bailey also discussed the ways everyday language can help facilitate transformations.

“Become mindful of the words you’re using, and understand their power, which is life-giving,” said Bailey. “It’s one thing to teach; it’s another to live what you teach.”

Olympic DOs

OMED21’s Sunday General Session also featured a panel with three DOs who supported world-class athletes representing the United States in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – James M. Lally, DO, Alexandra Myers, DO, and Naresh Rao, DO.

Dr. Lally, chief medical officer for the International Shooting Sports Federation, was asked to describe what it’s like to be a team physician.

“It sounds glamorous, getting to be around all the athletes,” said Dr. Lally. “But it’s a process of servitude – they don’t know you; they don’t trust you; but their whole lives are this sport.”

Dr. Myers, team physician for the USA Rugby Team, shared a little about spending time with the athletes, and how they spent their free time during the 2020 Olympics.

“The most fun part of the Olympics was getting to interact with the athletes and staff socially,” said Dr. Myers. “It offered an opportunity for us to interact together on a meaningful level – the traveling gives that to us.”

Closing out the personal questions, Dr. Rao, team physician for the USA Water Polo men’s team, discussed how this Olympics experience during a pandemic was different from former ones.

“We really needed to make sure these athletes are being taken care of,” said Dr. Rao.

On-demand viewing

OMED21 participants who missed any of Friday’s, Saturday’s, or Sunday’s sessions, including those mentioned above, will be able to access them on-demand through Nov. 25.