By Kaitlyn VanSchyndel – Contributor

Every year, we get together on game days to watch our Gaiters defend the swamp. We witness them accumulate all sorts of injuries from being tackled, slashed or outright mauled. Who keeps them together before, during and after games? The Bishop’s Sports Medicine Clinic!

The Sports Medicine Clinic is a great resource for varsity student-athletes to get treatment for injuries that occur over their season. Covering ten varsity teams with only five athletic therapists, the clinic heavily relies on student volunteers to ensure its smooth operation. 

Student volunteers have an amazing opportunity to give back to the Bishop’s community through the Sports Medicine Clinic. They are given responsibilities ranging from shadowing and assisting the athletic therapists during treatments, managing the tidiness of equipment and the clinic itself, and providing much-needed support during busy game days. 

Volunteering with the clinic is a rewarding experience because volunteers do not just give back to the community; they also have the chance to build connections with the clinic staff, who, in my experience, will go out of their way to support and mentor dedicated students. An additional benefit, mainly for those in sports studies, is the SPO 411 Sports Centre Practicum. This unique opportunity allows students to translate accumulated knowledge into practical hands-on experience for credit. 

Overall, the clinic is a welcoming and positive atmosphere to be a part of, filled with a sense of community and individuals who share a passion for health care and sports. Whether you are interested in a future in athletic therapy, want to make a difference on campus or just really like sports, volunteering at the clinic is a great opportunity to get a sense of the sports medicine environment.

Students interested in getting involved with the Bishop’s Sports Medicine Clinic can send an email to Kelsey Arseneault at karsenea@ubishops.ca or Katrina Lambert at klambert@ubishops.ca.