Mayo Alumni Magazine 2002 Spring - MC4409-0402 - Mayo Clinic

Left: Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center physicians who volunteered
at the 2002 Winter Olympics received red winter gear to designate them
as medical personnel. From left to right: Edward Laskowski, M.D.,
Jay Smith, M.D., Diane Dahm, M.D., and Michael Stuart, M.D.
Members of the United States Olympic team pose after their arrival in the
Athlete’s Village.
“At Mayo we see patients from various countries and
ethnic backgrounds, and we have some experience with
professional athletes,” says Dr. Dahm. “So this
environment was not entirely new to us.”
Indeed Dr. Laskowski says he was impressed not only
with the clinic facilities at the Olympics, but also with how
Mayo’s facilities and people stack up. “We’ve always
viewed our Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center staff as
the ‘A team,’ ” says Dr. Laskowski, “And that opinion
still holds.”
Everything the physicians needed was available at
the center on the University of Utah campus. Athletes had
access to all types of care including optical and dental
services.
In the end, the Mayo volunteers say their fondest
memories will be of the spirit of the Games.
“You see people from different countries and different
sports all coming together,” says Dr. Stuart. “The sense of
cooperation and teamwork is incredible. The event
transcends all geographic and cultural barriers.”
“The chance to work as an Olympic physician was a
dream come true,” adds Dr. Laskowski.
Dr. Laskowski, left, met J.W. Matheson
a graduate of the Mayo Physical
Therapy Program. Both men were
volunteering at the polyclinic for the
athletes.
— Michael Dougherty
Spring 2002 Mayo Alumni 13