Get to Know CASEM’s Incoming President: Dr. Darrell Menard

Why did you choose sport medicine?

I grew up loving sports and spent most of my childhood running, kicking, punching or throwing things.  My decision to attend the University of Alberta’s Physical Education Program was based on my passion for sport and while at school I discovered that my favorite subjects were anatomy and injury management.  Over time it became obvious to me that I would be a dream come true to be able to take care of athletes and help them reach their goals.  Easier said then done when you have a wife and three children and are missing several medical school prerequisites.

Why did you join the CASEM board?

The honest answer is that I never applied for the board because I really didn’t think I had anything to offer.  To their credit, Dawn and Rebecca kept gently nudging me to put my name forward and I was eventually elected to the board.  It was only after finally joining the board that I came to realize how valuable the work they do is and I wanted to give back to an organization that had given so much to so many of us.

What is the greatest challenge sport medicine docs are facing today?

In my experience, the greatest challenge facing sport medicine docs is balancing the time it takes to effectively communicate with their patients against the reality of seeing enough patient volume to pay the bills.  This is probably true of all practicing physicians.  We have to get this right because so much of what we do depends on teaching our patients how to better take care of themselves.

What do sports medicine physicians do best?

I would say the big 3 – Teamwork, Teach and Treat

Provide one fun fact about yourself.

I was once bumped up to first class for a trip to Rome because the folks at Alitalia thought I was the Minister of National Defence.

What do you do for physical activity?

I have been strongly committed to regular physical activity since I was a teenager but what I do has significantly changed as I have aged.  Currently I alternate between racewalking and cycling for 70 minutes/day.  In addition, I do 3 x 15 minutes core strengthening sessions/week.  Approximately five times a week I walk dogs with my daughter and during the winter I curl 4 to 5 times a week.

If you could meet any legendary athlete past or present, who would it be?

It would be awesome to be able to go for a run with Tom Longboat.  Can you imagine the stories that this great Canadian Indigenous endurance runner could share.

What is your favorite sports movie?

For me it would be Running Brave, because the 1964 Olympic 10,000-meter champion, Billy Mills picked me to play the role of his archrival Ron Clark.  The movie didn’t win any Academy Awards but I had a blast doing the running scenes.

If you could be a professional athlete in any sport, which one would you choose and why?

While I spent most of my younger life trying to be an elite runner, I really would like to be talented enough to curl professionally. Making big money certainly isn’t driving this selection.   At its highest level, every curling shot requires a balance of strategy, self control, precision, power, endurance, teamwork, communication and timing.  The other attractive thing is that you can enjoy a long curling career and the games aren’t over in a few seconds.

What is your favourite outdoor activity to participate in?

Beachcombing – I just love the possibility of finding something cool to take home.

What’s one new thing you have learned in the last week?

I did not know that Alexander Ovechkin’s mother was a two-time Olympic champion basketball player.

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading a children’s book – The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey.