Shefali Christopher, an assistant professor of physical therapy education, recent returned from Taipei where she was a member of the medical team supporting the U.S. team at the World University Games.
Christopher, a new assistant professor in Elon’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Education program, offered support to U.S. athletes across a broad range of sports during the games, which ran Aug. 19–30. Previously on the faculty at Duke University, Christopher has participated as a physical therapist for the U.S. team at earlier World University Games in Italy and South Korea.
“It’s rewarding and challenging because of the adrenaline rush that comes with tending to these top athletes and helping them get back in the game,” Christopher said. “You have to have your wits about you, and help make the call about what the best treatment is, and whether the athlete can go back to compete or not.”
The World University Games, known around the world as Universiade, is an international multi-sport event organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation. The Universiade is an international sporting and cultural festival staged every two years in a different city around the world, representing both winter and summer competitions. It is second only in importance to the Olympic Games.
Christopher first became involved with the U.S. team while at Duke University in large part because the head physician for the team was Dr. Ron Olson, a sports medicine specialist. Her first experience was on the ski slopes in Trentino, Italy, where she was joined by two physical therapy students.
Christopher said she has been part of the team of health care providers that tend to athletes in sports that, unlike swimming or basketball, don’t have their own medical staffs. In Taipei, she worked with athletes in table tennis, judo and water polo.
Though their primary mission is to support the U.S. team, Christopher and others also helped treat athletes from other countries who did not have the extensive medical staffs that the U.S. team is able to bring to the games. “The head of our medical delegation believes that it’s important to help some of the other countries that were struggling to cover the needs of their athletes,” Christopher said. “At the end of the day, we want everyone to be healthy.”
“Not only do you have to use your skills, but you have to think through each sport,” Christopher said. “I’m hoping to be invited again in two years, and I’d like to open up opportunities for Elon students to have this kind of experience.”