Member Spotlight
Dr Alice McNamara
What influenced you to become a Sports and Exercise Physician?
My experience of “sports doctors” was the norm during my time as an athlete. In Rowing we were so lucky with the care and quality of doctors. Dr Lari Trease along with Dr Steve Reid and others were absolute standouts. They seemed to be the “level hand” in a very high pressure environment. They knew how to manage a medical issue in a practical (and performance) context. While I tried to find a specialty in the hospital that meant I could "doctor" like them… I couldn’t!
If you weren’t a doctor, what would you have been?
I’d probably still be at Uni... and rowing. Or perhaps finding another obscure sport like stair climbing. Thankfully I had a medical degree behind me when my sporting career finished or I would have has a lot of trouble with my next purpose. Once I started doing placements as a student I knew I was hooked. Medicine was one of those things that made science real as it applied to people. After 2020, I’ve realised I've been fascinated with that: public health and psychology… so I may have gravitated there.
However, I also would be an excellent dog-walker! And I still may end up doing that.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
I really love information translation, and bringing clarity to a problem or injury that has been problematic. I really enjoy watching someone understand something and then being able to take control of it, and that works across all levels of SEM.
I love the people in our industry, and the passion people have for their given sports and activities.
Have there been any learnings or challenges that have stood out for you at this stage in your career?
I found my first few weeks in clinic so tough! Building a practice in a SEM clinic was very, very different from working in Emergency. You’re not only aiming to exclude dangerous or life-threatening things, but you actually need a diagnosis and a longer-term plan. And people really appreciate when you dedicate a lot of thought to doing this for them. Working in a practice where you can discuss cases is so important for early registrars, and I’ve been very fortunate for the support of Dr Leesa Huguenin at MP Sports.
Starting a career in SEM when Sport stopped in 2020, was not ideal! However, I had enough to do and learn from. We managed less team and contact sport injuries. and more overuse injuries from new exercise, or new working conditions. Pain was harder to treat as personal stress and physical isolation had a real impact. No patients missed their appointments, as it was “one of the 4 reasons” to leave the house in VIC!
2020 and the delay of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to 2021 also gave a welcome window (with athletes at home) to collect data from our female athletes as part of the AIS FHPI. So in terms of training, and getting Research started it was a year well spent. For the athletes though it was sadly not so good…
What advice would you give someone interested in Sports and Exercise medicine?
There is plenty of work and we are growing our field, so welcome! and get involved!
Try and take up opportunities to cover sporting events and team up with registrars who are doing this. Everyone is very approachable and always appreciates a hand.
I found it inspiring to attend the ACSEP conference. You could also join the SEM academy, and do the MOST course.
Start to learn about exercise prescription, and begin to appropriately question and prescribe to your patients at any opportunity.
On a weekend you can be found…
I’ve usually sorted a little trail run with a mate to catch up on a chat, some greenery, and some fresh air.
Then it's relaxing at a café and walking the kids and the dog to the beach.
At the moment this is all punctuated with footy and events… but I’m seeing this is the new life!