A sports enthusiast since his younger days as a middle-distance runner for the Queen’s University Golden Gaels, UBC Orthopaedics Professor, Dr. Robert McCormack, has been an essential part of numerous international and multi-sport events over the course of his career. His next role will be the Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Canadian Olympic Team!
Dr. McCormack specializes in athletic injuries. He has cared for athletes at the university, national, and professional levels. This includes the varsity athletes at three universities (in both U Sports and the NCAA). He is also the head physician for three national teams and works as a consultant for several others. At the professional level he is the head physician for the BC Lions (CFL), is the Orthopaedic Surgeon for the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS), and works as a consultant for the NHL/NHLPA.
Dr. McCormack was the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for Team Canada from 2005 to 2019. The 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics will be his tenth Olympic Games as part of the Canadian Medical Team.
As part of the Health and Science team, his role is to ensure the athletes are able to perform their best. “While we are optimistic the Games will happen this year, there is a lot of planning and strategizing to make sure our athletes are kept healthy and ready to perform at the highest level” says Dr. McCormack. “Most of the work happens before we ever get to Japan as the well-coordinated team, under CMO Dr. Mike Wilkinson, strives to optimize all the variables.”
