A Durango doctor is on his way to Chile to spend a week as the U.S. Ski Team’s physician.
According to a news release, Patrick McLaughlin of Animas Spine will be in charge of taking care of the U.S. women’s downhill and super giant slalom training camp.
“These athletes dedicate their entire lives in an effort to represent the United States in the Olympics and beyond,” McLaughlin said in a prepared statement. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to support them during this step of their journey.”
McLaughlin left Friday for Corralco, Chile, home to the Lonquimay Volcano, a renowned backcountry and mountaineering spot that is known for its huge amounts of snow.
The next Winter Olympics are slated for 2018 in PyeongChang, South Korea.
McLaughlin has served in this role as a doctor for the U.S. Ski Team since 2010.
Doctors that travel with Olympic teams primarily serve as advocates for athletes, the news release said, with local emergency services nearby.
“Training camps, like the one in Corralco, Chile, have far less on-site medical support,” the release said. “Ski team physicians carry ... life-saving medical equipment with them at all times but hope never to use it. It can be exciting with skiers hitting speeds of up to 70 miles per hour.”
In Durango, McLaughlin practices non-operative spine care and regenerative medicine therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma and stem-cell treatments, the release said.
“Although the majority of my patients aren’t Olympic athletes, they are often no less dedicated to pursuing an active, healthy lifestyle,” McLaughlin said. “I find it just as rewarding helping them achieve their goals.”
