Cool job: Dr. Chris Morrow, team physician, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Was this something you always planned to get into?
No, this was definitely not my plan. I got into it after I had already been practising for a couple of years. I had always thought I would end up being more of a generalist but was drawn to musculoskeletal care. As an active person, the practical elements of helping people move was a natural fit. 

What’s your favourite part of the job?
Like any job, the best part is the people you work with. We have a great team in terms of our clinic staff as well as a great training staff with both football teams (the Blue Bombers and also the University of Manitoba Bisons Varsity Football, where I am also team physician). When we won the Grey Cups in 2019 and 2021, it was great to celebrate it with great colleagues. From a patient care perspective, I enjoy following up with patients I have gotten to know and getting to play a small but meaningful role with teams.

What are the most common conditions/injuries you treat?
In the Winnipeg Legacy Sport Medicine Clinic where I also work, we see a lot of osteoarthritis and various tendinopathies. In football, there are more traumatic injuries of all sorts. In the span of a season, you get everything from concussions, and simple sprains to ACL/Achilles ruptures and joint dislocations, and always have to be prepared for the worst-case scenarios.

Can you share an anecdote about a challenging situation you experienced?
More of a funny one. In the rivalry game between the Bombers who wear blue and Saskatchewan Riders who wear green, a Saskatchewan player had a significant wrist injury, and needed to be reduced and casted before returning home. The Bombers won by a lot, and the player was upset that we didn’t have green casts. Going home after a drubbing with a blue cast was not his idea of fun!

What qualities should someone have to do this kind of work?
There are lots of different types of people who go into sports medicine, there isn’t one way to do it. What I have found works best are the 3As: ability, affability, and availability. I learned that from my grandfather who was a GP in rural Ireland; it was true then and is true today.