Ever since I was in chiropractic school at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) there was a desire in me to be one of the esteemed sports sciences fellows (RCCSS). Even early on in my education I admired their knowledge, confidence and the way that if someone wasn’t sure how to be treating something they seemed to always look to the sport fellows for advice or guidance. I was early on influenced by the likes of Dr. Andreo Spina and Dr. Michael Chivers as they had just started their residency when I started my first year at CMCC. They were not cocky, or condescending, but happy to share knowledge that they had to help make us first years smarter and better. It was a humbling and inspiring experience.
I have now been in practice for over fifteen years and finally have the freedom, commitment and time to start my journey of being a fellow of the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences (RCCSS). Like most aspiring sports doctors I had goals of working with the Canadian Olympic Team or for a professional sports team. Interestingly as I have been in practice for quite a while, those are less of a concern for me, and I am more interested in forcing myself to learn more and be better at my craft. After so many years in practice, a pandemic and substantial changes in my personal life, I felt stagnant and wanting a change. My main goal with doing my sports residency is to guide to a place where I am no longer stuck doing the same thing for patients day in and day out, but really digging into the latest research and providing the very best in possible care.
I have been at the sports residency for the last 1.5 years and in that time completed a masters of science at the University of Guelph under Dr. John Srbely. Part of this masters will fulfill requirements for my residency and parts are for my own personal growth. Despite being a good twenty years older than most of my classmates, I thoroughly enjoyed my time doing my masters and did not feel out of place. I certainly had a lot more practical experience than my classmates, but they were all very welcoming, motivated and happy to collaborate. It is never too late to go back to school.
Now that the masters is complete, I am completely committed to my residency. I have two-and-a-half years to complete the requirements and get everything submitted. I am intending to use this blog as a place to help chronicle my journal along my residency path. One of the principles driving me to complete this is the ability to help educate, inspire, pass-along, motivated others. I don’t really have grand aspirations to go to the Olympics, however if the opportunity presented itself, I would definitely go. I want to take this opportunity to give back to to my profession. I want to grown the knowledge base that we have, and help the next generation to be even better than we are. I am humbled by this opportunity to do my residency and regardless of the outcome I will continually push forward.
Adam
Dr. Adam Wade 