COC Hires Medical Director
Dr. Robert McCormack to Become COC First-Ever Medical Director
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced today that Dr. Robert McCormack (New Westminster, B.C.) will fill the newly created position of Medical Director. In the role, Dr. McCormack will work with national and international organizations to shape policy and procedures with the goal to improve coordination, efficiencies and effectiveness of all medical aspects of the COC’s participation at Olympic, Olympic Winter, Pan American and Youth Olympic Games.
“We have been fortunate to have had such an effective, passionate and committed Chief Medical Officer for the past five years take on the new role of Medical Director,” said Caroline Assalian, COC Executive Managing Director, Sport & NSF Relations. “This move puts the COC on par with the most effective National Olympic Committees for medicine and anti-doping related matters.”
A frequent member of Canada’s medical team at international events, Dr. McCormack was Canada’s Chief Medical Officer at the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the 2008 Olympic Games. In each role he was responsible for the medical preparedness of Canada’s Olympic Team.
An orthopaedic surgeon with a specialty in athletic injuries and musculoskeletal trauma, Dr. McCormack has been involved in sport medicine for nearly 20 years. He is the Director of the Simon Fraser Orthopaedic Research Office and Head of the Division of Arthroscopy and Athletic Injuries at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Orthopaedics.
In this new position, Dr. McCormack will work with Medical Commissions of the International Olympic Committee and Pan American Sports Organization, the World Anti-Doping Association, Own The Podium, the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and other multi-Games franchise holders to ensure a cohesive, integrated and optimal health and science system for athletes who compete as part of Canadian Olympic, Pan American and Youth Olympic Teams.
The COC will continue to have a dedicated Chief Medical Officer at every Olympic, Olympic Winter, Pan American and Youth Olympic Games. This individual will lead the Canadian team’s health and science services, focused specifically on team matters.
