Most memorable sporting moments?

I have been fortunate to experience sport as a participant (modified following bilateral total hip arthroplasties), coach (okay so the 9- and 10-year-old players might have had a better slapshot), mom (team and extreme sports—no wonder I have grey hair!), youth sport team physiotherapist (well timed with the ice hockey and field hockey experiences of my kids), sport injury epidemiologist (reportedly also experiencing higher rates of injury than many professions… perhaps a predictive pathway to choice of field), at the 2012 Paralympics in London (need I say more), and unfortunately as a patient (l gained lots of patient perspective in ICU following a hockey puck to larynx injury mechanism).

Letter to a high school version of yourself?

Dear high school Carolyn,

For as long as I can remember, people have told you that there are two versions of yourself: one going 100 miles an hour and one who is sound asleep (I guess you have slept through more movies than most). While it is true that there are only 24 hours in a day, and while you always wanted to make the most of each hour, perhaps you should slow down just a little. You should know that the bar can be high, and it is important to stop to smell the roses (…and lily of the valley and lilacs and gardenia…) along the way. Be kind to yourself. As a wise person once said, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”.

Take care,

Carolyn (aka wise old bird)

One skill that has served you most in your career?

Tenacity—set your goals and never give up.

Fondest career memory?

There was a midcareer moment when I realized that rigorous and interdisciplinary research evidence could indeed inform best practice and policy, and have a significant public health impact in reducing the burden of injury and their consequences in youth earlier than the predicted 17-year time frame. This is made …