Schad Richea's Letter to President of Laurentian University

July 14, 2011
Dominic Giroux
President, Laurentian University
Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6
Canada


Mr. Giroux:

My name is Schad Richea. Currently, I am the Assistant Athletic Therapist for the Calgary Flames. Previously to my work here, I was the Head Athletic Therapist at the University of Calgary. I recently have become aware of the terrible situation with Laurentian Athletics and the dismissal of my colleague Wendy Hampson CAT(C). This letter is meant to show the deplorable situation your Athletics Department is now in with this very ignorant decision.

Athletic Therapy services for varsity athletics is redundant at Laurentian? Who is going to coordinate and cover the on-court/field/ice practices and games for your student athletes? Who is going to accept this liability when someone is hurt with nobody there? Who is going to coordinate the pre-season medicals for your student athletes? Do you think you can simply “piece work” this type of care? Who is going to help your coaches decide who is in or out of the line-up? Who is going to mentor Athletic Therapy students with experiential learning? Who is going to provide a very important link between the community and Laurentian University with regards to being a voice for Athletic Therapy expertise for active citizens of Sudbury? Wendy Hampson is world renown and a great leader! This decision seems purely political and budgetary with no prudence as to other models which are best for the student athlete at Laurentian.

Here with the Flames, the NHL athletes have the means to access an array of specialist providers: Sport Medicine Physicians, Orthopedic Surgeons, Dentists, nutritionists, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc. However, these medical professionals do not deal with the day to day activities, treatments, rehab, coordination of care, etc. This is paramount to compete at a maximum level. We handle all of this! Jarome Iginla doesn’t see me as redundant!

There are many ways to fund an Athletic Therapy program for Laurentian University varsity athletics. By simply “gassing it” and patching you have given up and your student athletes will suffer. Also, you have passed the buck for Laurentian Athletics medical coverage to other CIS universities in your conference (it would seem both home and away). I plead you take a look at this situation and tactfully evaluate its impact.


Sincerely:

Schad Richea MEd.,BSc., ATC, CAT(C)
Assistant Athletic Therapist - Calgary Flames Hockey Club