Nailah Adams, MD, MS, CAQSM, was the head team physician for USA Track and Field for their 2023 Pan American Games contingent in Santiago, Chile, October 20th-November 5th. During this 2-week experience, Adams worked with a multidisciplinary team, including Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, Massage Therapy, and Sports Psychology, to take care of athletes and supporting staff in the medical room at the Athlete Village and at the Julio Martinez National Stadium (pictured in last photo). Adams was able to apply her skills as a Primary Care Sports Medicine physician to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal and non-MSK concerns, including the use of diagnostic ultrasound. Adams reports, “Our team also liaised with medical staff from the national office of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and other sporting teams on daily medical meetings. We had long days, usually from 9 am to midnight, and it was much colder than even the Chileans expected for this time in their Spring. It was truly enjoyable to be able to fulfill the mission of supporting the athletes with whatever they needed.”
Dr. Adams was the official team physician for Trinidad and Tobago at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She is the Director of the UNC Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship and is a physician with UNC Primary Care Sports Medicine at The UNC Family Medicine Center’s Chapel Hill and Durham locations, and is one of the leaders of an inter-departmental collaboration with the UNC Sports Medicine Institute, the Women’s Health Program.