GIS Students Get Up Close with the Leaders Shaping Sports Medicine

Held at the Royal Institution on 9 October, five Global Institute of Sport (GIS) students gained special access to the revered London Sports Medicine Summit through exclusive volunteering opportunities.

Organised by the Sports Doctor Network, the summit brought together leading physicians, researchers and scientists from across the sporting world to explore the latest developments in athlete health, sports medicine and performance.

Supporting the event across a range of operational roles, the students gained valuable hands-on experience while hearing from those working at the highest levels of sport, including professionals associated with Real Madrid, UEFA and the Los Angeles Lakers.

A Royal Welcome in London

The summit opened with welcome remarks from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, with the event marking 50 years since she competed as an equestrian at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

Dr Allen Sills of the Health and Safety Division at the NFL then introduced the summit, setting the stage for a day of keynote presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions designed to explore the latest developments in sports medicine.

Insight from Leading Figures in Sport

Alongside academic insight from the expert scientists and researchers, attendees heard from numerous leading voices from some of the world’s largest sporting organisations who shared their knowledge with the audience.

Speakers included:

    —  Dr Niko Mihic, Chief Medical Officer at Real Madrid

    —  Dr Stefano Mazzoni, Team Doctor at AC Milan

    —  Dr Pieter D’Hooghe, Leading Sports Surgeon and former Head of Medical Staff at Club Brugge

    —  Dr Kris Jones, Head Team Physician at the LA Lakers

    —  Dr Cinzia Zehnder, Former Bayern Munich footballer and Expert in Women’s Football Healthcare

    —  James Haskell, Former England rugby international

    —  Andreas Kasper, First-team Nutritionist at Newcastle United

    —  Andy Hudson, Head of Performance Support at WSL

Working with some of the best athletes on the planet, these professionals brought a range of perspectives from multiple sports, highlighting the need for an industry-wide approach to advancing the field.

Exploring the Latest Developments In Sports Medicine

These speakers and many more took part in a series of panel discussions throughout the day, all of which brought the audience updates on the latest debates, research and challenges from those at the very top of sports medicine. 

The role of new technologies in athlete welfare was a major topic, with Dr Niko Mihic, James Haskell and representatives from NVIDIA among the panelists who explored the use of wearable technology, imaging, and AI.

Women’s Health in Sport was another focus, emphasising the need for a greater understanding of the specific health and performance considerations impacting female athletes. Hosted by Charlotte Cowier of the British Olympic Association, experts such as Andy Hudson and Dr Kate Hutchings delved into bone hormonal health, SRY testing, and how to best translate this knowledge to support grassroots sport.

Rapidly-evolving topics in the field of sport and recreational fitness were also explored, including conversations on peptides, metabolic profiling, and biomarkers linked to traumatic brain injuries.

An Immersive Student Experience

To learn more about the volunteering experience of our students, we spoke to two GIS volunteers who supported the event. Edoardo Manghisi, a soon-to-be graduate having studied MSc International Sports Management, first looked back on the importance of gaining practical experience such as this alongside postgraduate studies.

“Volunteering at the London Sports Medicine Summit was a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the delivery of a professional sports event. 

“I really enjoyed being part of the team, supporting the event and learning from people working across the sports industry. Experiences like this continue to strengthen my passion for sport and my ambition to build a career in sports management. I’m grateful to Global Institute of Sport for the opportunity to be involved.”

We also heard from MSc Football Business student Amir Ahmed, who noted the organisation of the event, the diversity of its speakers and the networking opportunities it provided:

“I thought it was a great experience all round, and well-organised from the staff perspective. There was a variety of guest speakers and topics, as well as excellent opportunities to network with guests and staff alike.”

Volunteering as a Route Into the Sports Industry

Opportunities like the London Sports Medicine Summit reflect GIS’s commitment to linking students with the sports industry and providing real opportunities to gain experience you can discuss in interviews and use in the workplace.

By combining these events with the theoretical foundation in the classroom, students start to build valuable relationships and learn directly from experts working across the sporting world.

Looking to take the next step towards your career in sport? Keep an eye on the GIS news page for more exciting opportunities.

Article by Zakaria Anani