Collaboration and Partnerships with The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute a Key to Success of USOC and Team USA
Dr. Bill Moreau, DC, DACBSP, FACSM, is a chiropractic sports medicine physician and evidence-based clinician. He has led sports medicine for the United States Olympic Committee after more than 25 years of private practice. Moreau develops the USOC sports medicine strategy and oversees all Team USA sports medicine activities. Dr. Moreau served as the Medical Director for Team USA at the Olympic Games London 2012 and the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 and as the first doctor of chiropractic in the world to serve as an Olympic Games Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. He has managed the care of thousands of athletes. (Bio courtesy of American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians)
Bill Moreau is the Vice President of the Sports Medicine Division at the United States Olympic Committee. A long-time practicing chiropractor before coming to work for the USOC, Moreau has dedicated much of his life to treating injured athletes and caring for their wellness as they train for future competition.
In his current chief administrative role at USOC, Moreau has initiated and fostered many working relationships with outside organizations -- relationships to aid and strengthen the USOC’s goal of providing the very best in healthcare and fitness for the members of Team USA.
Among those relationships are solid working agreements with both The Steadman Clinic and the Steadman Philippon Research Institute. Not only are they geographic neighbors – with The Steadman Clinic and SPRI in Vail and USOC headquartered in Colorado Springs – USOC and the two Steadman organizations share the same philosophy and determination to produce nothing but the finest outcomes.
“Prior to joining the USOC, I practiced in a small community in rural Iowa and found that you really need to manage what walks into your office to the best of your ability to help that patient and that requires a multi-disciplinary interrelated care panel,” said Moreau. “Nobody knows every answer to every question. I think it’s important for the clinician who is taking care of athletes to recognize that. You have to have experts that you can develop relationships with so that your athlete or your patient can receive the best services available.”
Moreau carried that philosophy with him when he joined the USOC and eventually moved up to his current role as Vice President of the Sports Medicine Division.
“I really believe that the best healthcare opportunities can be provided by people that are absolutely dedicated to the patient that sits before them and places all other needs aside,” continued Moreau. “So, I thought what better place to come to than the United States Olympic Committee where all of your patients are U.S. Olympic or Paralympic athletes or hopefuls?
“It’s a patriotic organization,” said Moreau. “I thought, ‘There’s a place where people can come together to collaborate for patient care.’ And that is exactly what happened. I really built a foundation along with my team that’s based upon multiple disciplines in the field of health care and is literally working together for the benefit of one — the patient.”
That foundation at the USOC needed to bond with outside organizations that could provide the level of excellence it was seeking.
“We believe that the medical services provided in the United States give a competitive advantage on the field of play,” continued Moreau. “Through the incorporation of new technologies, new procedures, and collaborative relationships, we really think that Team USA is in the best position that it has ever been in with regards to health and wellness as we approach our next Games.
“We need to become better every year,” said Moreau. “There’s a lot to be done and it is through our partnership with great institutions like The Steadman Clinic and the Steadman Philippon Research Institute that we’re able to express the tip of the arrow when it comes to the applications of science and technology to the benefit of patient care.
“The Steadman Clinic and SPRI have already had extensive relationships with some of the finest athletes around the globe from many different fields of sport — professional, high school and collegiate,” noted Moreau. “Those athletes are commonly seen walking The Steadman Clinic hallways in Vail. The USOC has the responsibility of helping to manage and assist the athletes in their health and wellness, so doesn’t it make sense to be able to build this partnership with The Steadman Clinic and SPRI?
“To be able to then access the resources of The Steadman Clinic is a privilege,” added Moreau. “To be able to put them in front of the right doctors and the right support teams that can give them the cutting-edge care that they need in order to return to the field of play. Not only return to the field of play, but return to the field of play at the elite level. The professionals at The Steadman Clinic and SPRI have been very successful doing just that.”