Posted on 05/02/2020 4:51:11 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
KANSAS CITY -- Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has gone from the offensive line to the front line, using the medical degree he completed during offseasons with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to help patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still dressed in his lab coat while taking a lunch break Friday, the gregarious Duvernay-Tardif explained during a video interview that he contacted the health ministry in his native Canada early in the outbreak to see how he could help.
Duvernay-Tardif began by making public-service announcements and getting out the word about social distancing. But he soon sprang into action when it became clear there would be a shortage of trained medical professionals.
“In times of crisis,” Duvernay-Tardif said while drinking from a carton of milk, “there are so many extra steps you need to take to protect yourself, but also the patients. We’re using visors and masks all day long, washing hands — so many precautionary measures just makes everything heavier in terms of risk, and that’s why they needed so many more people. There are a lot of health professionals that have gotten sick, but also just so much more work to do.”
The only active medical school graduate in the NFL earned his degree from McGill University. He still had hospital rotations and other work to finish when the Chiefs drafted him in 2014, which meant returning to his native Canada each offseason and putting in some long hours.
His dedication has paid off in both professions.
On the field, Duvernay-Tardif blossomed from backup lineman into stalwart starter for a franchise that just won its first Super Bowl in five decades. He became so dependable the Chiefs signed him to a $42.36 million, five-year contract in 2017, more than $20 million guaranteed and a $10 million signing bonus.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
McGill is a top notch school. Obviously a very smart guy.
NOw there’s a man.
We\nt to doctor when lived in Pennsylvania
He was H U G E - 6 ft 7 , about 300 lbs
Spotted diploma from Penn State on wall
Asked if played football Said he did, was Offensive lineman
Told me story he got into medical school, University of Pennsylvania no less
Said Paterno had written letters to the admission board outlining his qualities His dedication, and grades
It’s really a shame that the kneelers out there throw such a dark shadow over all of the very good people in the NFL.
Some people have bigger brains and harder heads than others... Then you have those with soft heads.
Take Tex Cobb, the boxer... That man never suffered a concussion in his life. I watched Larry Holmes beat his head for 15 rounds, turned his face into hamburger meat... The man lost but he never went down.
Then look at Eric Lindros... Great hockey player who suffered from multiple concussions... Or Sidney Crosby... Another soft-headed NHL player. Gordie Howe on the other hand likely never suffered a concussion in his 32 years of playing professional hockey.
If you suffer from concussions you should really try to find another job. Then again, I knew this dude who had 8 concussions, most of them while playing Lacrosse... Never got paid a cent... He played hockey and lacrosse for fun.
Gordie Howe did suffer from dementia in the latter years of his life.
Of course he was 88 when he died so it was not necessarily hockey related.
Yup... If you get to 88 and you’re having a hard time finding your car keys, or remembering your children... That likely isn’t a result of concussions. Troy Aikman is 53 and having trouble finding his car keys... That IS a result of concussions... He had several, so I assume his head is pretty soft.
My nephew had a pretty severe concussion he got playing high-school football. Fortunately he listened to his dad and hung-up the cletes at age 17. Now a third year college biomedical student and doing great.
Good stuff... That’s what kids and young people in sports should be directed to do.
It’s tough because playing sports isn’t about money when you’re young, it’s about the love of playing and participating. One concussion is enough, if a young person suffers one concussion they should be directed away from physical activities that can result in concussions.
There are sports that do not involve possible trauma to your skull, like tennis or golf. And that’s the direction that people who suffer a concussion should be directed towards.
It has *nothing* to do with "hard heads".The human brain floats around the skull in a fluid called cerebral spinal fluid.When the head experiences any kind of sharp,sudden acceleration...or deceleration...the brain makes contact with then inner skull (inner,obviously).Depending on the specifics of a particular event the damage to the brain is minimal (or maybe even no damage at all) or it can be substantial.
However,whatever damage that might result from a particular incident is cumulative.So repeated incidents will,over time,result in enormous damage.As was the case with Aaron Hernandez.
Boston University Medical School has an ongoing research study into brain injuries...including injuries suffered by athletes (NFL,NHL,boxing,etc).Aaron Hernandez's brain was donated to this study and they found a breathtaking amount of brain damage...particularly for a guy as young as he was.
BU was also able to examine the brain of Junior Seau...who committed suicide...and found enormous brain damage in him as well.
And then you have Cassius Clay...who was,in his last years,a drooling vegetable.
Just sayin'...
I’m my nephew’s case it was all about the chicks.
He’s a good looking All-American lad and his dad convinced him they’d still be there without football. They were.
He had teammates with no issues so this does appear to be a very individual thing.
He's plays guard. Chances of concussion is pretty low at that position.
Remember “Dr. Lenkaitis”?
I was sad to learn he passed away in 2016.
Until H.I. McDunnough pulled the pins on those grenades.
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