2025 USOPC Paralympic Sports Medicine Conference
September 4-6, 2025 | Colorado Springs, Colo. & Virtual
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is excited to announce the inaugural Paralympic Sports Medicine Conference, scheduled for September 4–6, 2025. This hybrid conference, co-sponsored by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R), will take place virtually and in person at the Colorado Springs Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.
This first-of-its-kind initiative, presented in collaboration with leading medical associations, will feature renowned experts in Paralympic sports medicine. The conference will cover a wide range of topics, including Paralympic classification, adaptive equipment, medical emergencies, travel-related health concerns, neurologic and cardiac conditions, skin care, and more. Attendees can expect a mix of lectures and hands-on learning opportunities.
Join us for this comprehensive exploration of Paralympic sports medicine. For inquiries, contact sportsmedevents@usopc.org. We look forward to seeing you in September!
Registration Pricing
Register, opens in a new tabNon-Physician/Physician in Training:
- Early bird (Before July 15, 2025): $425
- Late registration (On or after July 15, 2025): $500
Physician:
- Early bird (Before July 15, 2025): $525
- Late registration (On or after July 15, 2025): $600
Team USA Athlete (active/currently competing):
*This category is reserved for athletes actively competing for Team USA. Retired athletes must register using the appropriate professional category: physician or non-physician/physician in training.
- Free if attending virtually
- Early bird in-person attendance (before July 15, 2025): $425
- Late registration in person attendance (On of after July 15, 2025): $500
The pricing covers the cost of continuing education (CME/CEUs), conference meals and snacks, evening receptions, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center entrance fees, event transportation and breakfast if staying at the host hotel. If you are traveling with a guest and wish for them to attend an evening reception, there will be an additional cost of $55/person.
Accomodations
BOOK, opens in a new tabThe host hotel for the conference is the Hilton Garden Inn (HGI) Colorado Springs Downtown with a group room rate of $159++/night for a king bed or two queen beds. Located in downtown Colorado Springs, the HGI is just over two miles west of the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.
The USOPC will provide a shuttle to and from the HGI to the OPTC each day of the event prior to the meeting and at the conclusion of the day.
Transportation
All airport arrivals and departures will be the responsibility of the attendee to secure. We suggest either utilizing Uber/Lyft or Groome Transportation for your transportation needs. Groome's shuttle has a multiple daily shuttles from Denver International Airport to the Antlers Hotel, which is a 5 minute walk or 2 minute Uber/Lyft to the Hilton Garden Inn.
The USOPC will provide a shuttle between the Hilton Garden Inn and the OPTC at the start and end of the meeting each day.
Schedule#
Session 1
Time (MT) | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
8:05 - 8:10 a.m. | Introduction | Jonathan Finnoff |
8:10 - 8:30 a.m. | History of Paralympic Sport | Steve Reid |
8:30 - 9 a.m. | Paralympic Sport Classification | Tyler Carter |
9 - 9:45 a.m. | Paralympic Athlete Medical Disorders | Cheri Blauwet |
9:45 - 9:55 a.m. | Q&A |
Session 2
Time (MT) | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
10:05 - 10:10 a.m. | Introduction | Jonathan Finnoff |
10:10 - 10:40 a.m. | Adaptive Equipment 101 | Stephanie Tow |
10:40 - 11:10 a.m. | Paralympic Athlete Periodic Health Evaluation | Carolette Cloete |
11:10 - 11:30 a.m. | Team Physician Medical Kit | Stephanie Tow |
11:30 - 11:50 a.m. | Medical Concerns Associated with Paralympic Athlete Travel | Steve Reid |
11:50 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Q&A | |
12 - 1 p.m. | Lunch & Athlete Panel |
Session 3
Time (MT) | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
1 - 1:05 p.m. | Introduction | Jonathan Finnoff |
1:05 - 1:35 p.m. | Paralympic Medical Emergencies | Pippa Bennett |
1:35 - 2:05 p.m. | Neurologic Considerations in Paralympic Athletes | Melissa Tinney |
2:05 - 2:35 p.m. | Paralympic Concussion Prevention, Identification, Management and Return to Sport Considerations | Pippa Bennett |
2:35 - 3:05 p.m. | Cardiac Conditions in the Paralympic Athlete | Irfan Asif |
3:05-3:15 p.m. | Q&A |
Session 4
Time (MT) | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
3:30 - 3:35 p.m. | Introduction | Jonathan Finnoff |
3:35 - 4 p.m. | Bowel and Bladder Considerations in the Paralympic Athlete | Melissa Tinney |
4 - 4:25 p.m. | Respiratory Conditions in the Paralympic Athlete | Tod Olin |
4:25 - 4:50 p.m. | Dermatologic Considerations in the Paralympic Athlete | Melissa Tinney |
4:50 - 5 p.m. | Q&A | |
5 - 5:45 p.m. | Networking with Paralympic NGB Medical Leads |
Session 5
Time (MT) | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
8:05 - 8:10 a.m. | Introduction | Jonathan Finnoff |
8:10 - 8:40 a.m. | Musculoskeletal Considerations in the Paralympic Athlete | Andy Marshall |
8:40 - 9:10 a.m. | Trauma Assessment and Initial Management in Paralympic Athletes | Mike Uihlein, Jenna Wilkerson |
9:10 - 9:40 a.m. | Pain Management for Paralympic Athletes | Wayne Derman |
9:40 - 9:50 a.m. | Q&A |
Session 6
Time (MT) | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
10 - 10:05 a.m. | Introduction | Jonathan Finnoff |
10:05 - 10:40 a.m. | Paralympic Athlete Environmental Illness Considerations | Meredith Ehn |
10:40 - 11:10 a.m. | Special Considerations for Athletes with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | Vincent Siasoco |
11:10 - 11:40 a.m. | Sleep Optimization for Paralympic Athletes | Emily Clark |
11:40 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Q&A | |
12 - 1 p.m. | Lunch & Athlete Speaker |
Session 7
Time (MT) | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
1 - 1:05 p.m. | Introduction | Jonathan Finnoff |
1:05 - 1:35 p.m. | Evaluation, Management, and Prevention of Infectious Disease in Paralympic Athletes | Wayne Derman |
1:35 - 2:05 p.m. | Tricks of the Trade for Healthcare Providers working with Paralympic Athletes | Amber Donaldson, Jim Murdock, Jenna Wilkerson |
2:05 - 2:35 p.m. | Prevention, Screening, Evaluation, and Management of Mental Health Conditions in the Paralympic Athlete | Jessica Bartley |
2:35 - 3:05 p.m. | Anti-Doping Considerations in the Paralympic Athlete | Matt Fedoruk |
3:05 - 3:10 p.m. | Q&A |
Session 8
Time (MT) | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
3:20 - 3:25 p.m. | Introduction | Jonathan Finnoff |
3:25 - 3:55 p.m. | SafeSport: Keeping our Athletes Safe | Ju'Riese Colon |
3:55-4:25 p.m. | Return to Sport panel | Steve Reid, Pippa Bennett, Wayne Derman, Andy Marshall, Carolette Snyders, Stephanie Tow, Mike Uihlein, Meredith Ehn, Irfan Asif |
4:25 - 4:50 p.m. | How to Get Involved in the Paralympic Movement | Jonathan Finnoff |
4:50 - 5 p.m. | Q&A |
Practical Session (7:45 a.m. - 5 p.m. MT)
- Medical Emergency 1 (Autonomic Dysreflexia)
- Medical Emergency 2 (Collapse/Seizure)
- Medical Emergency 3 (Cardiac Arrest)
- Medical Emergency 4 (Environmental Illness)
- Mental Health Emergency
- Trauma Assessment
- Paralympic Concussion
- Spine Board and Splinting
- Decubitus Ulcer Evaluation & Treatment
Conference Co-Sponsor#
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R)
Website, opens in a new tabAAPM&R is the premier medical society for the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation, exclusively serving the needs of practicing PM&R physicians.
Conference Partnerships#
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Website, opens in a new tabACSM is a sports medicine and exercise science organization aimed to educate and empower professionals to advance the science and practice of health and human performance.
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM)
Website, opens in a new tabAMSSM provides a forum to foster professional relationships among sports medicine physicians to advance the discipline of sports medicine through education, research, advocacy and excellence in patient care.
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
Website, opens in a new tabThe American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) promotes sports medicine education, research, communication, and fellowship and includes national and international orthopaedic sports medicine leaders.
British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM)
Website, opens in a new tabBritish Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) is a multimedia portal for authoritative original research, systematic reviews, consensus statements and debate in sport and exercise medicine (SEM).
Continuing Education#
The USOPC will provide continuing education credits to athletic trainers, chiropractors (specific states TBD), physical therapists (Colorado, and additional states TBD), physicians, physician assistants, and psychological service providers.
Number of Contact Hours/CME/CEU Credits: 24*
*pending approval
BOC
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to offer continuing education for athletic trainers.
Conference Speakers#
Irfan Asif, MD
Jessica Bartley, PsyD
Pippa Bennett, MBChB
Cheri Blauwet, MD
Tyler Carter
Emily Clark, PsyD
Wayne Derman, MBChB
Amber Donaldson, DPT
Meredith Ehn, DO
Matt Fedoruk, PhD
Jonathan Finnoff, DO
Andy Marshall, MD
Jim Murdock, ATC
Tod Olin, MD
Steve Reid, MBBS
Monica Rivera
Vincent Siasoco, MD
Carolette Snyders, MBBS
Melissa Tinney, MD
Stephanie Tow, MD
Mike Uihlein, MD
Jenna Wilkerson, ATC
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)#
Providers interested in learning about the Paralympic Movement and providing medical support to athletes with physical and visual disabilities. This conference covers a wide range of sports medicine topics focusing on practical knowledge and skills related to acute athlete care. It is ideal for physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, mental health providers, advanced practice providers physician assistants, and chiropractors seeking to enhance their skills and gain insights into the practices of Team USA.
Conference fees cover the cost of continuing education (CME/CEUs), conference meals and snacks, evening receptions, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center entrance fees, event transportation and breakfast if staying at the host hotel.
Yes, the conference will be available virtually to attend live on Zoom, as well as recorded for viewing for approximately 30 days following the event. Recordings are available for registered participants and links will be distributed to the email that attendees register with. All sessions, including the hands-on practical sessions on Sept. 6, will be available virtually [with exception of evening networking reception].
We encourage you to register early as space will be limited for the in-person event [first 400 registrants], specifically the hands-on practical session on September 6. The deadline to register to attend the conference in Colorado Springs is Thursday, Aug. 7 (if capacity is not already met). There is no cap on virtual attendance, but registration will close on Friday, Aug. 29.
The USOPC will provide continuing education credits to athletic trainers, chiropractors (California), physical therapists (Colorado, New York* and Texas*), physicians and physician assistants. Through a joint providership agreement, the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation is the accredited provider of this educational activity.
Through a joint providership agreement, the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation is the accredited provider of this educational activity.
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to offer continuing education for athletic trainers.
*CE credits are currently pending approval per profession. Please check back to this webpage for updated information.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this program, attendees will be able to:
- Utilize current best practices to assess and treat medical emergencies in Paralympic athletes.
- Implement periodic health evaluations for the Paralympic athlete.
- Develop or improve mental health emergency action plans for training and competition utilizing current evidence-based information.
- Integrate updates for the evaluation and treatment of sport related concussion in the Paralympic athlete using the latest evidence-based information.
- Design a comprehensive risk mitigation plan for environmental illness in Paralympic athletes by analyzing sport-specific, disability-related, and environmental interaction factors.
- Critique and synthesize adaptive clinical techniques and logistical strategies used in Paralympic sports medicine to enhance care delivery across diverse competitive environments.
Schedule and Format: Three-day conference offered both in-person and virtually with lectures and hands-on trainings from distinguished medical professionals and panelists.
Required materials and equipment: Virtual participants are required to be able to log in and view the streaming presentation on the device of their choice. This device may be a computer, tablet, or smartphone. All materials will be provided for in-person attendees.
If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Jenna Wilkerson, ATC at Jenna.Wilkerson@usopc.org.
Please register as a physician if you hold the following credentials:
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine (DC)
- Physician Assistant (PA)
Please register as a non-physician if you hold any other health care provider credential including:
- Athletic Training (ATC)
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Physical Therapy (PT)
- Psychology (PhD, PsyD, EdS)
- Massage Therapy (MT)
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Participants will receive a confirmation email from teamusaevents@usopc.org with the subject line "2025 USOPC Paralympic Sports Medicine - Registration Confirmation" upon successfully registering. Please check your spam and junk folders for this communication. Your method of payment will also be charged the registration fee for the event.
Note that if you did not receive this email, you likely did not click "submit" on the final page of registration. For technical troubleshooting and questions about registration, please email teamusaevents@usopc.org.
Thank you for your interest in our conference! We truly appreciate the enthusiasm of students wanting to participate. At this time, we do not offer specific student discounts and ask that you register as a non-physician/physician in training.