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 event 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. Further event details will be available soon, with registration launching in late May 2025. For inquiries, contact sportsmedevents@usopc.org. We look forward to seeing you in September!
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.
Conference Co-Sponsor#
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R)
AAPM&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)
ACSM 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)
AMSSM 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)
The 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)
British 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).
Paralympics Austrialia
National Paralympic Committee for Team Australia
Conference Speakers#
Irfan Asif
Jess Bartley
Pippa Bennett
Cheri Blauwet
Tyler Carter
Emily Clark
Ju'Riese Colon
Wayne Derman
Amber Donaldson
Meredith Ehn
Matt Fedoruk
Jonathan Finnoff
Andy Marshall
Jim Murdock
Tod Olin
Steve Reid
Vincent Siasoco
Carolette Snyders
Melissa Tinney
Stephanie Tow
Mike Uihlein
Jenna Wilkerson
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