Volunteering for a Special Cause
It all began more than 20 years ago. Patrick Moore, M.D. ’76, a family physician with Altru Health System in Grand Forks, began working with the Special Olympics.
“I got involved partly because of my nephew,” states Moore whose nephew was a Special Olympics athlete who played basketball in the 1991 World Summer Games. “I started out as a volunteer at
different events and was later elected to the Special Olympics North Dakota Board of Directors.”
In addition to serving on North Dakota’s board for nine years, Moore has also been involved with Special Olympics International World and looked at medical-related issues from a worldwide
prospective. In 2005, Moore was appointed to be part of Team USA’s medical team. The U.S. team that went to the Special Olympics World Winter Olympics Games in Nagano, Japan.
“I was one of three physicians who provided medical coverage for approximately 150 athletes and 100 staff,” he explained.
The physicians split coverage for certain groups. Moore oversaw the downhill skiers and snowshoers. As part of the medical team, Moore also reviewed and identified any concerns or relevant issues that might require special precautions.
“Although we had a few cases of pneumonia and bronchitis, every athlete was able to compete,” he said. Moore admits that the hours were grueling and although his responsibilities allowed him no spare time, Moore confesses he loved watching the athletes participate. “We started at 6 a.m. and typically ended our day after midnight,” he said, “but watching them compete makes you appreciate what you’ve got.”
Headed for Shanghai
The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, in October. Moore will serve as Team USA’s medical director. The event will mark the first time the World Summer Games will be held in Asia, and only the second time they will be held outside the United States. The team will once again travel as a group, and athletes of all
ability levels will compete in 21 different Special Olympics and Olympic-type sports. Special Olympics athletes not competing in the World Games will play crucial leadership roles off the sports field as officials, assistant coaches, reporters and spokespeople.
In July, Moore attended the athlete’s training camp in Nashville, TN.
“At the camp we got to know an athlete’s health issues,” he said
Moore speculates that the increased number of events will present more of a challenge to the medical team.
“It is expected to draw 7,000 athletes from 169 countries, 40,000 volunteers and 3,500 event officials.” Under his direction, USA’s health care team will provide medical coverage for minor issues at the games; any major health concerns are handled by the host country’s health care facility.
“We’ll assist in the process if anyone needs to goes to the hospital. However, we are not certified to practice medicine in another country.”
Over the past two decades, Moore has witnessed a change in people’s perceptions because of the Special Olympics program.
“There is greater acceptance of individuals with intellectual disabilities and more of an interest in integrating these individuals into the community,” he said.
Looking forward Moore says he’ll continue to offer his services to Special Olympics for as long as they want him. “I’ve been asked to look at the 2009 World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho,” he said.
He states that he could not pursue this passion without the support of his family and partners at Altru Clinic - Family Medicine Center. “Next year I’ll be gone for close to four weeks.” And he highly encourages people to get involved with Special Olympics. “It’s a lot of fun, and you get far more out of it than you put into it.”
“It’s a lot of fun, and you get far more out of it than you put into it.”
Story courtesy of Altru Health System, photos courtesy of Patrick Moore
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