From Houston to Paris: Texas Children’s Supports Athletes on the World Stage

As the world engages in the pinnacle of sports in Paris, so, too, are several of the 50+ providers who care for Olympic and Paralympic athletes from Texas Children’s Hospital. Jeffrey Shilt, MD, Community-in-Chief and pediatric sports medicine liaison for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, will continue in his role as team physician for U.S. Paralympic Cycling team. This year, he’s joined by Shauna Norman, MD, FAAP, CAQSM, pediatric sports medicine and team physician for Team USA Skateboarding, and Cathryn Carranza, MAT, LAT, ATC, who will work alongside Dr. Norman as the team’s athletic trainer. 

A four-year partnership

Texas Children’s was named the official Pediatric Medicine Provider within the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s (USOPC’s) National Medical Network in 2020, focused on providing comprehensive, whole-athlete care in coordination with USOPC medical practitioners. The Texas Children’s team not only brings athletes innovative technology like its motion analysis lab and a top-ranked orthopedic program, but also offers experts in every specialty, from physical therapy and nutrition to fertility and psychology — providing care from head to toe. 

While the average age of an Olympic medalist is 23, many compete in their teens, and training at an elite level begins many years beforehand, necessitating the need for highly skilled young athlete care. 

“We care for athletes from playground to podium,” Dr. Shilt said. “The average Olympic athlete achieves their peak physical performance in their twenties, and most athletes train 8 years for their Olympic debut. This places many of the athletes in the Olympic pipeline firmly within the scope of Texas Children’s patient population.” 

Over the past four years, Texas Children’s has treated various Team USA athletes for sports-related injuries.  Equally important are the  non-sport-related diagnoses these elite athletes have, including epilepsy, arrhythmias, and even a cancer scare. In addition, pediatric providers often bring a unique perspective to caring for congenital conditions even into adulthood because of their deep experience in treating them throughout a patient’s childhood and teenage years.

“Many of the medical conditions seen in the adult Olympic population are diagnoses that were made while they were under pediatric care,” said Dr. Shilt. “This is especially relevant in the Paralympic population, where many athletes have a congenital or pediatric disorder as the source of their Paralympic classification.” 

Uniquely positioned to support female athletes

It’s not only age that positioned Texas Children’s as an ideal member of the USOPC’s National Medical Network — it’s also the ever-evolving landscape of athletics. The number of female competitors has increased significantly over the years, from 34% at Atlanta 1996 to 45% at Beijing 2022, with competition expected to reach full gender equality for the first time this year at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Here, too, Texas Children’s offers unique expertise. In addition to providing world-class pediatric care, the Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women provides comprehensive care for women, with specialized providers to support female athletes. Some of these providers were tapped to become part of the medical team supporting Team USA. 

“Together, we compiled a group from across our 2,000 providers with a specific expertise to help optimize female athletes’ health, and how female-specific differences influence training and performance,” Dr. Shilt said. Many providers on the team have an elite athlete background, with a few having past Team USA experience. All are equally passionate about the female athletes.

“By design, we’re equipped to care for the medical, psychological and athletic needs of female athletes of all ages,” said Dr. Norman. “During a competition like this, doctors and athletic trainers provide comprehensive care treating everything from musculoskeletal injuries to travel-related illnesses.”

Caring for athletes around the country — and down the street

The level of care provided by the Texas Children’s team benefits every family that walks through its doors. Whether their child is competing on the world stage or just on the playground, Texas Children’s offer the same dedication and knowledge to every patient.

“The same physicians, physical therapists and specialists caring for our nation’s best athletes use that expertise to help kids across the country,” Dr. Shilt said. “Whether your patient is competing for gold medals or just starting their athletic journey, we can help them reach their full potential.”

Learn more about Texas Children’s role as Official Pediatric Medicine Provider at www.texaschildrens.org/athletes.