Pearls of Performance Evert Verhagen

Patrick Owen is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow within Deakin University’s Musculoskeletal Pain Research Group and Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition. His research focuses on musculoskeletal health, particularly in back pain and biostatistics. Next, he is also a Statistical Consultant at Brigham Young University (USA) and Associate Editor at BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. In that latter capacity, I have had the honours to work with Patrick and pick his brain on occasions; lucky me. In our talk, we went into the value of having a mentor. Further, Patrick talks about his view on rejections in academic science, and he shares with us his thought on how to develop yourself. 
But first, to break the ice and get to know Patrick better, I asked him what would be his first song on the mixtape of his life. A favourite for many, a hated song by equally many … Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. 
Talking with Patrick is always a joy. I have occasional meet-ups with him, and we talk about anything our minds get to at that moment. He always seems to ask the questions I need at that time, and I hope this episode did so for you as well. I might say - sticking to the mentorship topic - Patrick is a mentor for me. I don’t think mentors always have to be more experienced than you are. Then again, Patrick may be so in areas I am not, which makes our relationship valuable to me. 
In the next episode, I will introduce you to Blair Hamilton. She is the lead investigator of the Tavistock Transgender Athlete Study at the University of Brighton and is an established soccer goalie. 

Michael Giakoumis is a consultant on hip and groin and lower limb muscle injuries, working at the Centre for Health and Human Performance in, London, and is also a lecturer and tutor on muscle injuries. He has recently transitioned to the role of head of medical services and lead physiotherapist to the British Athletics futures program. Michael’s previous experiences have involved working within football, Australian rules football and basketball. A rich bag of experiences across different contexts I’d say. Straight off the bat, we reflect on the lessons that are hidden in the obstacles we face. We talk about the importance of staying open to new lessons throughout one’s career. And, we reflect on the abilities needed to root in different contexts, as well as how true leaders have exactly this adaptability as a key skill.
To break the ice and to get to know Michael better, I asked him what would be his first song on the mixtape of his life. An all-time favourite … Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrel.
I enjoyed this interview a lot. Michael is a very balanced and thoughtful person. At least, that is how he appeared to me during our conversation. That made me question: "Am I in general empathic, considerate and able to adapt?" I must confess that I don’t think I am. I mean I wish to be, and out of that I believe to be, but honestly?! I think this falls back to a question I asked Michael on how to balance your true self against what is needed from you in that context at that time. Adaptability was key in his answer, and I have not mastered that yet. For that is one of the many mountains I have to climb. 
In the next episode, you will get to know Patrick Owen. He is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow within Deakin University’s Musculoskeletal Pain Research Group. Every time I talk with Patrick, his words keep me thinking for a few days more .. so prepare yourself.

Stephanie Weyrauch is a physical therapist working at Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Centers in Orange, Connecticut. She has served on multiple national task forces for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She actively lobbies for healthcare policy issues at the local, state, and national levels of government. Currently, she serves as Vice President of the American Physical Therapy Association Connecticut Chapter and is a member of the American Congress for Rehabilitation Medicine. Stephanie is also the co-host for The Healthcare Education Transformation Podcast, which focuses on healthcare education and delivery innovations. So strap yourself in for a thought heavy talk on leadership and personal development. We dive into the reasons why to stay true to yourself, she explains the concept of strength finders, I asked her about the differences between leading a patient through rehabilitation and leading a team, and we ended up digging into the risks of being in a position that does not energise you.
 
To break the ice and get to know Stephanie better, I asked her what would be her first song on the mixtape of his life. One of my personal favourites … Shake it Off by Taylor Swift. 
 
Stephanie has a strong personality. I feel determination when I talk with her, in a good way, that is. She has a personal mission and vision of who she wants to be and how, and she sticks to that - as much as possible. That made me think I inherently have a personal vision, but I never reflected properly in all honesty. What do I want, why and how? Surely the answers to these questions are not set in stone and will reflect your development, which is affected by the friends, fiends,  and mentors you meet along your personal path. And in that path, as very well worded by Stephanie, you have to be humble and be a model. Others look up at you as you look up to others. Be open and stay curious, and you can pick up a thing or two from everyone around you.

Adam Mattiusi is a strength and conditioning coach working with The Royal Ballet in London. Adam followed a Bachelor in Strength and Conditioning Science, followed by a Master in Sports Rehabilitation. Currently, he is completing his PhD, investigating injury, strength, and jumping in professional ballet dancers. Adam has gained accreditation with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. He has a - what some might consider - an unusual background and mix of skills for his position at the Royal Ballet, and he shared with me his challenges in dealing with this at the job. We talked about the value to reflect on your less obvious behaviours, and how he does so from a positive mindset. To top it up, Adam shares a little of his Strength and Conditioning magic.
To break the ice and to get to know him better, I asked him what would be his first song on the mixtape of his life. Intro by the XX. 
For me, Adam, is like the type of professional I look up to. The model of a balanced, calm, thoughtful, powerful even, the person I would like to be. I would almost say that I am jealous of the dancers that get to work with him. I know now, however, that he also has doubts, limitations and hesitations, and how he needs to work hard on a daily basis to be his best as an individual and professional. For me, this is a clear recognition that no one is perfect even though they might appear near so. And, as an important take-home message lying grumpy on the couch after a day of work serves a very important purpose.

Jose Marques is a Sports and Exercise Medicine physician based in Lisbon, Portugal. He is working at the Portuguese Football Federation as the team physician of the youth male teams. He is the Portuguese College of Sports Medicine president and the first registered specialist in this field in Portugal. With Jose, I talked about his challenges in building a profession from the ground up, we talked about his drive, and the need to have a passion for pushing forward.     
To break the ice and get to know Jose better, I asked him what would be his first song on the mixtape of his life. Redemption Song, the version by Johnny Cash.
I have great respect for the risk Jose took to follow his dream. He may not have known what he was getting into. Still, he is definitely building a strong foundation that helps future sports and exercise medicine specialists follow their passion and dream. With his broad interest in sports and his will not be a single specialist, this will surely succeed. I especially liked his analogy of driving a car, which - for me - signifies the freedom and responsibility we all have to build our profession.

Linda Truong is a Canadian physiotherapist with over ten years of experience in sports rehabilitation and a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia. She has a strong desire to discover innovative ways to deliver clinical care leading her to develop an evidence-based group rehabilitation program for persons with traumatic knee injuries. With Linda, I talk about the balance between a clinical and an academic career, the weight of academics and specifically pursuing a PhD, and how self-confidence helps you break through this academic culture. 

To break the ice and get to know Linda better, I asked her what would be the first song on the mixtape of her life. Somebody to Love by Queen.

This interview with Linda turned out to be all about balance. The balance between a clinical and academic viewpoint and career. The balance between being humble, but also embrace your self-confidence. A balance between hard work, passion and perseverance.  Thinking about balance, out of my talk with Linda, I find myself often focusing on only one side of the scale and then I forget the complementary other side. Here lies a good exercise for myself, and I am sure I am not the only one who gets entangled like this at times.