Beaumont doctor selected by USOC to care for Olympic athletes in London

United Kingdom tourism officials expect throngs to arrive in London for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games. Beaumont sports medicine specialist, Peter Donaldson, M.D., is on his way; however he won’t have much time to take in the Buckingham Palace or the London Bridge. As a member of the United States Olympic Committee’s Medical Staff, he’ll be very busy caring for athletes for the next three weeks.

Peter Donaldson, M.D. at the US Olympic Training Center.

“I feel fortunate and lucky to be selected by the USOC and the United States Equestrian Federation to serve our nation’s elite athletes. Things just fell into place,” says Dr. Donaldson, a resident of Grosse Pointe Park.

Dr. Donaldson will be supporting Team USA’s equestrian athletes in the jumping events. He’ll also see athletes from all sports at the USOC clinic.

Almost all of the USOC’s 85-member medical staff, like Dr. Donaldson, are volunteers. The medical team is comprised of athletic trainers, chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists and physicians. They’re responsible for 529 athletes in 26 sports.

Along with practices, competition and clinic duty, the days can be very long says Dr. Donaldson.

Despite the long hours, he’s inspired by the spirit of the Olympic Games. “I’m honored to be part of the biggest and most exciting sports event.”

The Games of the XXX Olympiad will begin July 27 and conclude on Aug. 12. Nearly 10,500 athletes from 205 nations will compete in 302 events.

A life-long Olympic junkie, Dr. Donaldson learned about USOC medical team opportunities from a fellow physician. He applied and was asked to report to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He arrived before the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

 The visit to the Olympic Training Center was both part of the training and screening process explains Dr. Donaldson. “They get an opportunity to see how you interact with the athletes and coaches. I think they liked the fact I am board-certified in both emergency and sports medicine.”

He was selected to serve as a physician for the sled hockey team for the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver. Last year, he was a physician for the Pan American Games in Mexico.

“Along the way I’ve made friends with the other medical staff. I look forward to working with them in London.”

For Dr. Donaldson, his trip to England is a bit of a homecoming. He was born there. In fact, the dual citizen spent the first four years of his life in the UK. His father was employed by Chrysler. The Cranbrook High School and Wayne State University School of Medicine graduate also studied at Oxford.