Sport & Exercise Medicine Physician

To provide specialist Sport & Exercise Medicine care for players, their player support team and other eligible individuals during the Championships, as a member of the AELTC Medical Team.

Background: The All England Lawn Tennis Club (Championships) Limited (AELTC) organises and stages The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships. The Championships attract over 500,000 visitors every year and has a global television audience of up to 1 billion people. The AELTC Medical team provide care for all players and eligible player support staff. Sport & Exercise Medicine (SEM) cover is delivered from a central medical facility, with additional facilities based at Qualifying and Practice / Junior player hubs, as well as courtside when required. Primary care, physiotherapy and podiatry are also provided on site. The AELTC Medical team work closely with physiotherapists from the ATP and WTA.

Main Responsibilities:

• Provide the high quality clinical SEM support expected in elite sport, to players and other eligible individuals during The Championships, including court calls.
• Additional specific responsibilities (Qualifying, Junior and Wheelchair competitors) will be allocated and rotated depending on agreed shifts.
• Work as part of a clinical multi-disciplinary team that includes Primary Care, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Soft Tissue Therapists, Podiatrists and Consultant Radiologists.
• Maintain excellent medical records.
• Record all clinical activity in line with AELTC & WTA/ATP procedures, including maintaining a log of all such activity including medicines management.
• Commit to engagement with high quality governance.

Other Information:

• On a day-to-day basis be responsible to the Player Medical Lead.
• Communicate closely with the other SEM physicians, GP’s ATP and WTA Medical Leads and external specialists where appropriate.
• Be available before the start of play each day to meet with the MDT to discuss ongoing cases.
• All physicians are expected to be available (either in person or over the phone) for pre-event planning meetings and other forums that further CPD within tennis.

Person Specification:

Qualifications:

• Full registration with the GMC including current License to Practice.
• Registered with the GMC and on the specialist register for SEM.

Professional:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience of working within elite sport (not necessarily tennis), including liaising with athletes & coaching staff plus ongoing regular elite sport work between Championships.
• Excellent clinical acumen across the full spectrum of SEM, including primary care, emergency care and injury management and knowledge of how this may differ in the competition environment.
• An understanding of the medical and scientific support within tennis/grass court tennis – knowledge of Grand Slam rules relating to treatment including on court, would be an advantage and it is expected that this is maintained between Championships.
• An area of special interest e.g. young athletes or para-athletes would be desirable but is not essential.
• Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary clinical team.
• Ability to develop productive relationships with other staff members, players and coaching staff and healthcare professionals.
• Conversant with current WADA code and anti-doping procedures & regulations.
• Compliant with annual professional appraisal requirements, including maintenance of continuing professional development in SEM.
• Ability to use essential data management systems.
• Evidence of working as part of a well governed team and engaging with learning and improvements.
• Current recognizable ‘field of play emergency medical management’ course accreditation, eg. ATLS, PHICIS, ATMiFF.

Personal:

• Highly motivated with a passion for the pursuit of excellence in elite sports medicine.
• Excellent communicator, both verbal and written.
• Willingness to learn.
• Excellent team player.
• High operating standards and attention to detail.
• Personal commitment to continuing professional development within elite tennis and specific initiatives in support of this.
• Highly credible with the ability to invoke trust and respect from others.
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Smart and presentable while representing the AELTC.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with staff at the AELTC.
• Ability to cope with high profile pressure and scrutiny.
• Respectful of AELTC rules around media appearances / social media restrictions / confidentiality processes / self-promotion.

Conditions of work:

• Specific working days are variable and agreed on an annual basis and average 14 days per year.
• The post holder will be employed directly by the AELTC for the duration of the post and will be remunerated by the AELTC at a rate to be decided by the Head of Championships Operations.
• Consultation/treatment can take place in full public view and exposed to the world’s media, in a time-pressured environment.
• The post holder will be required to demonstrate an appropriate level of professional indemnity cover to be able to practice in this clinical environment.
• Based within Millennium Building & Aorangi Medical Facilities, or at Qualifying.
• A food allowance is provided on working day.