UAB's leading role in the world of sports medicine and research was spotlighted as hundreds gathered in Monaco for night one at the prestigious International Olympic Committee World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, where Department of Family and Community Medicine Chair Irfan Asif, M.D., was tapped to deliver the opening keynote.
During a moving address, Asif, the inaugural recipient of the Heersink Endowed Professorship in Sports and Exercise Medicine, offered a new model for sports research. Asif—alongside his colleague and mentor Jonathan Drezner, M.D.—covered the Equity-Informed Research for Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport (E-RIIPS) model for inclusive research models in their presentation, "From Marginalized to Centralized: The Future of Sport Illness and Injury Prevention Research."
The model advocates for shifting the focus of sports and exercise medicine research from elite athlete populations in resource-rich regions to marginalized and underrepresented groups, including pregnant, youth, and para-athletes who face unique health disparities that can only be addressed through contextualized research.
"Our role and potential as sport and exercise medicine physicians has never been more critical to address health disparities and the underutilized power of exercise and physical activity for all," explained Asif. "With the presentation at the IOC World Conference, we aimed to start offering strategies that transform research from the elite and privileged into an equal passion for youth, disadvantaged, and underrepresented populations on a global scale."
Along with presenting on the future of health-equity-based research models, Asif examined the impact of inclusive partnerships, strategically targeting health inequity and workforce development, and the UAB Heersink School of Medicine's role in closing health care gaps across Alabama.
"I am proud that within the Department of Family and Community Medicine and across our campus, we are willing to bring people together, reach out to underserved communities around our state, and show the vision and leadership necessary to address health disparities and search for ways to improve health outcomes for everyone," said Asif.
This was the third time Asif presented at the International Olympic Committee Conference on the Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport and the first time serving as the opening keynote.
The IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport brings together experts from around the world to share their knowledge and expertise in sports medicine, injury prevention, and health promotion. The three-day event organized by the International Olympic Committee is the premier international conference for those interested in athlete health and provides a unique opportunity for the global sports community to meet.