Twist of Fate Results in the Opening of the North
Shore Sports Medicine Clinic at Capilano College

t was the day before what should have

been the pinnacle, the crowning glory
of nine long dedicated years of hard work.
The kind of moment that most athletes,
no matter how good, can only dream
about.

He was in Munich and he was about
to compete for his home country of
Canada in men’s gymnastics at the 1972
Olympic Games. He was the best we had
and he knew he had an excellent shot at
placing within the top 20 in the world.
But in an instant, everything changed for
Capilano College’s resident M.D., Dr.
Bill Mackie. He knew his Olympic dream
was over when he felt his right knee twist
during a pre-competition practice. What
he didn’t know was that the path he was
on was about to take a very different turn.
Some would call it a simple twist of fate,
but at the time, Bill saw it quite
differently.

“T was devastated,” he said, after a
reflective pause. “Because of my injury,
I learned where the X-ray facilities were
and I ended up working with the
Canadian medical team, getting my leg
work in sports medicine.”

He had already obtained his Bachelor
of Physical Education from the
University of Michigan, where he had
been recruited to compete for its
gymnastics’ team. -

“We won the American national
championships in 1970,” he said.
“Afterwards, I continued into Graduate
school studying Exercise Physiology,
plus I continued training and competing
with the university’s gymnastics team.”

When he completed Graduate school,
Bill moved to Thunder Bay, Ontario
where he taught Physical Education for
one year. That was the same year he
attended the 1972 Olympics.

“After the Games were over, I limped
back to Vancouver and registered for
medical school at UBC,” said the North
Shore resident. “You have different roads
that open up to you at certain times. The
injury was just one of those times.”

After graduating from UBC, Bill went
to Victoria where he practised medicine
and coached the University of Victoria’s

As a young gymnast, Health
Services Dr. Bill Mackie flies
through an outdoor practice
session. He was an active
competitor in gymnastics
events for more than 10
years, appearing in the Pan
American Games and
attending the 1972 Olympic
Games in Munich, Germany
as amember of the
Canadian men’s gymnastics
team.

gymnastics team. It was there he met his
wife, Susan, who shares his love of the
acrobatic arts.

His path eventually led him back to the
Lower Mainland and what began in a
training room in Munich has since
culminated into the North Shore’s first
sports medicine clinic, which Bill opened
at Capilano College this past February.

The Vancouver-born doctor has been
working in the Health Services department
at the College since 1988. He splits his
time between his family practice in
Vancouver, providing medical services for
the downtown YMCA and for Capilano
College. At present, Dr. Mackie is
available for care of students, staff and
faculty at the College on Tuesdays and
Thursdays. He can also be consulted as a
sport medicine physician in the afternoon
of those days. However, a referral from a
family doctor is required for this new
service.

As part of a long-term goal to provide
sports medicine services to the North
Shore, Paige Larsen joined Health
Services last November, offering
physiotherapy every day except
Wednesday. A referral is not necessary for
her services, although Dr. Mackie says,
“we would prefer it if people are referred
by their doctors who would give them a
diagnosis we could work on.”

Currently, Paige and Bill have a
working relationship with a number of
doctors who are not on-site. “If we get
enough family doctors referring people,
we will get a sports medicine/orthopaedic
surgery specialist in one day every week

or two,” said Bill, who also has a Diploma
in Sports Medicine and was a Fellow of
the American College of Sports Medicine.
“We’re working toward that end.

“We have a good working relationship
with the coaches at Capilano College and
every year there are more teams and more
activities happening. We foresee doing a
lot of work with the College team
members, as well as with community
athletes — meaning people who have
decided to take up a more active lifestyle.

“Perhaps down the road, Capilano
College may offer programs related to
sports medicine, human kinetics and
kinesiology,” Bill continued. “If this is the
case, we hope that the clinic can be part of
the process. We’re really excited about the
Sports Medicine Clinic at Capilano
College. We see it growing into something
that will benefit the College, the North
Shore community, and sports medicine
itself.”

Since retiring from active competition,
Bill has entered triathlons and has provided
medical coverage at the Penticton Iron Man
competition. His current athletic activities
include swimming, running and he’s back
doing gymnastics at a North Vancouver
Recreation Centre. "Its an adult workout,
but we call it geriatric gymnastics,” he said.
“My wife joins me when she can.”

For more information about the new
clinic, or to make an appointment with
Paige or Dr. Mackie, call Health Services
at 984-4964. As part of the Birch building’s
opening celebration on Friday, April 4, the
clinic will be open for public tors, along
with many other Departments.

@nformer