Than Moore, M.D.’24 is a first-year emergency medicine resident at the University of Vermont Medical Center, and a Larner College of Medicine alumni.
In the following blog post, he reflects on his experience as the team physician to the UVM Men’s Soccer Team during their historic NCAA national championship Game in December.
“Going forth, I will never forget this monumental achievement for UVM. Being a part of it during residency was such an honor and a humbling moment for me.”
Answering the Call
I originally became involved in sports medicine and UVM Athletics during my time as a medical student here at Larner. During my fourth year of medical school, I took the sports medicine elective that was run by Larner alumni Katie Dolbec, M.D.’10. Dr. Dolbec is an emergency medicine–trained physician who then went on to receive her fellowship in sports medicine in Maine before returning to her medical school alma mater. This gave me exposure to the outpatient sports medicine clinics in the area as well as UVM Athletics and the UVM team physician, Matt Lunser, M.D..
After spending some time in the training room and on the sidelines of UVM sporting events with Dr. Lunser, I was fortunate to help him cover other UVM athletic events throughout the year. I have spent time on the sidelines for multiple sports such as men and women’s soccer, basketball, and hockey.
I was privileged to serve as the UVM men’s soccer team physician during their national championship run this fall. Getting to know the players and coaches on this incredible journey was nothing shy of amazing. The boys worked so hard throughout the season, and having the opportunity to be on the sidelines of this monumental milestone was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was able to work alongside a topnotch medical and coaching staff who led the charge.
Dr. Lunser deserves all the credit for keeping these athletes healthy and strong year-round on the field, ice, track, or court. He puts in countless hours alongside a tremendous group of athletic trainers, strength coaches, and a whole host of others in the athletics department to field such a competitive team of athletes competing at the Division One level. He attends most of these games after hours while balancing his family, and I feel lucky to pinch in and offer coverage when I’m between shifts working in a busy emergency department as a resident physician.
This fall, I was able to jump in and help Dr. Lunser with many games on both the men’s and women’s side. Being on the sidelines for the America East Men’s Soccer Championship game seemed to be quite the highlight. I really became invested and felt like part of the team. Subsequently, I was completely elated to receive the call to travel with the team down to North Carolina to finish their fairy tale run at the National Championship.
From ER to the Sidelines
Being a resident and trying to cover the games made for a whirlwind of a weekend. I was struggling through a month of overnight shifts on the trauma surgery service working 80+ hours a week when I got the call to join the team in North Carolina. I was fortunate to finish a night shift and head straight to the airport to fly south for the semifinal match vs. Denver. I arrived there in time to take part in the pre-match treatments alongside athletic trainer Hannah Tremel.
I would like to take a moment to thank Hannah for her dedication to keeping the boys healthy and for welcoming me to the sidelines. She put in countless hours on and off the pitch to make sure that any injury was rehabbed and accounted for. I followed Hannah’s expertise throughout the season and could not have been a part of this without her efforts. She taught me techniques such as dry needling and cupping to add to my repertoire. I tip my hat to both Dr. Lunser and Hannah for the ongoing health of our athletes.
After spending 24 hours with the team through the thrilling semifinal victory in penalty kickss, I had to then turn around and hop right on a plane to report directly back to the hospital to work another overnight shift. The life of a resident never ceases. Back in Burlington—equipped with my green and gold scarf—I was riding the adrenaline high when I then received another text requesting my presence at the final the following day. I completed a 16-hour overnight shift that Saturday night and then went straight back to the Burlington airport on Sunday to fly back down to join the team. It was well worth the sleep deprivation to be part of this story!
Reaching the Goal
While many had UVM tagged as the “Cinderella team” of underdogs upsetting top-tier programs, prodigious coach Rob Dow said it best that his boys “belonged there.” As quoted by the Wall Street Journal, with appropriate credit given to Associate Head Coach, Brad Cole, these (Vermont) Cats were not underdogs… they were just dogs. The boys had put in the work and seen their successes pay off in the previous years, making the sweet 16 and elite eight prior to this tournament run. Being a part of this journey in the locker room with the guys and on the bus, I too, felt their fire and passion to win it all. They were a tight-knit group of friends all working together toward one goal. They never dropped their heads when down in a game, they just found a way to make it happen. They outworked
their opponent for every ball and had mastermind coaches on the sidelines directing the chess match. I was fortunate to observe the team cohesiveness through strategy sessions and film review along with team dinners and training room treatment sessions. This run was truly a group effort that set them apart as national champions.
I’d like to make note that my medical role following along was quite inferior compared to the many dedicated players, coaches, and ancillary staff that went into this miracle run for Vermont. To me, it was again proof that a career in medicine extends well beyond the hospital walls. It has brought me closer to different aspects of life whether it be through athletics here at UVM, my time spent on a glacier traverse in Alaska supporting climate change research, or formulating sustainable solutions in the business world. Medicine has granted me a ticket to endless connections and world travel.
Reflecting on the game, this National Championship was not only a monumental achievement for the university but also, in the steadfast words of the UVM Athletic Director Jeff Schulman ’89, “a victory for the great state of Vermont and all of Catamount Nation.” I was elated to squeeze any game coverage in to my chaotic residency schedule. It became the highlight of my week when I could sign out from a busy shift in the emergency department and walk over to the athletic center to cheer on my Cats.
Conquering a Dream
This win truly hit home a little extra for me and my family, as well. Growing up, I spent countless hours playing and attending every sporting event imaginable. My brother, David, and I would go with our parents to watch many UNH games, as my father had played hockey for them in the early ’70s. I then went on to play tennis at Colby College and always kept the sporting world close. I always dreamed of being a team doc as a child and this really made it a reality. I would tell my dad that being team doc would be the coolest job ever.
My father unexpectedly passed with a heart attack a few years ago and was unable to see me living out my dream as team doc in a national championship game. Being on the sidelines and standing alongside the players brought me closer to my dad. My emotions were ever invested in this incredible tournament run to provide the utmost level of care for the athletes, but it also seemed to reconnect me with my father. And I know he was smiling and cheering with us when #9 Maximilian Kissel scored that heroic OT goal in the championship.
Going forth, I will never forget this monumental achievement for UVM. Being a part of it during residency was such an honor and a humbling moment for me. Since this victory, I have already been back on the sidelines helping out at a handful of basketball games, and I am looking forward to more games to come in the future. As a Catamounts alum myself, I have a little extra fire in my belly to support my alma mater in bringing home these victories. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the athletes, athletic medicine and ancillary staff, coaches, and all members of Catamount Nation who have refueled my passion to continue forth in an arduous residency program and seek the joy in the years ahead. Upon residency completion, I look forward to serving our community both in the Emergency Department and on the sidelines of these riveting sporting events!
