S4: Ep2: Dr. Ashwin Rao on modern Sports Medicine
Today’s episode continues with the theme of pivots during Covid with my next guest, Dr. Ashwin Rao, professor at University of Washington’s School of Sports Medicine. Fun fact - He is the only guest who has aspirated and injected three of my joints. I found Dr. Rao through a physical therapist. I won’t bore you with the gory details, but Dr. Rao has helped me recover from a couple of different injuries. After my last set of injections with him, he took a few minutes with me to chat about what was going on in his department.
There’s something you should know about Dr. Rao - he’s chatty. But not in an annoying way - in the endearing way where he lets you into his life while getting to know about yours. Like he’s actually empathetic and curious about the world around - he genuinely cares. Standing in the lobby of the UW Sports medicine, I’d asked him about working with the Seahawks and whether or not it was going to continue being a team physician, and the answer he gave me that day after my appointment led to me wanting to record his answer and share it with the world. His vulnerability and huge heart make him easy to get to know, but his humility is what sets him apart. It’s not every day I get to speak to a leader in the field and this was a very good day.
Dr. Rao is so much more than a physician. He’s a visionary. I’ve heard him described by his peers as a “legend,” a “genius” and “the coolest person ever.” True story - words used by doctors, his peers, about this man. He’s made career choice reflective of his values, and continued learning is his own right with Welted Ware - like and subscribe on YouTube.
Dr. Rao, you’re making the world better and we’re all better for it. Thanks so much for sharing yourself. Now all of you out there, please share this podcast with anyone you think would love it, please leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and find me on the socials: on IG at @rightinfrontofmyface, and on Twitter @infrontofmyface. Keep asking questions to people you meet- you never know what’s going on right in front of your face.