In this Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM) issue, it seems only fitting to publish a Service Spotlight on Dr Jamie Kissick (figure 1), who passed away a year ago. Jamie was a well-known, well-loved member of the sport and exercise medicine (SEM) community in Canada and worldwide. He was an active, engaged member of CASEM, serving on the Board and as president of this organisation. He was passionate about sport-related concussion (SRC) and Para sport and contributed significantly to the development of clinical care paradigms and research in both of these areas throughout his career.

Dr Jamie Kissick photo courtesy of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine, taken by Dr Ross Outerbridge.

Jamie obtained his medical degree from Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario) and began his career in London, Ontario in emergency and family practice. He became interested in SEM while providing medical coverage for a local soccer (football) team, and subsequently shifted his practice to SEM. He moved to Kanata, Ontario to take up his role as the first team physician for the National Hockey League Ottawa Senators ice hockey team, a position he held for 10 years. He remained in the Ottawa area for the rest of his career, providing excellent clinical care to athletes of all levels and acting as a physician advisor with the Canadian Medical Protective Association.

In addition to these roles, Jamie was very active in providing medical coverage for athletes as team physician with the Canadian Football League Ottawa Renegades and Ottawa Redblacks. He was also a member of the Team Canada delegation at numerous Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games, World University Games and Canada Games. He truly loved SEM!

Sport participation often results in injury, including concussion. Jamie was passionate about improving recognition and management of SRC and was an integral part of the Consensus Conferences on Concussion in Sport in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2022. He was a coauthor on many of the consensus statements, Sport Concussion Assessment Tool and systematic reviews as part of this process. He was also an author on ‘Concussion in Para sport: the 1st position statement of the Concussion in Para Sport (CIPS) Group’, published in 2021.1 His extensive work and collaboration with other experts in SRC have helped advance the knowledge and management of SRC internationally, making sport safer for all athletes. He also worked to translate this knowledge and educate coaches (Coaching Association of Canada-Making Headway), healthcare professionals and many other stakeholders in a memorable way!

Another passion of Jamie’s was Para sport, which began with his role as team physician for the Canadian Para-Ice Hockey team from 2007 to 2014. During his 7-year term, he travelled around the world with this team to Paralympic and World Championship competitions. He was also a member of the International Paralympic Medical Committee and was chair of this committee at the time of his death, and a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency Therapeutic Use Exemption Expert Group.

Jamie was a tireless advocate and champion for Para sport. His significant contributions have had a tremendous impact on the field within Canada and abroad, including advocating for consideration of SRC in Para athletes in the concussion consensus process. Jamie’s early and persistent advocacy in this area paved the way for Para sport to be included in the most recent concussion guidelines from the Concussion in Sport Group.2

Many of us in the SEM world, particularly those with an interest in SRC and Para sport, were lucky enough to have known and worked with Jamie. Aside from being a fantastic clinician and researcher, he was a wonderful man who made others laugh, smile and feel special. He had a love for music and was always ready to share a beer with friends and colleagues. His energetic and optimistic nature was infectious, and remained throughout his battle with cancer. His enormous contributions to SRC, Para sport and sport medicine in Canada have inspired many of us in this realm and will leave an enduring legacy for future SEM practitioners. Jamie, thank you for all you have done for your athletes and fellow SEM professionals. You will never be forgotten!

Next of kin consent obtained.

Our thanks to Dawn Haworth of CASEM for reviewing the manuscript and providing the photo of Jamie Kissick. The photo was taken by Dr Ross Outerbridge.