Women’s football medicine in 2019 with Dr Celeste Geertsema. Episode #387

On this week’s BJSM podcast, Dr Celeste Geertsema joins BJSM’s Daniel Friedman (T: @ddfriedman) to discuss the imbalance between men’s and women’s football medicine research and what needs to be done to move towards equality.

Dr Geertsema is is a Sports Medicine Physician at Aspetar with her main interests being in football, skiing, snowboarding and athletes traveling. She has extensive experience working alongside FIFA in various World Cups. She was the first ever female Team Physician at the FIFA world Cup (in South Africa 2010) and also worked as FIFA Medical Officer at the Women’s Football World Cup and U17 Women’s World Cup, as well as Medical Officer at the Winter Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games. https://www.aspetar.com/person-profile.aspx?id=12〈=en

In this 20-minute conversation, Dr Geertsema discusses:

• Her current role at the Women’s FIFA World Cup in France

• The medical requirements of men vs women at the World Cup

• Why men and women footballers should be studied separately

• The gaps in women’s football medicine research

• What the SEM community can do to help out

*Disclaimer: This is a personal interview for BJSM. Dr Geertsema is not speaking on the behalf of FIFA.*

Pele in a skirt: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.720/marta-pele-in-skirts-1.731293

Germany Women’s FIFA World Cup Ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=layoVXL5mnw