AANA25 Non-Scientific Access Pass-GENERAL SESSION: Lifetime Achievement Award and Presidential Keynote Speaker (Main Stage)

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The video features two keynote speakers at a prestigious sports medicine conference. First, Dr. Alan Curtis presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Don Johnson, a pioneering figure in sports medicine. Johnson founded the Carleton University Sports Medicine Center during a time when sports medicine was largely unknown. He introduced arthroscopy to Canada in the 1970s, performing over 12,000 ACL surgeries and serving as ANA president. Beyond medicine, Johnson is an accomplished athlete and Renaissance man, having completed numerous marathons, triathlons, ski marathons, climbed Everest, and engaged in painting and model aircraft building. He is praised for his teaching, global ambassadorial role, and early adoption of technology in presentations.<br /><br />Next, Jackie MacMullan, a renowned sports journalist and former NBA player, shares her extensive experience covering professional sports, particularly the NBA. She recounts challenges faced as a female reporter in a male-dominated environment, her interactions with legendary athletes and coaches, and her evolution into television. MacMullan highlights the growing recognition of mental health issues among athletes through her impactful reporting, which helped destigmatize mental health and influenced league policies mandating independent psychiatrists for players. She discusses the decline of direct media access to athletes, the rise of player-controlled narratives, and the importance of responsible journalism. MacMullan also touches on college sports’ challenges with NIL and transfer rules. The session concludes with audience Q&A, reflecting on media integrity, team success factors, and personal anecdotes about famous athletes like Shaquille O’Neal. Overall, the talk offers deep insights into sports medicine, journalism, athlete welfare, and the evolving sports media landscape.

Asset Caption

Moderator: Alan S. Curtis, M.D., FAANA
Keynote Speaker: Jackie MacMullan

Keywords

Sports Medicine

Lifetime Achievement Award

Don Johnson

Carleton University Sports Medicine Center

Arthroscopy

ACL Surgery

Jackie MacMullan

NBA Journalism

Mental Health in Sports

Media Access to Athletes

NIL and Transfer Rules