State-of-the-art sports medicine clinic opens at MRU

By Keith Bradford

 A dedicated sports medicine clinic has opened at Mount Royal University that offers state-of-the-art technology and care, as well as streamlined access, to students, staff and the community.

Dr. Alin Cristurean, a well-respected sports medicine physician who has worked with MRU athletes for more than a decade, has consolidated his entire practice — which previously included several locations throughout the city — into a single site at MRU's Health Services Medical Clinic.

“It’s all about making things more convenient for the athletes here,” says Dr. Cristurean, who previously allocated one day a week to see varsity athletes. “The opportunity came along to centralize my entire practice here, which I was very excited about. It’s all in one location, five days a week.”

Dr. Cristurean’s clinic is open to patients suffering from acute or chronic injuries, as well as those recovering from injuries or trying to prevent them. They’re experts in sports-related injuries and deal with a wide range of musculoskeletal complaints.

“When people come here they can expect to be listened to. We are interested in what their problem is, what their personal goals are and what they want to get out of the visit,” said Dr. Cristurean, a University of Calgary graduate who completed his residency at McGill University in Montreal and returned to Calgary to open his practice in 2014.

“If we can fix it in-house, great. If it’s something that falls outside of our expertise, we can point patients in the right direction. That’s what we want to be known for.”

In addition to the assessment and evaluation of injuries, a wide range of therapies and treatments are available at the clinic. That includes high-tech ultrasound guided injections for most joints, tendon and ligament problems. Common treatments include cortisone and Toradol injections, prolotherapy, trigger-point injections for myofascial pain, hyaluronic acid injections for joints and soft tissues, and PRP or platelet-rich plasma treatments, in which platelets derived from a patient’s blood are used to promote tissue repair and regeneration. The clinic can also make referrals to orthopedic surgery, when necessary.

Varsity athletes and Health Services Medical Clinic patients can benefit from direct referrals to the clinic, while patients from across the city can be referred by their family doctor, as well as physiotherapists and chiropractors, including those working at the neighbouring MRU Injury & Prevention Clinic, which offers massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic care and a wide range of physical therapy services.

Having a state-of-the-art destination clinic on campus that improves access for all local residents, as well as staff and students, aligns with MRU’s Vision 2030 strategic plan to bring the greater community into the university.

“We have patients from all over the community coming to see us,” Dr. Cristurean says.

Working alongside Dr. Cristurean is Courtney Owen, an athletic therapist who graduated from MRU’s acclaimed athletic therapy program in 2018 and was excited to return to her alma mater.

“It’s nice to be back in the university environment as staff,” Owen says, who is also a competitive soccer player. “It’s funny, I never thought it was possible to return full-time based on what you see with many universities in Canada, where a lot of the athletic therapy work is for practicum students.

“It has been a privilege to work here in this environment and there has been a lot of learning, working directly under a sports med doc. I’m really lucky that Dr. Cristurean treats me like a colleague. My focus is any prep or setup I can do, pre-exams and then exercise prescription — that’s where athletic therapists excel,” Owen says.

Owen says that while the clinic is unique in the range and breadth of services it offers, she wants it to be known, first and foremost, for the quality of the patient experience.

“A lot of people come to the clinic apprehensive or anxious about treatment, but we want to ensure every patient feels like they’re treated as an individual. We want them to leave feeling happier than when they arrived,” she says, adding appointments are 30 minutes long to ensure there’s ample time to address questions and concerns.

“We take our time to listen and explain treatment options. That’s why so many patients continue to come back, and why so many transitioned over from Dr. Cristurean’s other clinics. We really care about the entire experience. That was the biggest appeal for me in working here — the patient care.”

For more information about the MRU Health Services Medical Clinic, call 403.440.6326.