By Alexander Germanis
Certain things in life tend to feel so ingrained, it’s difficult to imagine life without them: riding motorcycles, singing at the top of one’s lungs, or engaging in a favorite sport. That need runs so deep, it’s as if it has been imprinted in one’s DNA.
The same thing can be said about the lifeblood of a city itself. In Bloomington-Normal, the need to play sports is evident nearly everywhere one looks. Arenas, gyms, and ballfields pepper practically every corner of the map.
Attending to those who feel that desire – that drive – to play are the doctors of Orthopedic and Sports Enhancement Center (OSEC) in Bloomington. They understand the push of the athletic spirit because sports medicine is as much in their blood as sports are in the blood of the Bloomington-Normal athlete.
Blooming in Bloomington
It is not by mere happenstance the doctors of OSEC and the practice itself call Bloomington-Normal home. The establishment of the sports medicine practice here is a very logical one.
When Robert Seidl, MD, decided to return to his native Central Illinois after med school and completing his orthopedic surgery sport medicine fellowship, he did so partially because he and his wife had family in the area, but also because Bloomington knew and loved sports. “I wanted to be in a community where there was a Division 1 athletics university (Illinois State),” he recalls. “Bloomington also had a storied Division 3 college (Wesleyan) where I could take orthopedic care of the athletes.”
For Bryce Paschold, DPM, returning to his friends and family in his hometown of Bloomington was a no-brainer. I understand how nice of an area it is to live in and raise a family,” he says. “Now that my wife, Rachel, and I have started a family with three young children, it is even more evident how family-friendly Bloomington is. It really has everything you need, and after having lived in Chicago for seven years during med school and residency, I was ready to get back to a slower pace of life. It’s a very friendly place where the people are second-to-none.”
Tyler Neal, DO, and his wife, Sarah, are both natives to this city as well. Dr. Seidl’s invitation for Dr. Neal to join the practice was just the call they wanted. “We couldn’t imagine a better situation,” Dr. Neal shares. “Being fellowship trained in sports medicine, I had a strong interest in treating collegiate athletes. Joining OSEC and returning to Bloomington/Normal afforded me the opportunity to do just that.”
Passion to Play and Protect
Since its inception, OSEC has had a passion to treat the myriad athletes in the community who have a passion for sports. “It is a blessing to have a practice of orthopedic surgery sports medicine as well as a treatment of traumatic injuries and joint replacement,” says Dr. Seidl. “Over the many years the overlap of these areas is extensive and a common thread of contact and involvement with our fantastic community.”
Overlap is an appropriate choice of words, particularly in the case of Dr. Neal, who first met Dr. Seidl not as a colleague but as a patient. “My interest in sports medicine began after injuring my knee playing football in high school,” he shares. “I was treated by Dr. Seidl, and combined with my love for sports, the care he gave me sparked a passion in sports medicine that continues today. My goal now is to not only to get patients back to the activities they love but to also help ensure their health and well-being for the rest of their lives.”
Dr. Paschold is equally familiar with this two-fold passion. When he recognized the combination of sports and medicine, “I was hooked,” he states. “As a former athlete, I understand how imperative it is to get back onto the field as quickly and safely as possible. It is easier to empathize with injured athletes after going through this myself. I also have a passion for learning more about other sports that I may not have played – to gain knowledge that could help me relate.”
Reading, Writing, and Relay Races
It only takes a cursory glance around to see how prevalent sports are to academia in the area. Just as students are schooled and corrected in reading and writing, so too are they on the fields of play. When things go awry, however, the doctors of OSEC are there to put them right once more.
This relationship with the school athletic programs reaches back decades, as Dr. Seidl recollects. “When I came to the community in 1996, Dr. Anthony Dustman had already developed a strong practice with Illinois State and Wesleyan, as well as all of the high schools in the area. I was blessed he let me join his practice and together we established the Orthopedic and Sports Enhancement Center. I will always be very grateful to Dr. Dustman.”
Prior to becoming a physician, Dr. Paschold had established his own rapport with the athletic programs. A graduate and former athlete of Normal Community West High School, he was familiar with the sporting landscape of the area. Returning as a physician, he attended games, developed strong relationships with the athletic trainers, and started dialogues with parents and coaches at school functions. “I wanted to show them how important their athletes are and that I am always here to help them if they get injured or need preventative care,” he states. “Being the team physicians for ISU and IWU, I attend as many games as possible to let everyone know that I am here for their athletes.”
Dr. Neal has truly seen the fruit of these long-standing relationships. “I have been very fortunate that Drs. Dustman and Seidl have cemented strong relationships and partnerships with both universities and the local high schools,” he says. “I am humbled that they have chosen me to help continue to foster those relationships and continue to provide a high level of care to the athletes of this community.”
Athletes of All Ages
Not every field in Bloomington-Normal sits on a college campus or in the schoolyard. Athletes of all ages and all walks of life are in need of sports medicine care and the doctors of OSEC are more than happy to help.
“There are many athletes who may not be on a school team, many athletes injured in various training or conditioning activities at all ages,” Dr. Seidl confirms. “There are also many travel teams that we assist with orthopedic care.”
“There is no difference in diagnosis or treatment plan when it comes to injuries or pain,” Dr. Paschold asserts. “The biggest difference is that the competitive athlete has greater resources, with access to athletic trainers around the clock. Medicine is not a ‘one size fits all’ market, and we work to treat each patient like we would our own family. It is true that OSEC sees many athletes, but we are also happy to treat the non-athlete as well. Anyone with an orthopedic issue is fully welcome to be seen at OSEC.”
“Unfortunately, injuries do not discriminate,” Dr. Neal adds. “No matter if someone participates in a rec league, is a weekend warrior, is young or old, our goal is to get them back to the activities they love.”
Inherited Traits
As long as sports run through the blood of Bloomington-Normal, the need for those with sports medicine in their blood will be needed. Recently, OSEC announced a partnership with OSF Sports Medicine, meaning the resources available to aid athletes in the community continues to expand.
“The support and care OSF pledges to our entire sports community and these athletes is unparalleled!” Dr. Seidl declares. “Their commitment to the care of our community in all regards is truly outstanding.”
By implementing the latest techniques and therapies, these sports medicine experts will continue to lead the way. “We are constantly trying to give our patients new, innovative treatment options (such as shockwave, microwave therapy),” says Dr. Paschold, “and we strive to always deliver what is the best solution for each individual patient. Each patient is truly unique and should be treated as such.”
Patients of an entirely new generation are now coming to OSEC, due to the relationships Dr. Dustman (now retired) and Dr. Seidl forged over two decades ago. “In my opinion, OSEC is synonymous with sports medicine in our community,” Dr. Neal states. “We will continue to strive to provide only the highest level of care for not only our athletes but all members of our community.”
Dr. Paschold agrees: “OSEC has truly created a multi-generational impact on this community, touching thousands of lives and families along the way.”
As athletic ability is often passed down through the genes, so too is the impulse to enhance that ability and put it into practice. For the following generations of athletes to pursue those goals in times of health and injury alike, the doctors of Orthopedic and Sports Enhancement Center will strive to be a part of the athlete’s journey for generations to come.
Orthopedic & Sports Enhancement Center is located at 2406 East Empire Street in Bloomington, Illinois. To schedule an appointment, please call us at (309) 663-9300, or if you’d like to learn more about the services we offer, please visit us on the web at www.orthopedicsec.com.
