Dr. Joel Dekanich Travels to Paris with Paralympic Team

Edwards, CO – For the third time in eight years, longtime Vail Valley resident Dr. Joel Dekanich has been
selected as part of the Team USA Paralympic Track & Field medical staff, which encompasses approximately 55 athletes who have qualified for the Paris Paralympics. From August 28 through September 8, the Paris Paralympics will host approximately 4,400 athletes representing 184 countries competing in 22 sports.

“It’s not only an honor to represent Team USA, but also fun to travel internationally,” says Dr. Dekanich. He jokes, “It is also a great excuse to get ‘out of the office’ for a bit!”

A Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians and a dual-credentialed board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Dekanich has spent decades working with elite athletes. He initially interned with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) medical staff at the Olympic Training Center in preparation for the 2008 summer games in Beijing, starting his long tenure working with Team USA. In
addition to attending three Paralympic Games with Team USA Track & Field, he has also been invited to five international games.

Dr. Dekanich was chosen for the USOC medical staff for Team USA Track & Field at the ParaPan American
Games in Guadalajara, Mexico (2011), the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2016), the World
Championships in London, United Kingdom (2017), and the Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan (2021). Additionally, he remains active working with the USGA sports medicine staff covering tournaments like the US Open and various professional golf tournaments.

While Dr. Dekanich notes that traveling for the Paralympics is equally challenging and rewarding, he also says that “the best part is helping, in any way possible, the Paralympic athletes reach their goals. There is enormous satisfaction seeing athletes achieve their dreams.” He adds, “Typically we work 12 to 15 hours per day for a few weeks straight so it’s easy to get tired as we are on different time zones and experience changes in sleep, diet, and exercise patterns. Because of all those adjustments, it is important for providers to prioritize self-care so we are at our best for Team USA.”

Traveling to Paris culminates another busy summer for Vail Integrative Medical Group (VIMG) – the
nationally-renowned clinic founded by Dr. Dekanich in 1995. Offering a comprehensive, multidiscipline
approach to sports and spinal injuries, the practice provides physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists who work collaboratively in the treatment and rehabilitation of injuries while promoting prevention and wellness. For the last 15 years, the VIMG team has been the official sports medicine providers for the Vail Dance Festival and they just finished another successful season.

“We were extremely busy again this year,” Dr. Dekanich adds. “Receiving texts from dancers saying they came to Vail ‘broken’ but are leaving feeling like they have ‘their bodies back again’ is incredibly satisfying.”

Written by: Laura Lieff