Meet Shawn Cameron, MS, LAT, ATC, PES our newest injury prevention specialist. We’re so happy to have Shawn join the team with his dedication and expertise. Let’s learn more about Shawn!
Hometown: Boston, MA
Alma maters: Undergrad – Plymouth State University; Graduate – Ohio University
Favorite professional sports teams: Boston Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, & New England Patriots
Favorite places you’ve traveled to: Aruba and Monaco
What drew you to The Micheli Center: I have been following The Micheli Center since the doors opened back in 2013. Dr. Micheli has been a pioneer and leader in the field of sports injury prevention in adolescents. I have always been highly impressed with The Micheli Center’s mission of advancing the field of sports medicine by revealing current injury patterns and risk factors while developing cutting-edge strategies and methods for providing injury prevention services.
How did you develop an interest in athletic or personal training: I developed an interest in athletic training in high school. I was a competitive ice hockey and baseball student-athlete and was always seeking ways to avoid injury and improve performance. Fortunately enough, I was lucky to not sustain any major injuries or broken bones during an era where you would not typically see a certified athletic trainer on the sidelines. I researched the profession and immediately started looking into colleges and universities that offered an athletic training major. I decided to attend Plymouth State University, which offers one of the best athletic training education programs in New England. Upon graduation, I attended Ohio University’s post-professional graduate athletic training program to further my education.
What are small changes people could make that would have a large impact in their overall health: Hydration and sleep are two small changes that people can make in their daily lives that would have a large impact on their overall health. Staying hydrated is one of the simplest things you can do to keep healthy and accelerate muscle recovery, however most people are still chronically dehydrated. If you want to maximize your ability to perform and recover, you need to make hydration a habit and fully commit to it. Secondly, sleep is equally important as exercise to your overall health. Getting a good night’s sleep of at least 8-9 hours on average has been shown to support muscle recovery, athletic performance, mental well-being, and immune function.
What is your preferred method of exercise, either a certain activity or specific regimen: My preferred method of exercise is sports-specific functional strength & conditioning. It is crucial to train with movements that mimic the demands that your sport or activity puts on your body. It is important to pay strict attention to form because when you are focused on proper form, you’re only engaging the specific muscle groups that you need to recruit and activate for the movement you’re doing. In contrast, improper form develops bad habits and causes your body to enlist the help of other muscles to accomplish the task. If you develop good habits in your training, you will keep your body healthy and continue to perform at your best.
Favorite motivational/inspirational quote: “Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” – Kobe Bryant
Favorite pizza topping: Sausage and green peppers