To whomever it may reach, please hear me out.
My name is Sean Cassidy and I'm a medical student over here in the UK - currently 20 years of age. Everything I say from here on out is on behalf of myself and my best friend Ross Lang. We're both huge MMA fans and have been martial arts fans for as long as we can remember (both of us having had Bruce Lee dreams as kids). We're not in a position to train MMA at the moment as our course demands so much from us, but we find time to exercise as much as we possibly can.
At this stage in our medical careers, we're in a position where everyone is deciding what they may want to do with the rest of their lives and making contacts/selecting modules that will help them achieve that goal. We've both decided that we really want to be Sport and Exercise Physicians - we live and breathe training and both want to become heavily involved in competitive sports, with a VERY heavy interest in MMA.
We've spoken to as many professionals as we have available to us with regards to getting ahead in the field and one thing keeps coming back to us - experience. You could know all the ins and outs of human anatomy/physiology, but if you don't have hands on experience in a heavily competitive sports environment, you're not going to be worth your weight in meatloaf. Thus, I have the following to ask, with the utmost respect.
We have a mandatory 6 week elective in the summer of 2013 (we'll be 22 by this stage) and would be most appreciative if we could spend some of this time working in the highly touted environment of the world's premier MMA competition - the UFC. We are not asking for any money at all - in fact the reason I'm asking this now is because I want to know if I should start saving cash to pay my own bills for the journey. All I ask is that you find a way to put us in contact with physicians responsible for the octagon-side management of a fighter's safety.
This may sound like a ploy to get ringside for MMA bouts, and of course it would be an utterly collosal perk, but it would be an experience that would put us lightyears ahead of other Sport and Exercise hopefuls...no one in the UK (or even the world) would be able to rival us for experience. We wish to become heavily involved in MMA in the future - this experience would be priceless. Again, we are not wanting anything for free and would gladly pay any and all fees for attendance. We're not made of money - that's not the impression I want to give - but this is why I ask now so as to get the savings started as soon as possible.
We are an extremely dedicated pair of individuals and have demonstrated this, not just in our academic endeavours, but in our personal lives, competing in our chosen sports at National and International levels.
Any help, at all, would be absolutely fantastic. If you found a way of getting us in touch with athletic commisions or whoever it is that could give us this incredible experience, I would be indescribably thankful.
Thank you for reading,
please give us some serious consideration.
Sean
(p.s. if you're looking for examples of dedication (and the madness required to truly succeed) check out our training blog: www.commonstrength.wordpress.com)
Good luck guys & subbed.
i'm not sure but i always thought that the ringside doctors were usually employed by the state (athletic commission?)
ultimatestreetfighter - i'm not sure but i always thought that the ringside doctors were usually employed by the state (athletic commission?)
"If you found a way of getting us in touch with athletic commisions or whoever it is that could give us this incredible experience, I would be indescribably thankful."
I agree!
Good luck. Subbed for outcome. 
TTT
Perhaps this would be best directed at the likes of Mr Kizer or Lembo directly? Kizer has an account on here.
BrutalMedic,
I have tried this also and it is a dream to one day be a ringside physician or be involved somehow in MMA events. I've tried to contact UFC, Strikeforced and other events but got no response. I graduate in February and would love the experience to observe with a experienced physician as well. Good luck with your studies my friend the road will not become any easier especially when it comes time to study for you Boards......Train hard, Study HARDER!!!
BrutalMedic - you may want to rethink your approach. Assuming you were to recieve permission from the UFC and a local athletic commission, in a six week trip you would only be observing one UFC even (2 if you got lucky on timing).
I am a AAPRP Certified Ringside Doctor in Colorado and also clinical faculty for one of our local medical schools. I let my students attend local MMA events regularly in the hope of getting them excited about combat sports, or at least have an appreciation for the sport and the specialized care needed for MMA athletes. I have never asked the Zuffa to let me bring a student to one of their events as I don't feel that a televised event in front thousands of fans is a appropriate setting for learning this trade. It would be akin to asking you to assisting your first surgery on a BBC newscast.
Perhaps you should seek out local MMA events and befriend the commission and doctors involved. Let them know your interest and hopefully gain experience. As a medical faculty memeber I can tell you I would be much more impressed with a training physician that spent many of his free friday and saturday nights during training volunteering at many local events than someone that observed a single world-class event.
Not trying to discourage you at all. If Dana hears your call and lets you attend - DO IT. Its a great experience. If your goal is to become a qualified ringside doctor then seek out experience in quantity.
TTT...Best of luck fren...
ttt
ttt and good luck
Thanks for the info punchdrunkdoc.
As a ringside doc for the Tennessee Commission and formerly with the California commission, I agree with punchdrunk doc. Starting at the UFC level is a bit of a reach.
It would be better for you to start with local shows in UK like BAMMA as well as amateur events.
It would also be valuable to join and attend the American Association of Ringside Physicians and attend their training and attend their meetings.
http://www.associationofringsidephysicians.org/
Your best bet would be to try to hook with Dr. Jeff Davidson in Las Vegas. He is sort of the UFC's official doc if there is such a thing. He doesn't work for the commissions but he used to be one of the main docs in Nevada. Now he advises and cares for the UFC and even set up a private treatment area for them in his ER which I think is in Henderson, NV. If you hooked up with him for a season of TUF that might get you the experience you want. But he is definitely your man if you want the inside path at Zuffa.
Experience at a local level is your friend.
Good luck. PM with any questions.
Good advice on this thread.
You are receiving an unusual amount of constructive advice for the UG. Good for you.
BTW, PunchDruckDoc has it 100%. Listen to the man.
PunchDrunkDoc - BrutalMedic - you may want to rethink your approach. Assuming you were to recieve permission from the UFC and a local athletic commission, in a six week trip you would only be observing one UFC even (2 if you got lucky on timing).How about letting the students get involved backstage (physicals, lac repairs, etc)? I'm sure the folks at the UFC could get the OP some direct contact information for the docs in Vegas and the students could get involved with some of the other MMA events in the area as well. I do agree that a 6 week elective is probably pushing it though.
I am a AAPRP Certified Ringside Doctor in Colorado and also clinical faculty for one of our local medical schools. I let my students attend local MMA events regularly in the hope of getting them excited about combat sports, or at least have an appreciation for the sport and the specialized care needed for MMA athletes. I have never asked the Zuffa to let me bring a student to one of their events as I don't feel that a televised event in front thousands of fans is a appropriate setting for learning this trade. It would be akin to asking you to assisting your first surgery on a BBC newscast.
Perhaps you should seek out local MMA events and befriend the commission and doctors involved. Let them know your interest and hopefully gain experience. As a medical faculty memeber I can tell you I would be much more impressed with a training physician that spent many of his free friday and saturday nights during training volunteering at many local events than someone that observed a single world-class event.
Not trying to discourage you at all. If Dana hears your call and lets you attend - DO IT. Its a great experience. If your goal is to become a qualified ringside doctor then seek out experience in quantity.
Dominated - Good luck guys & subbed.
ttt and good luck
TTT