UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
HONORARY CONFERRING
Thursday, 5 September 2013 at 11.30 a.m.
TEXT OF THE INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY Professor Colin Boreham, UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin on 5 September 2013, on the occasion of the conferring of the Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa on Marie-Elaine Grant
President, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
Rarely can it be said with any confidence that an individual has reached the pinnacle of their profession, but in the case of Dr. Marie Elaine Grant, this is demonstrably the case. As the first Irish person to be elected to the International Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission in 2011, she arguably became the most influential Physiotherapist of her time. Being the main contact for all Physiotherapy matters at the IOC in Lausanne, she assumed overall responsibility for Sports Physiotherapy provision at the 2012 London Olympics and all subsequent games, both summer and winter. In London, she oversaw the work of over 700 volunteer physiotherapists administering to over 10,000 athletes from 205 countries. She was also tasked with organising scientific symposia and a major research project running in parallel with the Games as well as compiling a detailed report on all aspects of Physiotherapy for the IOC. This herculean task clearly required both great ability and an inner steel…or perhaps the term “core strength” would be more appropriate in this context…but was accomplished seamlessly and with a good grace and charm which are the hallmarks of her character.
Born in Dublin of mixed parentage-her mother was from Dublin and her father from Tipperary-she found herself part of a family of six, most of whom did their civic duty eventually by attending UCD. She spent the bulk of her childhood in the capital city, attending Ursuline Convent School in Cabinteely, where she developed her love of science. This propelled her to a diploma (with distinction) in Physiotherapy from UCD where she was taught by, amongst others, Dr. Mary Garrett who went on to become a celebrated head of department, and is here with us today.
Following graduation in 1981, she gained international experience in Switzerland and the USA before being recruited by the redoubtable Jimmy Sheehan (of “Sheehan Knee” fame) to establish and run the Physiotherapy unit at the newly formed Blackrock Clinic. Jimmy clearly knew a good thing when he saw it because, while only 24 at the time, Marie Elaine went on to direct the Blackrock unit for 13 years before setting up her own practice off the Stillorgan Road…just a good javelin throw from our proceedings here today. The bare chronology outlined above conceals a remarkable record of achievement and service throughout her professional life, culminating in her appointment with the IOC. She is a member of both the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists of London and the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists as well as a Specialist Member of the latter in Sports and Exercise Medicine. She also holds a Diploma in Management and, between 1993 and 1997 completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor Craig Sharp, the pre-eminent sports scientist and founding Director of the British Olympic Medical Centre. Of her thesis on the effects of strengthening the spine in patients with Lower Back Pain, he recollects “…she was such a superb PhD student…probably the best I had in over 50 years of academic life.” Her scholarly activities have continued with external examining, research and publication, lecturing at UCD and for the IOC and regular invitations to talk at national and international conferences. She is also an Associate Member of the UCD Institute for Sport and Health, and played a pivotal role in setting up the sports physiotherapy arm of the institute in its early days. Her involvement with the Olympic Games began in 1990 when she was appointed to the Irish Olympic Medical Committee. She has subsequently acted as lead physiotherapist for Ireland at five summer games and two winter games, building up a wealth of experience at the highest level of sporting attainment. Possibly her most splendid Olympic accolade came in Turin at the 2006 Winter Games, when she was elected as “Chief Physiotherapist for Nations without Snow”! This wonderfully offbeat title belies some serious ambition…after all, the Jamaican 4-man bob famously beat the USA, Russia and France at the ’94 games!
Despite her involvement in the upper echelons of world sport, Marie Elaine Grant continues to promote and develop Irish Physiotherapy and its Chartered Society and was particularly proud that Ireland provided the greatest number of Physiotherapists to the London Games outside of the host nation. But above all, she has put Irish physiotherapy on the world map by her dedication and commitment to excellence, all accomplished in the most personable, self-effacing and effortless manner.
For your considerable contribution to Olympic and Irish Physiotherapy services, University College Dublin wishes to confer on you the title of Honorary Doctor of Science.
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Praehonorabilis Praeses, totaque Universitas,
Praesento vobis hanc meam filiam, quam scio tam moribus quam doctrina habilem et idoneum esse qui admittatur, honoris causa, ad gradum Doctoratus in Scientiae; idque tibi fide mea testor ac spondeo, totique Academiae.