How the Grinch Becomes a D.O.

By Amanda Maas

March 27, 2007

A passion for dance and athletic training and an interest in medicine has shaped the educational path for Carrie Janiski, first-year student at the MSUCOM. In addition to her involvement with the MSUCOM, Carrie is working on her master’s degree in athletic training, dances and performs, is a principal investigator for the Dancer Wellness Research Project, and just finished her fourth and final year on the student senate of the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association (GLATA). "It is important to me to make time so that I am able to stay connected to all of these things that I enjoy," Carrie said. 

After completing her undergraduate degree and one year of graduate school at Western Michigan University (WMU), Carrie was excited to be accepted to the MSUCOM. While at MSUCOM, she has also continued to work toward her master's degree in athletic training. With a little over a year of the program remaining, Carrie has begun preparation for her thesis. She will be working with Dr. Jeff Kovan, D.O., director of sports medicine at Michigan State University, to explore the topic of spirituality in college athletics and sports medicine.

While medical and graduate schools keep her busy, Carrie continues to dance. "I knew that the community theater in my home town was going to produce “Cabaret.” However, it did not end up happening until the summer that I began medical school and was taking gross anatomy. I decided that it would be easier to make it work than to regret not doing it at all," Carrie said.  
    

After “Cabaret,” Carrie “had the bug to perform” and wanted to be on stage again. This past December, rather than taking her usual role as the stage manager and athletic trainer for the Sandy Brewer’s Dance Studio winter concert, she was offered a part in the show. “I asked if I could be in one number and ended up playing the part of the Grinch," Carrie said.

In addition to dancing and performing, Carrie is involved in dance medicine and research as a principal investigator through WMU for the Dancer Wellness Research Project. The purpose of this worldwide project is to study the movements of dancers and to help prevent individual dancers from incurring future injuries. In August 2006, Carrie traveled to Loyola Marymount University, Los Angles, Calif. to train researchers on the protocol for the project. She has also co-authored several presentations on the project for International Association of Dance Medicine and Science Annual Conferences.

Finally, among many activities, Carrie finished her final year on the GLATA student senate with a trip to St. Charles, Ill. for the annual GLATA Symposium, March 8 - 10, 2007, to put on the student educational program for 300 athletic training students. “Coordinating the student programs has given me an understanding of what it takes to put together such an event," Carrie said. "It has also been a great a networking opportunity and I have met so many wonderful people."