LIVE In-Person: The 2nd Biennial Ruth Solomon Symposium for Performing Artist Athletes: Figure Skating (September 18-19, 2026)

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Figure Skating Health & Performance: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Management and Prevention of Injuries in Figure Skaters

Date: September 18-19, 2026

Location: The Skating Club of Boston, 750 University Ave., Norwood, MA

This course is designed to bridge the gap between clinical practice and the unique demands of figure skating by presenting current research and evidence-based standards of care specific to the sport. This two-day conference provides a strong emphasis on athlete wellness and injury prevention.

Price range: $75.00 through $300.00

SKU: N/A Category:

Description

Overview

This course is specifically designed to transform generalized sports medicine practices into evidence-based care tailored for figure skaters. Recognizing that many healthcare professionals lack a comprehensive understanding of the unique physical, medical, and psychological stresses faced by these athletes, this program provides specialized training to close that critical knowledge gap. Attendees, including physicians, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and psychologists, will gain deep insights into the sport, learning to distinguish common musculoskeletal injuries and medical conditions, and mastering the skills necessary to analyze the specific biomechanical and physical demands across different figure skating disciplines.

The curriculum focuses heavily on practical application, equipping medical professionals with advanced tools for managing athlete health and safety. Participants will learn how to implement evidence-based injury screening and prevention strategies that are directly tailored to the sport’s high-risk movements and training schedules. A core component of the course is developing expertise in effective return-to-skating protocols, ensuring injured athletes transition back to the ice safely and sustainably.

Finally, the course takes a holistic approach to long-term performance and well-being. It moves beyond physical injury by addressing common knowledge gaps related to mental skills, nutrition, and RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport). By equipping professionals to recognize these factors, the course ensures they can develop effective strategies to educate and empower the entire support structure, including athletes, coaches, and parents, by fostering a collaborative environment essential for sustained health and elite performance.

About the courses
Join us in person at the The Skating Club of Boston, 750 University Ave., Norwood, MA.

Learning Objectives: 

At the conclusion of this educational program, learners will be able to:

  • Distinguish common musculoskeletal injuries and medical conditions in figure skaters
  • Implement specific return to skating considerations for figure skaters after injury
  • Identify and apply evidence-based injury screening and prevention strategies tailored to the specific needs of figure skaters
  • Recognize common knowledge gaps in figure skaters related to mental skills, nutrition, and RED-S, and develop strategies to effectively educate athletes, coaches, and parents on these critical components of long-term performance and well-being
  • Understand and differentiate the specific biomechanical and physical demands as well as injury patterns across various figure skating disciplines

    Registration

    Type Early Bird Rate* Regular Rate
    Physician $275.00 $300.00
    Psychologist/Psychiatrist $275.00 $300.00
    Resident/Fellow $150.00 $175.00
    Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner, Physical Therapist $250.00  $275.00
    Athletic Trainer, Nutritionist, Other $250.00 $275.00
    Student $75.00 $100.00

     

    Type Early Bird Rate* Regular Rate Early Bird Rate* Regular Rate
    (Both Days) (Both Days) (One Day) 
    9/19/2026 Only
    (One Day) 
    9/19/2026 Only
    Skater $100.00 $125.00 $75.00 $100.00
    Skater (SCOB member) $75.00 $100.00 $50.00 $75.00
    Coach $100.00 $125.00 $75.00 $100.00
    Coach (SCOB member) $75.00  $100.00 $50.00 $75.00
    Parent $100.00 $125.00 $75.00 $100.00
    Parent (SCOB member) $75.00 $100.00 $50.00 $75.00

    This is a 1.5 day event for medical professionals. The first day is geared toward medical professionals with content based on diagnoses, treatment, and prevention. The second day of the conference is open to medical professionals with content focused for a target audience of skaters, coaches, and parents.

    *Early bird rate ends March 1, 2026

    Cancellation of Services
    Although highly unlikely, in case an event is canceled or postponed, Boson Children’s can provide a full refund or offer a credit towards future events to those who have already registered.

    Refund Policy
    Refunds will be made in the following ways: For payments received by credit or debit cards, the same credit/debit card will be refunded.

     

    Accreditation

    In support of improving patient care, Boston Children’s Hospital is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

     

     

     

    Physician
    Boston Children’s Hospital designates this live activity for a maximum of 8.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.

    Nurse
    Boston Children’s Hospital designates this activity for 8.25 contact hours for nurses. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    Physician Assistants
    Boston Children’s Hospital has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credits for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 8.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

    Dietitian
    Dietitians completing this course receive 8.25 ACE CE continuing education credits.

    Physical Therapist
    Physical Therapists completing this course receive 8.25 ACE CE continuing education credits.

    Athletic Trainers
    Boston Children’s Hospital (BOC AP# P10089) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers. This program is eligible for a maximum of 8.25 EBP Category hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.

    Psychology
    Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibly for the content of the programs.

    This course has been approved for 8.25 continuing education credits.

    Social Work
    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Boston Children’s Hospital is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Boston Children’s Hospital maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 8.25 ACE CE continuing education credits.

    Disclosure Policy 
    Boston Children’s Hospital adheres to all ACCME Essential Areas, Standards, and Policies. It is Boston Children’s policy that those who have influenced the content of a CE activity (e.g. planners, faculty, authors, reviewers and others) disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial entities so that Boston Children’s may identify and resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. These disclosures will be provided in the activity materials along with disclosure of any commercial support received for the activity. Additionally, faculty members have been instructed to disclose any limitations of data and unlabeled or investigational uses of products during their presentations.

    Disclosure Statement
    The following planners, speakers, and content reviewers, on behalf of themselves, have reported the following relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on patients: 

    Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships
    Boston Children’s Hospital adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.

    Additional information

    Duration

    Format

    Faculty

     

     

    
    
    Melissa Christino, MD

    Director, Sports and Mental Skills Research; Orthopedic Surgeon, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department
    Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School

    Mike Cook, BS, LAT, ATC, CSCS, CKTP

    Injury Prevention Specialist, The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention

    Scott Cooke

    President, Cooke’s Skate Supply Inc.

    Pierre d’Hemecourt, MD

    Attending Physician, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department; Director, Sports Medicine Ultrasound Clinic; Co-Medical Director, B.A.A. Boston Marathon; Team Physician, Medical Director of Bay State Games

    Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
    Rachael Flatt, PhD

    Attending Psychologist, Sports Medicine Division

    Instructor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
    Ellen Geminiani, MD

    Family Sports Medicine

    Julie Han, MD

    Attending Physician, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department

    Instructor, Harvard Medical School
    Bill Meehan headshot William Meehan, MD

    Attending Physician, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department; Director, The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention; Director, Emerging Physician Leadership Program

    Professor of Pediatrics, Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Director, Neurologic Function across the Lifespan: a LONGitudinal, Translational Study for Former National Football League Players (NFL LONG study)
      Mirai Nagasu

    Figure Skater, 2018 Olympic Games team event bronze medalist

    Lydia Mason Papula, PT, DPT

    Physical Therapist, Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy Services

    Bridget Quinn, MD

    Attending Physician, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department; Company Physician, Boston Ballet; Lead Consulting Physician, Dean College Palladino School of Dance & Performing Arts

    Assistant Professor of Orthopedics, Harvard Medical School
    Kelsey Roberts, MS

    Mental Skills Specialist, The Micheli Center; Sports Medicine Division

    Simon Shnapir

    Figure Skater, 2014 Olympic Pairs team bronze medalist

    Heather Southwick, PT, MSPT

    Physical Therapist, Sports Medicine Division

    Andrea Stracciolini, MD

    Attending Physician, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Department; Director, Medical Sports Medicine; Director of Performing Arts Medicine; Team Physician, Regis College

    Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School
    Dai Sugimoto, PhD, ATC, CSCS

    Associate Director of Clinical Research, The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention; Research Technologist, Sports Medicine Division

    Ashley Wagner

    Figure Skater, 2014 Olympic Pairs team bronze medalist

    Maria Walazek, RD, LDN, CSSD

    Clinical Nutrition Specialist II

    Schedule

    Course Schedule

    Friday, September 18, 2026
    Time Topic Speakers
    8AM – 8:30AM Registration & Breakfast
    8:30AM – 8:40AM Welcome Remarks
    9:40AM – 9:10AM Guest Speaker: Reflections as a Former Olympian to Mental Health Provider Ashley Wagner
    9:10AM – 9:35AM Concussions on Ice: Unique Considerations in the Non-Contact Rotational Athlete William Meehan, MD
    9:35AM – 10AM The Skater’s Knee: Management of Common Knee Injuries in a Unique Athlete Population Melissa Christino, MD
    10AM – 10:25AM Skating on the Edge: Mental Health Challenges and Strategies in Figure Skating Rachael Flatt, PhD
    10:25AM – 10:35AM Q&A
    10:35AM – 10:45AM Break
    10:45AM – 11:10AM Approach to the Figure Skater with Hip Pain Andrea Stracciolini, MD
    11:10AM – 11:35AM The Spine in Motion: SI Joint Dysfunction and Back Pain in Figure Skaters Pierre d’Hemecourt, MD
    11:35AM – 12:00PM Skating Boots: Impact on Ankle and Foot Health Scott Cooke
    12PM – 12:10PM Q&A
    12:10PM – 12:50PM Lunch
    12:50PM – 1:10PM On-Ice Demonstration
    1:10PM – 1:35PM Management of RED-S and Bone Stress Injuries in the Figure Skater Bridget Quinn, MD
    1:35PM – 2PM On Thin Ice: Injury Prevention and Screening Heather Southwick, PT, MSPT, Lydia Mason Papula, PT, DPT
    2PM – 2:10PM Return to Skating After Injury: Protocols and Considerations for the Figure Skater Julie Han, MD
    2:10PM – 2:25PM Current Research in Figure Skating Medicine Dai Sugimoto, PhD, ATC, CSCS
    2:25PM – 2:50PM Figure Skating Medicine “On-The-Road”: Lessons from a US Figure Skating Team Physician Ellen Geminiani, MD
    2:50PM – 3PM Q&A
    3PM – 3:05PM Closing Remarks
    Saturday, September 19, 2026
    8AM – 8:30AM Breakfast
    8:30AM – 8:40PM Welcome Remarks
    8:40AM – 9:10AM Guest Speaker: Transition from Skater to Coach Simon Shnapir
    9:10AM – 9:35AM The Role of Nutrition in Supporting Athletic Performance and Recovery in Figure Skaters Maria Walazek, RD, LDN, CSSD
    9:35AM – 10AM Mental Skills and Its Impact on Figure Skating Performance Kelsey Roberts, MS
    10AM – 10:25PM Injury Prevention & Conditioning for Skaters Mike Cook, BS, LAT, ATC, CSCS, CKTP
    10:25AM – 10:35AM Q&A
    10:35AM – 10:45AM Break
    10:45AM – 11:15AM Guest Speaker: Skating through injury Mirai Nagasu
    11:15AM – 11:35AM Case Panel 1
    11:35AM – 11:55AM Case Panel 2
    11:55AM – 12:00PM Closing Remarks