Medical Know Before You Go

Stay up-to-date with general medical information and COVID-19 regulations and requirements.

COVID Information

The Lake Placid 2023 Organizing Committee would like to give a brief overview of the current COVID-19 requirements for entry into the United States.

Please be aware, these are the policies and procedures currently in place. You can find the most up-to-date information on the CDC’s website.

CDC Guidelines

COVID Vaccination Policy

Currently, the U.S. is requiring everyone who enters the country to be fully vaccinated from an accepted and authorized COVID-19 vaccine provider (please note, there are vaccines used in other countries that are NOT approved in the U.S. and WILL NOT meet the criteria for entry).

Acceptable COVID-19 vaccines

Acceptable proof for COVID-19 vaccines

COVID Vaccine Exceptions

Unfortunately, there are very limited exceptions to those who are allowed to travel without a vaccine from an authorized provider. If you are allowed the exception, you will be required to follow additional guidelines for the length of stay.

Exceptions and requirements for unvaccinated travelers

COVID Testing Resources

There is no current testing requirement prior to travel to the U.S.

Information about COVID-19 testing

COVID Travel Information

Masks are still strongly recommended when travelling. If you are currently unvaccinated or vaccinated with an unapproved vaccine, it is recommended that you get vaccinated with an approved option as soon as possible.

Up-to-date COVID-19 travel Information

COVID Booster Policy

While you are not required to get a booster to enter the U.S., boosters are strongly encouraged.

COVID New York State Quarantine/Isolation Requirements

If any person is exposed to Covid- 19, they will need to wear a mask around others for 10 full days after exposure (Day 0 = last exposure), and test if symptomatic. If any person tests positive for COVID 19, theywill be required to isolate for 5 full days (Day 0 = positive test or onset of symptoms), and then wear a mask when around others for days 6-10.

General Medical Information

Spectator Medical Aid Stations (SMS) and Athlete Medical Aid Stations (AMS) will be provided at the Games competition venues.

SMS provides immediate medical assistance to spectators and all-day guests. These medical stations will be staffed with Emergency Medical Technicians and will be open during normal venue hours. Medical stations are basic first aid stations, for light medical issues, and can assist with transportation for any moderate to severe medical issues.
AMS will open one hour before competitions and official trainings begin and will close 30 minutes after the finish. These will be staffed with physicians and Emergency Medical Technicians. Medical stations are basic first aid stations, for light medical issues, and can assist with transportation for any moderate to severe medical issues.
Mobile medical crews will be located in the competition zones of the competition venues.
1. All official training and competition will be staffed by a physician at the Field of Play Medical Station.
2. All sports will have assistance from Emergency Medical Technicians.
3. Freestyle & freeski, Snowboard, Alpine, ski jumping and Nordic Combined ski jumping events will have specialized Ski Patrol.
4. For Alpine sports, the Mobile Medical Crews will work on the slopes depending on the sport discipline; for open-air cross-country sports, the Mobile Medical Crews will work in the finish zone and for the indoor ice sports, they will work in close proximity to the ice arena.
Ambulance crews will be at the competition venues during official training and competition.
Dedicated hospitals and specialized medical facilities will assist in the care of moderate to severe medical issues, please see the Medical Services and Doping Control Guide for detailed information.

Regional Medical Info

Lake Placid – Central Region

A medical station will provide first aid at the Main Medical Center at Lake Placid Sports Medicine from 7 to 24 January 2023. Delegations members and credentialed persons can receive medical care at this location. Hours of operation 09:00- 19:00.  The Main Medical Center in the Host City is for mild to moderate medical problems and is located at 203 Old Military Road, Lake Placid, NY.

Adirondack Medical Center Emergency Rooms are located at 203 Old Military Road, Lake Placid, NY and 2233 Route 86, Saranac Lake, NY. These will be open 24 hours/day (the Lake Placid Emergency Room hours are to be determined, not less than 08:00-20:00). A hotline for non-emergent medical questions for athletes and delegations will be available. Specialized physician, diagnostics and therapies are available.

Canton/Potsdam – West Region

The Athlete Village Medical Station will be located at Knowles Hall (VW1) from 7 to 24 January 2023.  Hours of operation 09:00- 19:00. Canton/Potsdam Hospital Emergency Room, located at 50 Leroy Street, Potsdam, NY, will be open 24 hours/day.

Glens Falls Queensbury – Southern Region

The Athlete Village Medical station will be located at the Great Escape Lodge (VS1) from 7 to 24 January 2023.  Hours of operation 09:00- 19:00.  Glens Falls Hospital Emergency Room, located at 100 Park Street, Glens Falls, NY, will be open 24 hours/day.

More information will be available in the Medical Service Guide, which is expected to be published November 1, 2022.

Chief Officer and Coordinators

Chief Medical Officer/Head of Medical: Tracey Viola

Tracey Viola, DO, CAQSM, FAAFP

Dr. Tracey Viola is a board-certified Family Physician with a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine. Dr. Viola is a consultant to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Lake Placid and served as a team physician for the 2015 Para Pan-American Games, the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. She also served as the Chief Medical Officer for the 2019 International Children’s Winter Games.

Coordinator of Venues Medical Services: Celeste Gabai

Celeste Gabai, MS, DC, ATC

Celeste Gabai is a graduate of Ithaca College as a Certified Athletic Trainer, with an advanced degree as a Doctor of Chiropractic from Life University in Marietta, GA. Her career spans 15+ years working with both male and female athletes in almost every sport ranging in competitiveness from high school to professional and Olympic levels. Most recently as a medical provider for the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee for over 11 years.

Coordinator of Village Medical Services: Rick Preston

Rick Preston, DPT

Rick Preston spent 31 years as Director of Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine at Adirondack Health, retiring in June 2022. During his tenure at Adirondack Health, Rick was instrumental in establishing multiple programs and service lines, including a comprehensive Rehabilitation Program, Athletic Training, Exercise Physiology, and most recently a new Medical Fitness Complex.

Coordinator of Emergency Medical Services: Patty Bashaw

Coordinator of Medical Volunteers: Sue Cameron

Sue Cameron

Sue Cameron has extensive event management experience, most recently fulfilling multiple roles for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, as Events Manager, Ironman Lake Placid Volunteer Director, Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) Ops Manager and the Director of the 2019 International Children’s Winter Games Lake Placid. She was also a part of the Organizing Committee for the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games, assisting the Chief of Ceremonies and Awards with both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Lead Venue Physicians

Lead Physician Whiteface Mountain: Hamish Kerr

Hamish Kerr, MD, MSC, FAAP

Dr. Hamish Kerr is a Sports Medicine Physician at Albany Medical Center. He directs the Sports Medicine Fellowship and is a Professor of Medicine & Pediatrics for Albany Medical College. Dr. Kerr is also a team leader for the Medical Student Musculoskeletal theme and is a team physician for Siena College, USA Rugby and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. He has also worked with Capital Region Orthopedics for over 10 years and serves as a concussion consultant, team physician and medical trainer for World Rugby and was the tournament physician for rugby at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

Lead Physician Olympic Center: Brady Bowen

Brady Bowen, DO, CAQSM

Dr. Brady Bowen has a special interest in injury prevention, nonoperative orthopedics and musculoskeletal ultrasound. He is currently employed by Albany Medical College where he works with learners at all stages of training and works clinically in both Primary Care and Sports Medicine at Albany Med and Capital Region Orthopedics. He is a team physician for the University of Albany, USA Rugby, Bethlehem Central High School and is the Assistant Medical Director for Ironman Lake Placid.

Lead Physician Olympic Jumping Complex: Peter Obourn

Peter Obourn, DO

Dr. Peter Obourn is a Board-Certified and Fellowship Trained Primary Care Sports Medicine physician, who specializes in treating active individuals with sports related acute and chronic overuse injuries. Dr. Obourn has worked with athletes at the University of Connecticut and the University of Hartford; as well as with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun basketball team. His practice includes the use of ultrasound to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal pathology. He specializes in ultrasound-guided injections, with a special interest in regenerative and ortho-biologic injection treatments, including platelet rich plasma and bone marrow concentrate treatments.

Lead Physician Maxcy Hall: Giselle Aerni

Giselle Aerni, MD

Dr. Giselle Aerni  is a former Head Team Physician for the University of Connecticut and Yale, team physician for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. She is also the founder of Madam Athlete LLC.  Dr. Aerni has also been the program director for two sports medicine fellowships and loves mentoring future generations of sports medicine physicians and athletic trainers. She has published research and presented at the national level and was part of the writing team behind AMSSM’s position statement on mental health in athletes.

Lead Physician Cheel Arena: Jamie Schleuter

Jamie Schleuter, MD

Dr. Jamie Schlueter is an Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine Physician, who started her career as an Athletic Trainer and has served as a team physician for collegiate, professional, Olympic and Paralympic sports teams. In May of 2022, she retired from The University of Portland where she spent 12 years as Head Team Physician. Dr. Schleuter continues to practice Emergency Medicine and spends four to six weeks each year working with USA Women’s Ice Hockey.

Lead Physician Mt. Van Hoevenberg: Bjorn Bakken

Lead Physician Gore Mountain: Trevor Black

Lead Physician Saranac Lake Civic Center: Rondy Lazaro

Rondy Lazaro, MD

Dr. Rondy Michael Lazaro is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Rochester. He is a Board-Certified Physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and in Sports Medicine. His clinical interests include sports medicine, musculoskeletal injuries, diagnostic and interventional ultrasound, running injury management and performing arts medicine.

Lead Physicial Roos House: Ivett Guttmann

Lead Village Physicians

Lead Physician Main Medical Center: Andrew Getzin

Andrew Getzin, MD

Dr. Andrew Getzin is the Clinical Director of Sports Medicine and the Director of the Shortness of Breath in the Athlete Clinic at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, NY. He is board certified in sports medicine and family practice and the Head Team Physician of Ithaca College and USA triathlon. Dr. Getzin is passionate about helping everyone obtain their exercise, competitive and health goals.

Lead Physician Knowles Hall: Liz Manetta

Lead Physician Great Escape Lodge: Katie Dolbec

Katie Dolbec, MD

Dr. Katie Dolbec graduated from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 2010 and has worked at multiple hospitals in Maine and Colorado, before returning to the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Emergency Department in November, 2016. She is a team physician for the U.S. Ski Team Women’s Alpine Speed Team and provides medical coverage for Ironman Lake Placid. Dr. Dolbec is the Medical Director for the Vermont City Marathon. Her passion in medicine lies at the intersection between emergency medicine, sports medicine, wilderness medicine and pre-hospital medicine/EMS.

Lead Physician Paul Smiths College: Erin Morine

Erin Morine, DO

Dr. Erin Morine is an Emergency Medicine and Sports Medicine Physician and practices sports medicine with Hudson Headwaters Health Network at Moreau Family Health and Warrensburg Health Center. She is currently the Team Physician for the New Jersey’s Devils ECHL affiliate team, the Adirondack Thunder. Dr. Morine also works as a U.S. Soccer Network physician and has traveled internationally (to include China and the Netherlands) with youth national teams. In addition to her sports medicine work she practices emergency medicine at Glens Falls Hospital and Ellis Hospital.