David Lawrence is used to ensuring high performing athletes are healthy and ready to perform. Lawrence, who is medical director and staff physician at the University of Toronto’s David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic, is also lead team primary care physician for the Toronto Blue Jays.
So, when the opportunity arose to serve as primary care medical doctor for Taylor Swift and her team during the Toronto stop of her Eras Tour, he approached it as he would any job.
“It’s fairly common for high-profile artists to reach out to local professional sports teams for logistical or medical support during large events,” says Lawrence, who was approached by senior front office members of Rogers Centre and the Blue Jays organization for the job. “My role was to provide primary care services on-call for Taylor Swift, her staff and accompanying personnel.
“This included addressing the medical needs of not only the artists but also her supporting crew, family members and even children traveling with her team.”
Lawrence says the experience was very similar to his usual work providing medical coverage for high level athletic teams.
“Just like in an athletic team, the focus was on ensuring the health and readiness of a high-performing individual—in this case, Taylor Swift—along with her core team and supporting personnel,” says Lawrence, who is also an assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine. “The physical and mental demands on her as an artist are comparable to those of elite athletes, with grueling schedules, significant physical exertion and the pressure to perform at peak levels.”
Lawrence says the dynamic of working with a large, well-organized team behind the scenes were also familiar.
“Crew members, much like the staff supporting athletes, often face their own physical and mental stresses,” says Lawrence. “The overarching goal in both scenarios is the same: to address any issues quickly and efficiently so the performance, whether on stage or on the field, can continue seamlessly.
“The pressure to ensure readiness and a rapid return to performance if anything arose was another parallel, making this experience feel very much in line with my usual work.”
While he wouldn’t call himself a Swiftie before this experience, seeing her perform may have converted him into becoming one.
“The production was staggering and Taylor’s ability to perform for over three straight hours was nothing short of remarkable, making it clear how much preparation and effort go into delivering a show of that caliber,” says Lawrence. “It was a true showcase of an incredible combination of talent and hard work.
“It gave me a whole new appreciation for the dedication and effort behind such performances.”
Lawrence was also struck by the passion of Swift’s fans.
“It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” he says. “The energy in the crowd was electric with everyone singing every lyric so passionately it felt like the audience was just as much a part of the performance.”