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As the world continues to fight the spread of COVID-19, Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif has opened up about his own personal role in the battle. The 29-year-old celebrated a Super Bowl championship only a few months ago, but now is doing his part to help save lives during the pandemic.
Duvernay-Tardif is currently putting his doctorate to use at a longterm care facility near his home in Quebec, Canada. Duvernay-Tardif spoke to the media about his commitment to being on the frontlines fighting the virus.
“Every healthcare professional or student, you work long hours, especially when you are learning,” said Duvernay-Tardif. ” I remember back in 2013, 14 and 15 when I was doing both at the same time. It was really hectic, but I think it is a totally different mindset. I’m here now to help, support and contribute. What goes through my mind is how can I, first, protect myself, care for the patient, protect the patient as well and doing all that while trying to do as much virtual football training as I can and work out at my home.”
Duvernay-Tardif has been a consistent member of the Chiefs offensive line since 2014. He graduated from McGill University medical school in May 2018 with a doctorate of medicine and master of surgery. He handled his studies during the offseason with support from head coach Andy Reid and the coaching staff in Kansas City.
“Right now I’m working as an ‘orderly,'” said Duvernay-Tardif. ”It was the easiest status to give me because I’m kind of in a gray zone. I graduated with my doctorate in medicine but I’m not in the residency program. It was hard to jump in as a physician because I’m not really at this specific time. What the healthcare department needed was mostly as an orderly, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m doing a little bit of nurse tasks, handing out medication, making sure the patients are alright. I’m working in a long-term care facility right now, so the average patient is closer to 80 years old. It’s a totally different mindset. I haven’t really been exposed to a lot of geriatric patients in most of my medical studies, so it’s really a different mindset.
“In a time of crisis, there are so many extra steps you have to take in order to protect yourself and also to protect your patients. We are wearing our visors and our masks all day long during the whole shift, washing our hands frequently. There are so many precautionary measures in place in order to protect both you and the patient, it makes everything heavier in terms of tasks. That’s why they need so many people. Yes, there are a lot of medical professionals that have been sick from COVID or are in quarantine right now, but there is also just more work to do on every floor. That’s why they need people and that’s why I’m here right now.”
The world is changing rapidly due to the pandemic and health professionals around the world are stepping in to help save lives. The Chiefs are fortunate to have a player that protects others on and off the field.