No other individual in the Greater Burlington-Hamilton area has done more for athletes: amateur, professional, recreational – and aspiring medical students - than “The Godfather of Sport Medicine” - Dr. David Levy.
After graduating from McMaster in 1972 with an honours degree in psychology, David was accepted into McMaster University's new medical school. Medicine was in his DNA. His parents Drs. Daniel and Frances – were the city of Hamilton’s “first medical couple.” Sport medicine was in its infancy when David graduated from Mac and he realized that sports medical care in the Hamilton-Burlington communities was not readily available to everyone. Sure, professional athletes could access his sports expertise – but - there was a void for local amateur athletes including high school and club kids. Initially, Dr. Levy established sport medicine clinics at McMaster University and Mohawk College and at local sports clubs – specifically Burlington’s Cedar Springs Racquet Club where he attended to future Olympians Paula Schnurr, Graham Hood, and Jesse Lumsden – all of whom are members of the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame.
In 1983, David and his wife Kathy, an orthopaedic nurse (2012 inductee in the BSHOF) opened Southern Ontario’s First Primary Sports Medicine Clinic which he named the Dr. Daniel Levy Memorial Clinic honouring his dad. The clinic served our communities for more than 35 years. Examples of Dr. Levy’s selfless service to community teams and organizations include: the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (45 years); The Hamilton Bulldogs; Hamilton Mt. A’s Junior Hockey Club; the Toronto Rock; McMaster University and Mohawk College varsity teams; Medical Director of The World University Student Games (McMaster University 1993) and The International Children’s Games (1994); and team physician to world champions Knot A Breast – a local breast cancer dragon boat team – and so many more.
It seems that Dr. Levy has been forever rooted on the campus at McMaster University. He enrolled at Mac in 1968 as a student. In 2018 – fifty years later – he is now a member of the esteemed medical staff at the David Braley Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre. He started McMaster University’s Primary Care Sport Med Clinic, and was the founder and now co-director of McMaster’s PrimaryCare Sports Med Fellowship Program. Professionally, Dr. Levy is respected locally, nationally, and internationally. He served as Chairman of the Ontario Medical Association on Sport Medicine; Chair of the Program Advisory Committee- Sport Injury Management Program (Sheridan College); Board member of the Sports Medicine Council of Ontario; Board member Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine; member of the Canadian and American Academy of Medicine – to name but a few! In 2011, the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine named Dr. Levy “Community Sport Medicine Physician of the Year” noting his “exceptional sport medicine services” to the community.
It is deemed an honour and a privilege to welcome this accomplished physician and exceptional individual into the Burlington Sports Hall of Fame.