David Lawrence is used to ensuring that high-level performers are healthy and ready to deliver on the big stage. A staff physician and medical director of the University of Toronto's David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic , Lawrence 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 during the Toronto stop of her Eras Tour, he approached it like he would caring for high-level athletes and 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 Temerty Faculty of Medicine's 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 was approached by senior front office members of the Rogers Centre and Blue Jays organization for the 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," he says.
His role: provide primary care services on-call for Swift, her crew, support staff, family members and even children traveling with her team.
He says the dynamic of working with a large, well-organized team behind the scenes felt familiar. "Crew members, much like the staff supporting athletes, often face their own physical and mental stresses," he says. "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 Lawrence wouldn't have called himself a Swiftie before this experience, he says he was incredibly impressed by the pop star's performances. "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 calibre," 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 adoring 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."
