162. Growth Mindset with Sports Medicine Physician Marci Goolsby

Growth Mindset with Sports Medicine Physician Marci Goolsby

Introducing Marci Goolsby

Today I’m talking to Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Marci Goolsby about keeping a growth mindset.

Her Career Journey

Marci earned her BS in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience at UC San Diego, where she also played basketball. She went on to medical school at Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine before returning to California. She completed her Family Medicine Residency and Sports Medicine Fellowship at UCLA. Marci then moved across the country to the Hospital for Special Surgery, where she has stayed throughout her career, becoming the Medical Director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center. She is also an Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College and has served as a team physician for the New York Liberty, USA Biathlon, and USA Women’s Basketball. Marci has come full circle with women’s basketball and was recently named the Director of Sports Medicine for the WNBA. Additionally, this year, she’s serving as the President of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine after previously serving on the board of directors.

Growth Mindset

Throughout her life and career, Marci has excelled at maintaining a growth mindset, always emphasizing the process over the outcomes. This has helped her learn from mistakes and adapt to the ever-changing environment. Marci recognizes that growth mindsets don’t stop with the individual but apply to organizations as well. Through her leadership roles with the WNBA and AMSSM, she’s trying to maintain the same flexibility that has led to success for her personally.

Inside this episode:

  • Marci found sports medicine by staying open to new ideas. She knew that she was interested in science and wanted to be of service, but it wasn’t until she had the opportunity to shadow an orthopedic surgeon (former Madam Athlete guest, Cindy Chang) that she could see herself working with athletes.
  • Marci emphasizes the role that mentors have played in her career along the way, helping to shepherd her to career opportunities. 
  • With her appointment as the Director of Sports Medicine for the WNBA, this has been a full circle moment for Marci for women’s basketball. She’s excited to utilize the full scope of sports medicine staff within the W to improve athlete health.
  • It wasn’t until working with an executive coach that Marci began to list out her strengths and weaknesses as well as her likes and dislikes. Creating these lists has helped her to be deliberate about the things she says yes to. 
  • Marci stresses that every time you say yes to something, it’s a chance to learn more about what you like to do versus what you don’t like to do.

Resources

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