Dale Colorado, D.O., MPH, associate professor and chief of sports and musculoskeletal medicine in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), was named head team physician for Boccia United States. In this role, Colorado will help manage the health and well-being of the athletes on the national team.

Boccia is one of the 22 summer Paralympic sports. It has been a competitive sport in the Paralympic Games since 1984. Initially designed for people with cerebral palsy, it is now played by people who have any kind of neurological impairment that affects their motor function.

Lakeshore Foundation serves as home for Boccia United States. “UAB has a wonderful partnership with Lakeshore,” says Colorado. “I am honored to serve on the medical team and look forward to working with the athletes and the entire Boccia United States organization”.

Colorado has been involved in adaptive sports for over a decade. He serves as a physician for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and is also one of the team physicians for USA Wheelchair Rugby. He was involved in developing the classification system for the USA Wheelchair Football League as Chair of the Medical Subcommittee. He has lectured on adaptive sports at national conferences and authored multiple journal articles and textbook chapters related to adaptive sports.