MANATEE COUNTY - Dr. Steven Schafer was one of only two surgeons in the nation to travel with the U.S. Women's soccer team to South Korea. He says it's good to be home but he had an awesome experience in Seoul South Korea.
"I enjoyed it it was a fun trip" says Schafer.
He was there for a week as a volunteer. "Primarily we're there as the American physician for the team while they're in a foreign land so that if they have injuries we're there to assess them if they have other medical issues we can manage them while we're there" says Schafer.
Dr. Schafer is an orthopedic surgeon who is no stranger to soccer injuries. He helps take care of the U.S. 17-and-under Boys National soccer team that trains in Bradenton.
Schafer's trip to South Korea put him on the sidelines for the International Peace Cup. He says he was surprised by the kindness and the strength of the women on the U.S. team. "Even some of the players that weren't that big they were tough..they we're good" says Schafer.
He says the first day he was there one of the players injured her knee during training. "Sure enough she had an ACL tear and we had to make the decision to bring her home and quickly get another player to come back in...to get another player on the roster" says Schafer.
He's looking forward to another opportunity to travel as the team physician. "I'd love to go with them again it was great" says Schafer.
The only other orthopedic surgeon selected to help the team is also from Coastal Orthopedics and Sports medicine Dr. Daniel Lamar who is still in South Korea.
