THRIVE ADAPTIVE
Bridging the education gap for clinical providers & medical students to better care for people with disabilities
A Note From Our Founders
Background
Thrive Adaptive began after two years of independent work from our founder Dr. Charlotte Poplawski, who recruited hundreds of volunteer physicians and medical students to provide medical support at adaptive sports events in Los Angeles.
Joined by cofounder Joe Holt, Thrive Adaptive launched prior to the 2023 Angel City Games.
What have we accomplished?
The organization currently boasts an active volunteer base of 400 medical students and physicians throughout Southern California. In six short months, Thrive Adaptive has aligned with numerous community-based organizations to provide our medical volunteers with unique, hands-on experiences serving people with disabilities. In collaboration with numerous high-impact organizations like Triumph Foundation, Life Rolls On, and the International Surfing Association, Thrive Adaptive was proud to facilitate safe access to adaptive sports for more than 1,000 athletes of all abilities during the 2023 calendar year.
Thrive Adaptive has teamed up with 13 physicians & medical students at UCLA, USC, UC Irvine, Western University and Kaiser Permanente
With an eye toward sustainability, we are proud to announce the formation of our new Leadership Committee. Working alongside the Thrive Adaptive founding team, these leaders will grow into beacons of inclusive healthcare within their institutions and strive to shrink the knowledge gap for clinical professionals, facilitating better patient outcomes for people with disabilities.
Thrive Adaptive Leaders:
– Run event coverage at large-scale adaptive sports events
– Recruit medical providers & students to participate in our efforts
– Work alongside industry leaders on cutting edge research projects to better serve the disability community
– Create, curate and distribute unique hybrid learning opportunities to enhance the comprehensive specialty care necessary to holistically care for people with disabilities
Featured Events
Volunteer Opportunities
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🗓️ Adaptive Sports Calendar
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Get Involved
Join Thrive Adaptive for uniquely curated hands-on, educational experiences to improve patient outcomes for people with disabilities
Thrive Adaptive has leveraged decades of personal and professional experience to foster relationships with the most impactful community-based organizations serving people with disabilities.
Join us in collaboration with organizations like Angel City Sports, Triumph Foundation, and the International Surf Association to provide event coverage at the largest adaptive sports events in Southern California.
Members of the Thrive Adaptive community learn from industry-leading clinical providers and service professionals in specially crafted hybrid educational modules to master specialty care for people of all abilities.
Thrive Adaptive volunteers conduct cutting edge research projects with physicians and scientists on the frontier of inclusive healthcare, thus improving patient outcomes for people with disabilities.
It's time to rewrite the rules
Thrive Adaptive is on a mission to revolutionize healthcare for individuals with disabilities. We're breaking down barriers and equipping future healthcare leaders with the tools to provide exceptional specialty care for people with disabilities. Together, let's transform lives through adaptive sports and redefine what's possible in inclusive healthcare.
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Impactful alliances to empower inclusivity
Revolutionizing specialty healthcare to empower people with disabilities
What we do
Empowering Clinical Professionals:
We equip medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians with firsthand experience of the transformative power of adaptive sports. Through workshops, resources, and providing sideline medical support to adaptive athletes, we empower today’s medical professionals to become champions of inclusive healthcare for individuals with disabilities.
Inclusive collaborations:
We are the bridge between medical professionals and the adaptive sports community. We forge alliances with local adaptive recreation organizations and the medical community to build a network of current and future medical professionals who excel at caring for individuals with disabilities. Through these close collaborations, we foster a vibrant and supportive community that empowers individuals with disabilities to thrive.
PREPARING CLINICAL PROFESSIONALS:
We equip clinicians with the specialized skills and knowledge needed to provide exceptional care for adaptive athletes at all levels, from beginner to Paralympian. Through comprehensive training, honing skills at adaptive sports events, and expert mentorship, we ensure that medical professionals are prepared to support athletes at major high-level sports events like the LA 2028 Paralympics and beyond.
Establishing UCLA Health's adaptive sports Medicine service Line:
By providing medical support at adaptive sports events, we are building relationships with individual adaptive athletes so that we can understand and support all of their healthcare needs. We hope to redefine the standard of care for individuals with disabilities, and deliver medical services that optimize health, wellness, and athletic performance.
