Dr Colm McCarthy is a local and internationally trained Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) Physician. He is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sport & Exercise Medicine Physicians and the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine in Ireland. He graduated from UCD in 2005 and completed GP training and an MSc in Sports Medicine in Dublin before relocating to Perth, Western Australia, in 2013. There he gained a wealth of experience in elite and professional sports along with completing the world-renowned ACSEP training program and examinations to be recognised as a specialist in SEM in Australia. Colm returned home to Dublin in 2023.
Colm has worked in professional and international rugby union with both men and women since 2016, in professional soccer and netball, and was a medical consultant to the West Australian Ballet from 2020 to 2023. He also has a strong interest in running and endurance sports and helping individual athletes overcome injury and return to performance. Colm also enjoys helping children, adolescents and older adults with any kind of sporting, joint, tendon or muscle issue to get back moving.
Colm’s clinical approach focuses on a thorough history and examination of all patients. He is experienced in interpreting MRI, x-ray and ultrasound imaging and performs injections under ultrasound guidance where indicated.
Rugby Union:
-Western Force Team Doctor (Super Rugby) 2016/17 and 2020-2022
-Australia A Men’s Team Doctor; October 2022 – August2023
-Pitchside medical team/concussion spotter for Wallabies tests in Perth 2017-2023.
-Walleroos vs New Zealand 2019. Team doctor (Perth Camp & Test).
-Global Rapid Rugby doctor for visiting Pacific teams 2018-2020.
-Rugby WA elite pathways doctor, including women’s Super W’s 2017 – 2020.
-Perth Spirit NRC doctor 2016-2017
-University of WA Club Doctor 2016
-World Rugby FAIR educator
Ballet:
Consultant Sports Physician to the WA Ballet 2021-2023
Soccer:
Perth Glory FC; Asian Champions League 2020
UCD AFC; Irish Premier League 2012
Aviva Stadium Doctor for Irish Internationals 2012
Australian Rules & Gaelic Football:
Independent Doctor (Freemantle Dockers home games) AFLW seasons 2021 &2022
Ireland (assistant doctor, Perth); International Rules Series vs Australia 2014 & 2017
Claremont Tigers (assistant doctor); WAFL 2015
Wicklow Senior Football Team; All-Ireland League and Championship 2012
Netball:
Australian Diamonds; Constellation Cup 2019 (Perth Camp & match vs New Zealand Silver Ferns).
Event Medicine:
Alice Springs Masters Games 2015; Perth Velofest 2015; Rottnest Channel Swim 2015; SwimRun Rottnest (Race Medical Director) 2019; United Cup Tennis, Perth (Tournament Physician, ATP & WTA) 2022.
12 weeks of simulated barefoot running changes foot-strike patterns in female runners.
McCarthy C, Fleming N, Donne B, Blanksby B.
Int J Sports Med. 2014 May;35(5):443-50.
Barefoot running and hip kinematics: good news for the knee?
McCarthy C, Fleming N, Donne B, Blanksby B.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015 May;47(5):1009-16.
