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One day after earning his master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa on July 30, 1977, Clark David Burton was named assistant athletics trainer for the Panthers. Three months later he was elevated to head trainer when his friend and mentor, Elmer Kortmeyer, took a leave of absence to travel to Bahrain. He eventually left UNI to become the head athletic trainer at the University of Colorado, a position he held until 2000 when he went to the University of Washington as an associate athletics director and head trainer. He left Seattle in 2005 to become the Director of Sports Medicine Services at a private orthopedic clinic in Hutchinson, Kan., working with high school student-athletes.
In May of last year, a former student assistant informed him about an opportunity working with performing artists with the Cirque du Soleil company at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. He now serves as Supervisor of Performance Medicine there.
Was the decision to leave Hutchinson difficult?
“At first, I told them I wasn’t interested. But another good friend in the profession encouraged me to look into the position further and I am glad I did. It is a perfect marriage of my love of sports medicine, my love of athletics, and my appreciation for the arts.”
Why did you finally accept the offer?
“The job opportunity has caused me to stretch myself professionally and personally. The method of treatment and level of care is significantly different as each artist is an employee with contract obligations and obligations on our part to provide care. The challenges of dealing with an extremely diverse population of artists, dealing with language and cultural differences, learning stage directions and coverage – I have definitely pulled some muscles in my professional stretching! Personally, to up and move by myself from Hutchinson to Las Vegas – can you say culture shock? I didn’t think I would enjoy the city as much as I have.”
How does it differ working with artists over the traditional athletes?
“Working with the artists at Cirque is very similar to the work that I have done over the past 30 years with college and high school athletes. The artists are a bit older (average age is 26), but they are all remarkable athletes. They are a bit more contortionists and dancers, etc. Most are former Olympians. We have artists from China, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, France, England, Australia, Argentina, Japan, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Russia, and of course, the United States.”
Do the injuries differ?
“The injuries the artists suffer are very similar to those of athletes in other venues. We see a large number of shoulder injuries, many requiring surgical interventions; as well as ankle, knee, wrist and elbow sprains and strains. Due to the nature of the acts our artists are involved in, concussion or closed head injuries are all too common.”
How big is your staff?
“I have a staff of two full-time physical therapists and one full-time massage therapist that work for and with me to care for 89 artists. We also have a cadre of physicians and other health care professionals much like the sports medicine teams at the collegiate level.”
How is living in Las Vegas?
“Las Vegas is a town just like every other town in the country – with a two-mile stretch of concrete, asphalt, beautiful lights, water fountains, sin and corruption that attract millions of people from other cities and countries to come and leave their hard-earned money with us! It really is a nice place to live because like every place that I have had the opportunity to call home, the people I work with and for have been wonderful.”
Talk about your family.
“My wife, Marti, and I separated five years ago. She still lives in Washington where she teaches elementary education. Oldest son Clark graduated from Northern Colorado a few years ago and is married with no children. He teaches and coaches at Niwot High School in Colorado. Clayton is 25 and lives in Woodinwille, Wash. and is an assistant manager at a large pet store, plays volleyball and is single. Curtis graduated last spring from Washington and is employed in Carnation, Wash.”
What did you like about living in the Cedar Valley and working at UNI?
“I loved my time at UNI. I loved the people, I loved the school, I loved how the campus looked with a fresh coat of white snow and how the rolling farm lands looked on an early morning as the sun was coming up and the fog settled in the lowlands. I loved my church and my neighbors, I loved the ‘feel of family’ that existed on campus and in the athletics department. I was blessed with a great educational opportunity at UNI, and outstanding experiences while being a member of the community. Above all, I cherish the friendships that I was able to forge with young students, student-athletes, professional colleagues, and acquaintances.”
What would you like to say to those who remain here?
“To the citizens of the Cedar Valley – thank you for developing a community that values education, community involvement, civic responsibility, and pride that is evident in your commercial and residential neighborhoods. To my colleagues at the University, thank you for being educators with passion and compassion and for the integrity which you show towards the educational process. To my friends, thank you.”
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