Dr. David Mosko, Oncologist at Edgewood and the Dearborn Cancer Center, competed in the Olympic trials for swimming in 2008 and 2012. Here he shares his thoughts on competing as an elite-level athlete, and how that has informed his approach to life and practicing medicine.
Dr. Mosko’s remarkable swimming career made headlines ever since he was a teen as a member of the St. Xavier High School Swimming and Diving team. While there, he also represented his country in 2005 as a member of the U.S. Junior National team, and went on to become an All-American at Stanford. (He remains on Stanford’s Top Ten list of all time.) In the Olympic trials in 2008 and 2012, he qualified and competed in 200, 400 and 1500 Free, as well as 200 Fly, where he was a semi-finalist on multiple occasions.
We asked Dr. Mosko for his thoughts on competing at an elite level, and how swimming has shaped his approach to practicing medicine, in a recent Q & A:
Q: How would you say your experience with training and conditioning for elite-level swimming prepared you for practicing medicine?
A: There is a lot of cross-over between athletics and medicine. I think some of the most important and applicable skills I learned are goal setting and accountability. Being able to set goals and expectations, and figuring out the steps to achieve that goal, is valuable in all aspects of life. In a sport like swimming if you do or don’t accomplish those goals, you are especially accountable; there isn’t anyone to blame if it goes poorly, and alternatively, when things go well you feel accomplished and empowered to achieve the next goal.
Q: How did you handle the pressure of competing at a high level? What kept you motivated?
A: I always tried to approach high pressure situations in swimming with perspective. For one acknowledging and embracing the opportunity to compete in high pressure races such as NCAA championships or the World University Games. Also understanding and trusting the preparation that has led to those moments really helped keep me focused.
Q: What stress management strategies do you still use that you developed during your time competing?
A: Kind of a two-fold answer. I tend to want to plan things out so initially it was/is a stress reliever to think through a plan to make sure I felt prepared. The flip side is that sometimes I over-think and over-plan. In those instances, it was about finding something to take my mind off it: family, music, movies, anything that could be a distraction and keep my mind clear. Once it was closer to a race then I would refocus my visualizing/thinking through the plan again. My approach is somewhat similar now, in terms of balancing planning things out but not too much.
Q: How did your team dynamics influence or shape your approach to your work?
A: Probably one of the biggest factors that has shaped my life are the teamwork skills I developed from swimming. People don’t typically think of swimming as a “team first” sport, but I can tell you between swimming at St. Xavier High School, Stanford and Team USA, it is a major component. It was one of the biggest draws for me to oncology; it’s such a multidisciplinary team-driven specialty in which everyone has an individual role, and when everyone does their role well it leads to great outcomes. There are lots of parallels between swimming and oncology in that regard.
Q: Do you still swim competitively, or for fun?
A: For fun and exercise. I love being in the water and swimming laps is a stress reliever for me. I am not planning on swimming competitively again, although my two oldest daughters just started swimming, they are 7 and 5, so just starting out but it’s been fun seeing their progress.
Q: What do you think is the most important quality for a successful elite athlete to have or cultivate? How does that inform your practice of medicine?
A: There are a lot of potential answers to this one — dedication, accountability, perseverance — but I am going to go with balance. I think having something outside of your sport or career to help give you something to keep perspective, and also to be able to step away from for a moment when needed, is crucial. High-level athletics and careers like medicine can be stressful and mentally exhausting, so having something to help relieve that stress can help keep you sharp and engaged when it matters most.
Q: If you had the chance to meet her, what would you say to swimmer and Walton, KY native Mariah Denigan as she heads to Paris for the Olympics?
A: I believe she is competing in the open water race. I have done a little bit of open water… it is grueling. I would tell her to embrace the moment. I was fortunate enough to be able to compete for team USA twice, but never in the Olympics, so I would tell her so embrace the moment and take it all in — I am sure she will.
Q: In what ways does the Mission and Vision of St. Elizabeth align with the ethos of elite athletics or your own personal values?
A: If you take the ICARE moniker (Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Excellence), it is all applicable to athletics, but would focus especially on Collaboration which is essential to working within a team. Also, Accountability to yourself and your teammates. I think Excellence is somewhat self-explanatory.
Q: Are you going to watch the Summer Olympics in Paris? Do you have a favorite sport or athlete you follow?
A: I definitely will be watching as much of the Olympics as I can this summer. Probably not surprisingly, swimming is my favorite, but I like watching all of it, especially sports you don’t normally get to watch. In terms of athletes, I know Carson Foster, a swimmer from Cincinnati, from when he was an age group swimmer and I even coached him a little bit when he was around 10, so it will be fun to watch him compete in Paris.
Q: What would you say to someone who is currently involved in athletics and considering a career in healthcare?
A: I would encourage them to keep persevering, athletics develops team building, work ethic and other skills that are essential to being successful in healthcare. Skills that will improve their ability to deliver excellent care to patients in the future.
Learn more about Dr. Mosko and his swimming career at these links:
- Dr. Mosko’s St. Elizabeth biography page: St. Elizabeth Healthcare — David Mosko, MD (stelizabeth.com).
- Cincinnati.com: LaRosa’s Hall of Fame announces 2017 high school sports class.
- WCPO: Buddy LaRosa High School Hall of Fame names 2018 class.
- St. Xavier High School: David Mosko (’07) Inducted into Larosa’s Hall of Fame.
Connect with Us During the Olympics!
For more Olympics fun, learn how to send a Gold-Level ICARE award to a teammate; wear Olympics apparel to work Friday-Sunday; and while you’re watching the games, engage on our social media pages. St. Elizabeth is sponsoring the 2024 Olympics on WLWT-TV Channel 5, and throughout, we will be publishing special Olympics content on our social media pages. Be sure to engage and share!
