NUMSS International Osteopathy Tennis Gold Cup

In everything I do, I strive to give back more than I take. That philosophy has guided my work throughout my career and is one of the reasons why we have become the world’s largest provider of manual osteopathic education.

We are now working to establish the National University of Medical Sciences School of Medicine (NUMSSOM) in Panama—a unique medical school that we believe has the potential to become a leader in medical education. This project will benefit Panama in many ways. It will create employment opportunities for local residents, attract international students who will contribute to the local economy, and provide full scholarships in osteopathy to selected Panamanian students. In addition, the university will operate a teaching clinic where members of the public will receive free osteopathic care for chronic pain.

Another way we hope to contribute to Panama is by creating the NUMSS International Osteopathy Tennis Gold Cup. The country has faced economic challenges in recent years, and we believe that an international tennis championship can help stimulate tourism by attracting adults and young athletes from around the world.

Participants and their families would enjoy a vacation while competing, benefiting hotels, restaurants, local businesses, and the broader economy. At the same time, the event would raise the international profile of our university.

This championship would also highlight the important role that osteopathy can play in athletic performance, injury prevention, and recovery. Our graduates would serve as the attending manual osteopaths for the players, providing care throughout the tournament. We hope this model will eventually be adopted by other sporting events around the world.

I also want this championship to be different from traditional tournaments. In most competitions, only a few players leave as champions while everyone else leaves disappointed. I believe there is a better approach, particularly for junior players. My goal is to design a competition where as many as half of the participants receive recognition through trophies, medals, certificates, or special achievement awards. This would encourage families to return year after year, allowing children to leave with positive memories, increased confidence, and achievements that may also strengthen future university applications & employment opportunities.

Happiness is very important to me, and I want this to be a championship where every participant feels valued and leaves happy.

If this concept proves successful, we may eventually expand it to other sports. We are beginning with tennis because I have the privilege of knowing many respected figures in the tennis world, including World Champion, Emilio Sánchez (seen in this photo, taken in Naples, Florida a few months ago), former World No. 1 in doubles and World No. 7 in singles who owns about 100 tennis courts internationally. Relationships such as these may help introduce the championship to players from around the world.

We also chose tennis because it is an international sport with participants who frequently travel for tournaments and training. Many players and their families are willing to combine competition with travel, making Panama an attractive destination for both sport and tourism.

In everything I undertake, I strive to be innovative, to think differently, and to create initiatives that improve people’s lives. My hope is that the NUMSS International Osteopathy Tennis Gold Cup will not only become a prestigious sporting event but also contribute to better health, stronger communities, and a brighter future for Panama.

Have a blessed day.

Dr. Shawn Pourgol, MBA, DC, DO, DN, PhD
Osteopath, Naprapath, Chiropractor & Founder of:
National University of Medical Sciences (USA, Spain, Panama)
Osteopathy Chronic Pain Clinics of Canada (380 clinics in 34 countries)
Florida Naprapathic Association
World Osteopathy Day