by Jessie Moniz Hardy

There’s no rushing patients out the door at the Centre for Sport and Orthopaedic Medicine in Hamilton. Founder and director physician Annabel Carter confesses she’s often running late, because she’s lingered too long, chatting with a client. 

“I’ve always felt strongly about giving patients ample appointment time within which to more correctly diagnose, treat and educate, even if it means seeing fewer patients in a day,” Dr Carter said.

For her, it’s not about the money or prestige; it’s all about her clients. “I like people, and I enjoy my patients,” she said. 

A New Zealander by birth, she first came to Bermuda in 1989 after finishing her postgraduate training in England. She assisted sports doctor Carol Hammond in a tiny office on Victoria Street for many years and married Bermudian filmmaker and writer Andrew Stevenson in 2001.

She took over the practice in 2015, when Dr Hammond retired, but it wasn’t until she moved to the Vallis Building on Par-la-Ville Road in July 2016, that she made a fresh start of things, and founded CSOM. 

CSOM focuses on nonsurgical treatment of musculoskeletal ailments and sport and exercise-related injuries. “We treat the gamut of individuals from elite athletes, weekend warriors and urban athletes to children in sport, office workers and senior citizens,” Dr Carter said.

Within ten months, CSOM was so busy she had to hire a third clinician. It continues to grow. Last year they hired two new staff members, sports doctor Hamish Reid and chiropractor Raffi Titizian, and expanded their physical space. They now have 4,000 square feet, comprising six consultation and treatment rooms, a procedural room, a small studio and a staff room. 

“With six clinicians now, all with different niche skills, the majority of patients can be managed within CSOM, and the few that cannot, can be referred appropriately elsewhere, be it to other therapists, trainers, advanced pain management or surgery,” Dr Carter said. 

Early on, CSOM physiotherapist Michelle Monk, joined forces with doula and nurse, Fiona Dill, to provide birthing classes at the practice over a weekend every few weeks. Melony Kendell hosts a breastfeeding class as well, and Ms Monk and Ms Dill have set up a midweek class.

“We hope to have further classes available during the week in yoga and Pilates,” Dr Carter said. 

Now Dr Carter says, CSOM is the only clinic in Bermuda to boast the make-up of sport and exercise medicine, physicians, physiotherapists and a chiropractor. Staff are encouraged to keep training and remain current with best practices in their field. 

Dr Carter said: “Over the last ten years I’ve trained and qualified in musculoskeletal ultrasound, which has proven to be an incredible and essential tool both in providing immediate diagnoses for patients and in guaranteeing accuracy of injections via interventional ultrasound-guided injection therapies.”

For Dr Carter, some of the challenges of the sports medicine industry are keeping current with new technology, and providing for an increasingly ageing population.

“As with most other health practitioners, as well as the health insurance industry here, the clinic is placing more emphasis than ever on a holistic — and going forward hopefully more preventive — approach to managing health,” she said. 

This article was originally published the May 2019 edition of the RG Business Magazine.

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• What was your vision behind Xtreme Sports & how did it come to fruition?

In 2014, I was on a train in England, looking out the window and I saw people playing Bubble Football. I had watched a few clips of it on social media, but seeing it first hand, I thought it would be something cool to bring to Bermuda.

Once I started researching Bubble Football, I came across other similar games. From there I began brainstorming about how it could become a viable business opportunity in Bermuda.  June 2015, I started Xtreme Sports, with Bubble Football.  The vision from the beginning was to bring new, exciting games and attractions for the Bermudian public to enjoy.

• Xtreme Sports Games has become a must-attend annual event on the island — what goes into putting on such a successful event?

There’s a lot of behind the scenes work; meeting with sponsors, coordinating teams, advertising and marketing, ordering supplies, working with vendors, working with location staff, and the list goes on. But to be honest, now that these relationships have been developed, it is a lot easier to plan.

We wouldn’t be able to put on the event like this without the help of our team and all of the volunteers. They are the real MVPs. Lastly, it’s about executing and thinking on your feet on the day itself. As much as you plan, nothing ever goes according to plan 100%, so it’s about adapting.

• You’ve recently announced that Xtreme Sports will have a permanent home, a fun zone coming this year— what can you tell us?

I’ve been advised by my marketing team not to reveal too much! But what I can say is that I’m incredibly excited and proud to have our own permanent location. It’s been a long road, as we’ve been at this for about two years, and we’re almost there, in terms of opening.

The vision behind the location is to provide the Bermudian public of all ages with some much-needed fun and entertainment. The best thing to do is to follow our social media accounts so that you can get all of the announcements as they come out.

• How has your experience been owning a business as a young entrepreneur in Bermuda?

Overall, I would say good, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way, but they’ve all helped to shape the company and me.

When you first start a business, one of the driving factors is making money, but that quickly dropped down the list of priorities. Seeing customers having fun, helping to create memories and being able to offer young Bermudians with job opportunities, are the sorts of things that are most rewarding for me.

• What advice can you give to those young people thinking about starting their own business?

Go for it! Obviously, do your research and due diligence beforehand, but if it seems feasible and you believe in your idea, don’t hesitate. People are often scared because they are stuck with thoughts like “What if it goes wrong?”, but on the other hand, what if it goes right?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are plenty of useful resources available such as other business owners and the Bermuda Economic Development Agency. Build those relationships and use them to your advantage.

Lastly, you have to have tough skin. There will be naysayers, angry customers, etc., but you have to remember to learn from your mistakes and keep the end in view. Don’t be so quickly discouraged if something goes wrong, it’s all a part of the learning process.

• What do you have coming up in the next few months? Plans for the future?

Much of the focus will be on the Xtreme Sports Games, being held on April 13th, as well as the build-up and launch of the Fun Zone. I’m sure there will be some teething pains when the Fun Zone initially opens, but once we’re up and running, expect a lot more from us. The Fun Zone gives us way more flexibility with what we can do, so I’m sure the will be lots going on. Keep an eye out for that!

@xtremesportsbmd & @funzonebmd on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter / www.xtremesportsbmd.com / [email protected]

This article was originally published in the February 2019 edition of the RG Business Magazine.

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–Surlena Smith, Ponda Pits, BEDC Client of the Year 2018

Entrepreneur of the Year
Anderica Gilbert

Bermuda Dental Studio

Bermuda Dental Studio specialises in the manufacturing of custom dental devices locally, by prescription from a dentist such as dentures, retainers, night and sports guards. Anderica has in mind to create training and career opportunities for other dental professionals that want to get into the field.

Vendor of the Year
Gina Thompson
Sniggles Face & Painting

Sniggles Face & Painting offers face and body painting, fun castle rentals, party planning and more to do with putting on the most memorable event. “In the near future, I would like to see my business doing live painting in hotels or any other entertaining events.”

People’s Choice
Malisa Swan
Bermuda Cupcake Company

In its eighth year, Bermuda Cupcake Company, is clearly the people’s choice. The next step for Bermuda Cupcake Company is to get a larger commercial place and hire a fun creative team.

BEDC Client of the Year
Surlena Smith
Ponda Pits

PondaPits creates organic personal care products with our health and environment in mind. Giving your body a vacation from toxins with scents inspired by Bermuda. “With the help of BEDC, I was able to transition from a corporate cubicle to my own small business cubicle, and several locations.” 

New Business of the Year
Catarina Rocha
Glamping on the Rock, LLC

Glamping On De Rock is a luxury pop-up camping experience allowing visitors and locals to connect with Bermuda’s authentic nature and culture. “As we grow our business our second phase is providing a new hospitality business, overnight glamping accommodations.”

Most Enterprising Young Entrepreneur
Mia Williams Grant
The Burning Bean

The Burning Bean creates artisan soy candles, hand poured in Bermuda.

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