BigTeamIU: Time 44 41 a touchdown wins it snap back to Hilinski drops back has time passes left caught made at the catchment of the 20 yard line more over the 10 runs for the win dives for the pylon touchdown Washington State he's celebrating like he was over the goal line it's a Welcome United! So we have a great episode for you today. I'm here from the Hallowed Hall, Assembly Hall, to give you a sneak preview of some of highlights of the great things coming this episode. Enjoy!

Mehvish Safdar: Hi everyone, welcome to the United podcast presented by Indiana University's Counseling and Sport Psych PhD program. We call ourselves Big Team. This podcast centers around athlete mental health and performance. My name is Mehvish Safthar. I am a Big Team member and I'm your host for this week's episode. ⁓ I am super excited to bring on a very special guest in more ways than one. It is my sister and doubles partner, Dr. Komal Sufler, who is actually just a few miles away from me in Durham, North Carolina, but we're doing this virtually right now. So say hi, Komal.

Komal Safdar: Thanks so much for having me here today. Super excited.

Mehvish Safdar: Yes. And so to honor IU's undefeated football team, we are all starting off our podcast episodes by showing a clip of Coach Signetti to like segue introductions. So I am going to share my Alright, short clip, but what I want to ask is if someone were to Google you, what might they find about Dr. Komolsov there?

Komal Safdar: Yeah, well, ⁓ first of all, I think some of our stories are going to overlap. So some of this might be some of your story as well. But ⁓ you know, for me, I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. My parents were immigrants from Pakistan and honestly had no concept or idea of youth sports in America. And we started all playing tennis together as a family in our apartment complex. And Soon started playing competitive tennis, was playing junior tennis, traveling the country by the age of 10. ⁓ And then was fortunate enough to earn a scholarship to Syracuse University where I played division one tennis for all four years. Great experience, some rocky parts with, you know, some, wrist injuries and surgeries. And so I think that was kind of a first glimpse of some, some mental setbacks. was pre-med at the same time and decided to apply to medical school after that and so went to VCU, graduated in 2020 and that was an experience graduating in the middle or really the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and starting as a doctor in training during that time. And so I completed my internal medicine. residency training at Duke, stayed on for fellowship, currently finishing up my nephrology fellowship, which is the kidneys. And ⁓ through my residency ended up discovering pickleball and playing professional pickleball as well, which has brought tons of meaning.

Mehvish Safdar: and Thank you for that Google me search. should Google Dr. Como software, or who I like to call Dr. Sis, and you'll find a lot of that information as well as a lot of other accomplishments that she's accumulated over the years. yeah, I have an incredibly impressive older sister and actually older sisters. ⁓ I'm the youngest and have two older sisters that are just incredibly impressive in like all the ways so Dr. Como, Dr. Sis She is, I think she touched on a few of these, but probably not enough of these. She's former high school state tennis champion with me, I will say, ⁓ former division one tennis student athlete, current pro pickleball player, and also a current physician pioneering a medical specialization called sport nephrology, which we'll get more into. And most importantly, just like the kindest, most enjoyable person and human that you'll ever meet. I might be biased, but I think most people that meet Dr. Komolsofther would say the same. So we'll touch on topics related to like college athletics, pro sports, the fastest growing sport of pickleball, also just like a physician's perspective. ⁓ as it relates to athlete mental health and mental performance and just all sorts of good stuff. So stay tuned. Yeah, so All-Start chronologically feels the easiest. So starting with your time as a Division I student athlete. So you were in the starting lineup all four years at Syracuse University and ACC School and also on a pre-med track. You accumulated like... I love an opportunity to ⁓ hype up my sister. So you accumulated a bunch of academic and athletic awards, including like a postgraduate scholarship given to like three student athletes in the ACC graduating with the highest GPA and ⁓ also being nominated for NCAA Sportswoman of the Year, super casual. ⁓ But clearly very high achieving, which I think a lot of student athletes are very high achieving on and off the field. Not quite as high achieving as you, but still very high achieving. And so, Tell me about your experience as a student athlete and also just like, how is that experience of like balancing it all and what was helpful, maybe what was like hurtful and trying to balance it all.

Komal Safdar: Yeah, thank you for that really kind introduction. ⁓ yeah, don't know if I deserve that all, but ⁓ certainly lots of high achieving people. I think, you know, I'll say also with you saying that achievement is probably defined in different ways, not always a grade, but ⁓ you know, for me, honestly, looking back at my time as a student athlete, you know, I think of it so fondly, just so much joy, so much fun. I probably think about the athlete part first. ⁓ just the times on the road trips, the matches, the dinners, the, relationships I made with my teammates who are still some of my best friends today, honestly. ⁓ and then, and then really the, the student part. I was, ⁓ pre-med, you mentioned, ⁓ majoring in biochemistry, actually minored in, in psychology. And, ⁓ it was, it was certainly demanding. It was, ⁓ a lot to balance. I think. required a lot of structure and time management, really planning my weeks, like two in advance, ⁓ making use of every 20 minutes I had between class or ⁓ studying ⁓ at the airports, ⁓ getting up ⁓ I think ⁓ the thing that ⁓ made it ⁓ all doable was ⁓ think ⁓ busy just made more productive itself. ⁓ But I think it was also just genuinely really enjoying both aspects, the sports aspect and then the tennis aspect, the ⁓ pre-med aspect. ⁓ So I think I found it meaningful rather than stressful. Now don't get me wrong, there were stressful times with balancing it all. I think it was juggling two different identities that sometimes ran in parallel, right? Like having this. ⁓ athlete identity, but then also having this pre-med identity. And at least when I was there, there was probably only a couple other student athletes who were pursuing that same track. ⁓ But I think it helped to find a community in each of them ⁓ and having that group to relate to. And then I'll also say just from like a structural standpoint, the tutoring that was ⁓ offered by the athletic department, people would be like, Komal, you you have such good grades, why do you need a tutor? But honestly, that was so important. You know, when you travel, you miss so much class. And so just, you know, I needed to know how to do those physics problems, that organic chemistry problems. So that really helped me as well. And so, ⁓ you know, there was definitely times where it was challenging, especially kind of with some of the wrist issues and the injuries and juggling it all. But honestly, I look back and just think ⁓ probably one of the best times of my life.

Mehvish Safdar: I think that speaks to who you are. You're such an, what I consider an optimist. You know, you look at things from such a positive perspective, but you did mention, you know, injury and that is something that is challenging and something that a lot of athletes unfortunately have to deal with. I think there's variation in the longevity and like severity of, ⁓ injuries that athletes deal with, but tell us a little bit more about the injury that you dealt with and how it just impacted your college experience.

Komal Safdar: Yeah, no, absolutely. ⁓ So I had a wrist injury and I actually had a surgery a couple months prior to starting my freshman year. And that was really ⁓ important and tough because I entered as a five-star recruit. I wanted to go in and be like, I'm ready to play. I'm ready to contribute to the team. But. you know, I honestly hadn't been playing for several months and just gradually building up. I think there was a whole other internal conversation I was having, things like, ⁓ you know, is it okay to voice up that my wrist is hurting? Is it going to come off? Like, I'm trying to get out of, you know, practice or something like that. ⁓ And it was really tough to start at a new place ⁓ and really trying to, you know, prove yourself, but also stay healthy and, you know, protect my wrist. And so I think it really helped to have obviously a team of trainers, sports medicine doctors, and my coaches to help navigate that. And then my teammates too, I mean, they were just a huge, huge support system. ⁓ But I think throughout my college career, the hardest part of having an injury was honestly the, the uncertainty of it, right? ⁓ I could be playing fine for weeks, months, and then not know that next time I step on the court, am I going to feel that twinge in my wrist? I think throughout my college career, ⁓ the hardest part of having an injury was the, the uncertainty of it, ⁓ right? I could be playing fine for weeks, months, and then not know that next time I step on the court, am I going to feel that twinge in my wrist? And sometimes that happened and it could feel really defeating to start making so much progress. then again, just to kind of have another setback and feel like you're starting over. And it's really tough when you're achieving for really high goals and wanting to put the work in, you know, something like an injury is preventing that. it required, you know, honestly, it felt like a second job at times. to really manage it all, things like working with trainers, having those doctor's appointments, ⁓ being diligent about recovery and icing. ⁓ And it was a lot mentally. ⁓ But I think for me, I was fortunate to work through it. I ended up getting a second wrist surgery after my sophomore year, which ended up helping. But I would say it was just a lifelong. part of it and accepting it and working through as I could. There's definitely some tears and one time, you know, we were talking about a medical leave and honestly that was really scary because being an athlete was a huge part of my identity and I honestly could not imagine not being a collegiate athlete and a tennis player. So it's really helpful to have a sports system. I wish I had a sports psychologist because that would really help me out, I think.

Mehvish Safdar: Love that plug of a sports psychologist in there. But yeah, no, I, you know.

Komal Safdar: you

Mehvish Safdar: It's very unfortunate that you had to experience the injury that you did. And I also think it's very unfortunate that it's a, it's a typical experience for athletes. Again, I think there's a range of longevity and severity of injuries that athletes face, but it is a common experience that athletes face. And it's not only a physical battle, but it's a mental battle. as well. So yeah, I appreciate you speaking to that. And that is a field of a specialization of sports psychology that we are really attending to because it's so prevalent. And so yeah, just relevant to so many athletes. And it's a battle. So then from that, you did your college tennis experience, endured a lot of resiliency through that. ⁓ And then you are now playing professional pickleball. But something I want to talk to you about was just that transition also from collegiate sport to. regular life, Talk to me about that transition.

Komal Safdar: Yeah, I think it's such a great question. And I think it was probably one of the toughest transitions, ⁓ unexpectedly in some ways. And I know I'm talking about this like it's past tense, but it's actually still something that I think about, even with playing professional pickleball, because it looks different at this stage in life, no matter what. ⁓ you know, it's kind of crazy to go from, you know, all those, the teammates, the coaches, the environment. And then suddenly one day I hit my last shot. and you know, you also don't know when your last shot is, right? You're like in the ACC tournament for me and I don't know, you know, what round we're going to win or lose in. ⁓ but then suddenly it's just like, you know, you blink of an eye and it's over and you, you don't have a next match that you're training for. ⁓ And then suddenly one day I hit my last shot. ⁓ and you know, you also don't know your last shot is, right? You're like in the ACC tournament for me and I don't know, you know, what round we're going to win or lose in. ⁓ but then suddenly it's just like, you know, ⁓ you blink of an eye ⁓ and it's over ⁓ and ⁓ you have a match you're training for. you don't have your teammates, you don't have that community around you anymore. ⁓ so, I think I really started to think about who am I outside of sports? ⁓ And for me, I was lucky that I had another identity that I was brewing, which was the pre-med and medical track, but it was still a tough transition. And I think one of the toughest parts was maintaining some type of like exercise and discipline ⁓ afterwards because it looked very different. And, you know, it's crazy to say because exercise is so important for physical health and even, you know, mental health. And when you're an athlete, you know that, right? But I also at the same time found myself really struggling to find the motivation to go out and like have that everyday consistency. And I think a big part of that was because the motivation of why I was training was different, right? It wasn't for a match anymore, but it was really for yourself and maybe health as well. ⁓ And so I tried a bunch of things to kind of stay active and it was like running or like going to the gym by myself. I even tried to go back into playing tennis, but really had a hard time with any of those really sticking. And it wasn't, you know, I think until I started to move to more community things like group fitness classes at the gym or playing soccer with my medical school cohort. And then most recently playing pickleball, which has ⁓ brought a lot of community and goals. so, ⁓ yeah, I mean, think it's been a process and I'm still learning. And I think the important part I've learned is that no matter what, it's gonna look and be different than being a student athlete because there's just other life responsibilities.

Mehvish Safdar: Yeah, I think you encompassed what several athletes often feel transitioning out of sport. It's challenging. Like sport, elite sport has been such a big part of your life for... so long. ⁓ And then it's a lot of athletes transitioning out of collegiate sport like, who am I? I think it sounds like, fortunately for you, you did have another aspect or element to your personality or passions So ⁓ mentioned ⁓ pickleball ⁓ and how that was something that you found later on ⁓ in life ⁓ your college career while continuing pursue your medical ⁓ career. So ⁓ I have to ask, you know, how did you get started in pickleball? Who introduced you to pickleball? And yeah, tell me a little bit about that.

Komal Safdar: Oh man, you know I'm laughing with answering this question because it was you, Mevish, who introduced me to pickleball. You know, I remember sitting in my apartment and it was a long day after work at the hospital and you called me and you had been playing pickleball at that time and you were like, hey, Komal, I feel like we could be really good at this. And I was like, yeah, yeah. And, and the next thing I knew you were on a flight, came over from Indiana to Durham, put a pickleball paddle in my hand. We went to this like makeshift pickleball court with a tennis net. wasn't even a pickleball net and just started playing. Um, and I just remember having so much fun and, and the rest is honestly history, right? Like we, signed up for a tournament and literally played like three weeks later, ⁓ it was like a beginner tournament. ⁓ And ⁓ man, I just like really realized how much I missed competing. ⁓ And from there, you know, I know we set the goal together to train and play professional pickleball. And obviously you moving to Durham and North Carolina being my training partner. was a huge win, a huge plus, think, for both of us. And then, yeah, I'll also remember that our mom was there too, and we all kind of played together, so it was also, made me realize it was also like a family thing, and really anyone could play. So yeah, best decision ever.

Mehvish Safdar: Absolutely, yeah. I just wanted to, you know, give my stars for introducing a superstar to pickleball. But yeah, no, it's kind of wild. you know, both of us, you know, did college tennis and then took a little bit of a hiatus from elite sport and then unexpectedly ended up being introduced to and taking on this sport of pickleball and getting into it and just enjoying that sense of like competition improvement again. and ⁓ what's better than being able to do that with a sibling, you know? So, ⁓ I will take credit for introducing superstar Dr. Komo Sufther to pickleball. But yeah, I do want to ask you like, what do you think? So pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America right now and it's spreading internationally as well. What do you think makes this sport just so popular and attractive?

Komal Safdar: Yeah, yeah, it's a great question. I could probably ask you the same question too. ⁓ But, you know, I think it's a couple things. I think one is how accessible it is, right? Like you ⁓ go to now like a park with pickleball courts and you can just join in and it's such an open environment. People are very ⁓ There's all types of levels. You know, you'll see like an eight-year-old on the same court as like a 50-year-old and they're a competitive match and going at it and it's so fun to watch. ⁓ And so it's cross-generational. It's a sport that's easy to pick up, but I think it's really hard to master and I think that's what keeps so many people in it. Honestly, I've been so surprised with the amount of strategy that goes into it, the depth of all the different types of shots. There's always something to improve in and I think that It makes me like want to chase it even more. ⁓ and then it also requires a lot of athleticism. mean, when you're playing and competing at the highest level, mean, fitness is such a big factor. And so it's a, a, it's way to also for me, you know, was to like motivate to stay in shape as well. And so I would say all those factors with accessibility, ⁓ the joy, the community, ⁓ and then just like cross generational, ⁓ component where you can, you know, whole family can play together and then now opportunities to compete at the highest level professionally make it the fastest growing sport probably. Yeah, I don't know what you think.

Mehvish Safdar: Yeah, no, I have similar thoughts. know, what you were speaking to, it's like easy to pick up, which is nice because then you can go to your local park and yeah, just play with the people at the park, but hard to master. Obviously we have to say that as pro pickleball players. like, it's not easy at the highest of levels. ⁓ But then... There is this also like very social aspect that I feel like is unique ⁓ from other sports where, you know, you can meet people through partnering with them, playing against them, or just like going to the park and meeting them. And so I do think there's that like unique social aspect to it that makes it as fast growing as it is. But I am... very proud to say that I introduced a superstar pickleball athlete to pickleball. ⁓ And someone who has been a very enjoyable and impressive partner to play with as well. I wish she could play more, but she's busy doctoring. So I'll allow her to be saving lives. ⁓ Okay, so another really cool thing about Komal is that she just recently went to Pakistan, which is our family heritage. And she coached some of the first clinics in Pakistan and also went to youth schools and just like introduced the sport ⁓ and promoted the sport. Tell us a little bit about that experience and just, yeah, any reflections you had, how you feel like pickleball or sport ⁓ is influential on a global level.

Komal Safdar: Yeah, no, thanks for asking this question. Honestly, going to Pakistan this last month was probably one of the most meaningful experiences I've had. ⁓ As you mentioned, Pickleball is like, it's still very new there. I think the first court was only built like a little bit over a year ago. And... I was fortunate enough to do some clinics with some of the young children through the schools there, but then also some adult clinics bringing in what we call aunties and uncles who've never played a sport before and putting a paddle in their hand. I think, actually one of the other opportunities I had was talking to one of the all-girls school to about 10, 10, 12 year olds. and really just talking about ⁓ sport, know, obviously introducing pickleball, but just introducing the idea of just playing sports and being active. You know, I think about all the things that sport brought me ⁓ and what it could bring to others. And, you know, those are things like, like identity, confidence, just like lifelong skills that you can apply in whatever area of life. And then also just the habit of exercise, which is so important. know, obviously for me putting on my, my physician hat, right? Like, you know, exercise and movement is, definitely medicine. And, you know, Pakistan in itself for me was important because it actually has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the entire world. ⁓ And so introducing sport and these just skills and you know, all you need is an opportunity, someone to maybe, you know, put that paddle in your hand like you did for me, honestly, and spreading it. And it also just, you know, it brings community too. Like even while I was there, I mean, it was so fun to see all the kids, you know, the staff from school just come together. And I think as an athlete, one of the most important things we can do is, you know, use kind of our positions being in a privileged position and giving back and inspiring the next generation not only to play but to dream big, right? You can open up so many doors through sport. so, those were hopefully some of the aspirations by going there and I don't know what will actually stick but ⁓ excited to see hopefully the. ⁓ the sport, pickleball, but sport in general just take off there and especially for women as well.

Mehvish Safdar: Yeah, and I think it's one of those things where you're always surprised by what ends up sticking and the impact that you made. And I believe that you probably made a very big impact by going over there and just speaking to sport, speaking to exercise, speaking to... Yeah, just making an impact. yeah, ⁓ like you said, I personally think like sport is great for just exercise. And we know exercise is great for so many reasons, physical health, mental health, but you know, I think it's also just so important for learning. so many like life lessons as well. It's like a microcosm of the world. And I just think sport is a very great vehicle for a lot of things. I think it, again, provides a lot of like life lessons. And I also think it's very uniting in a world where, you know, there can be a lot of chaos and tension, but... ⁓ sport helps like unite a lot of people from different ethnicities and countries and backgrounds and I just think that's like one of the most powerful powerful things about sport and I just love that you, you know, went to Pakistan, a place that's like a third world country, you know, maybe women in sports isn't as much of a thing and you encouraged it and inspired the like possibility of it. So, ⁓ Hopefully me and you one day can run a clinic in Pakistan together. It's a long travel journey, but maybe I'm willing to make it with you do it. It'll be fun. ⁓ okay. So in addition to, you know, division one ⁓ ⁓ pursuing pre-med, you've now become a physician ⁓ you're now a professional pickleball player and it's taken a lot of training, ⁓ ⁓ You've been working at the Duke Hospital. You now just accepted a very exciting position at the Cleveland Clinic as a nephrologist pursuing this. pioneered field of sport nephrology. So ⁓ I just got to watch you make a kick butt like presentation on this specialty that you're pioneering sport nephrology, but tell the rest of us ⁓ about your nephrology specialization as well as your subspecialization and sport nephrology as it relates to like people athletes.

Komal Safdar: Yeah, yeah, no. Yeah, I was so glad you're able to come and ⁓ be at my grand rounds recently. But, ⁓ you know, I tell people that I'm a nephrologist and usually the first response I get back is, wait, what? ⁓ And so most people don't know what a nephrologist is and that is completely okay. But ⁓ it's the study of the kidneys. so, but it's actually much broader than that. So as a kidney doctor, I manage a lot of things like high blood pressure, different electrolyte disorders, and a lot of actually what the kidney does is maintaining appropriate hydration and volume status is what we call it. And so I think building sports nephrology for me has been really exciting because it really brings actually two separate identities, the athlete identity and then the doctor identity into one vision. And so I think building sports nephrology for me has been really exciting because it really brings actually two separate identities, the athlete identity and then the doctor identity into one vision. And at its core, really it's about taking care of athletes with kidney disease and other kidney related conditions. And at its core, really it's ⁓ about taking care of athletes with kidney disease ⁓ and other kidney related conditions. So this can be things from like kidney stones and high blood pressure, but it could also be other things like things like autoimmune diseases that are affecting the kidney, like lupus ⁓ or even other, you know, more other chronic kidney disease conditions. And so I think it's a really important field because we don't talk a ton about, you know, chronic disease and chronic illness in athletes, but it certainly exists. And it's just another layer of complexity. And so for me, when it's, you ⁓ I think about my philosophy as a physician, and I would say this is probably a philosophy for most physicians, but it's, in the end, it's not really about treating a disease. It's about treating a person and really eliciting those goals ⁓ from patients. And a lot of times those goals are sports or staying active in some type of exercise. so for me, developing this field and by the way, there's pieces of it that definitely exist. I guess I'm trying to just bring it together into something more formal, ⁓ but really it's helping athletes do what they love with their goals, staying in sport, but in a safe way. And so... That's what I'm passionate about and ⁓ I'm hoping to do more and build a career around it.

Mehvish Safdar: Yeah, and I think that's so great and important. There is physical health, there's mental health, and honestly from interacting with you and learning about you and your specialty, I am able to better recognize how a physician... I am able to better recognize how a physician... who maybe stereotypically is just concerned about physical health is also very, has to be very in tune to like the mental health and just emotional health of the person going through whatever experience it is. who maybe stereotypically is just concerned about physical health is also very, has to be very in tune to like the mental health and just emotional health of the person going through whatever experience it is. You know, it's like, ⁓ this person might be dealing with like a chronic illness and like, yes, that's physical, but like, the mental emotional implications that a physician has to deal with, interact with, navigate is like so prominent as well. So I think given what you just talked about, I wanted to like ask you just like. What do you think goes through an athlete's mind when they're told maybe that they have a chronic illness that they have to deal with?

Komal Safdar: Yeah, that's ⁓ such an important question. And I think something that doesn't get talked about a lot. ⁓ You know, I think when a young athlete gets diagnosed with a chronic illness and you know, this could, I obviously I do kidney disease, but this could be, it could be anything, right? It could be diabetes, which is actually the leading cause of kidney disease. It could be like lupus, like I mentioned, it could be sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait. ⁓ And it's incredibly difficult to deal with it physically. already, right? ⁓ But then there's the emotional component, right? I think a lot of this ties back into an athlete's identity, right? As part of that identity, you think, I'm active, I'm healthy, right? And so then when you hear a diagnosis, it's just, it's so much shock, right? Like, how can this be happening to me? I did everything right, right? And I think another part of it that's challenging, right, when you hit a roadblock in your sport, ⁓ You know, I'm not hitting my forehand as well. You go back to the training court, you go back to training, you are like, get better at it, put work into it. If I put work into it, I'll get better, right? But when it comes to chronic illness, it's actually not that simple and pretty complex. And it can require a lot of patience and it can be really frustrating. ⁓ I think another big part of it is that it's probably something isolating, right? Like in your immediate environment, ⁓ you might be the only athlete who's dealing with chronic, some type of chronic disease, right? ⁓ And so, you know, it's not the most common thing, but it's certainly something that exists. And I think it's been helpful, you know, through like different types of like social media and advocacy that there's more awareness, but it can be really lonely. ⁓ to know everything that you're doing to try to maintain that, you know, with the medications, know, slight difference, you know, not even slight, often major difference in your lifestyle and approach. And I think an underlying question on all of this is, you know, can I still play my sport and how will that look? And that can be a really scary question. ⁓ And so I think obviously at the end, it always goes back to talking to your doctor, but I think oftentimes it means, you know, you can still play the sport, but approaching it differently. Obviously, you know, every situation is different. So this is not me giving medical advice. ⁓ But I think that's why it's made me really passionate about helping athletes and people who have exercise really dear to their heart to help navigate that and those conversations. Yeah.

Mehvish Safdar: I mean, like, just sitting in on your presentation the other day and whatnot, I'm like, man, this is such a important, relevant... field to athletes that like hasn't really been identified what you've coined as sport nephrology. But it really is essentially just continuing to attend to like athletes health at a very like specialized ⁓ manner and You know, it's one of the reasons that I chose to bring you on. I mean, there's multiple reasons why I chose to bring you on. You know, I think you are just a superstar, you know, division one athlete, also a medical professional that is now trying to also, like, specifically help. athletes and their performance and their health and the things that just are unique to their body, their health. And so, yeah, I think it's sport nephrology. is something that Dr. Komo-Suffther is coining and something that athletes should attend to. So ⁓ with that, I have another like. integral question given your like comprehensive background. like how did your experience in sport and medicine like shape how you think about like identity and just self-worth in general?

Komal Safdar: Yeah, no, that's a good question. And I'm going to real quick before I answer that, go back to something that you said. And I think it's nice that you're giving me credit for pioneering sports nephrology. And I do want to say, it's definitely a huge team that's been behind it and a lot of other people doing some really good research in it. ⁓ I don't have a cure and an answer for something like cramps yet, but I'm hoping to do some research. And that's why I'm excited to go to Cleveland Clinic and kind of help. help advance the field there as well. ⁓ But going back to your question about identity, ⁓ you know, that is ⁓ such a great question. You know, I've talked about identity a lot today, ⁓ you know, being as an athlete and then also later, you know, now ⁓ as a doctor. And it's funny, right? It's hearing you kind of name off all these kind of achievements, which is, ⁓ you know, kind of funny to hear, ⁓ which is not the reason you go into these things. ⁓ But I think what's been really important for me to learn and something that I'm learning actually is that it's really important not to tie achievements, ⁓ outcomes in sports to something like self-worth, right? I think ⁓ it's really important

Mehvish Safdar: deserve though.

Komal Safdar: that you remember that each person like myself and you, ⁓ you know, you're a human being and who you are is what brings value to who you are. ⁓ And that's where the self worth really comes from. And I think it's taken me a while to understand that, because I think sports can sometimes easily maybe reinforce ⁓ the opposite ⁓ without kind of having true reflection on it. And just like an example, right? Like if you go and you play a match and you're not happy with how you play or you lose a really important match, like in the finals, and this has definitely happened to me, right? Losing in the state finals, losing in that tiebreaker match where my teammates were relying on me to win for our team to win. And it's really easy to, I think it's actually... it's appropriate, right? You can get angry and have that emotion and be upset about it. But I think it's a tricky, it's tricky when some of that self-criticism kind of starts attacking you as a person and an individual. And I think at first I thought it was a fine line balance between the two, but now I think I understand that it's actually a different concept where, you know, we are our We are the hardest on ourselves often as athletes, but actually it's important to respond with kindness to yourself and self-compassion, because that is what allows you to then have that growth and respond to that inner anger, which is totally okay, right? It's because you care so much about it, right? It's funny, people tell me like, ⁓ you're a doctor. You must have so much perspective and never get angry on the court. And I'm just like... you know, when I'm in the moment and this is something that I've trained for, you know, even now it's, you know, I do have feelings where I get upset or frustrated. And I think it's because I care, right? I want to win. And so you can have all the perspective in the world, you know, the things that I see, you know, in the hospital, definitely grounding, but it doesn't change the fact of what's right in front of you and competing. And so I think that's my kind of... long-winded answer to say is that you can certainly be a critic and wanting to improve. And I think that's so important for the growth as a sport or even any profession. But using it through a way of being nice to yourself, there's no reason to be hard on yourself and tie that into who you are and what your self-worth is. So ⁓ I think that's something that I'm still learning. And ⁓ really what I'm trying to say is that your worth doesn't come from achievement, it comes from who you are. So, yeah.

Mehvish Safdar: So well said. Maybe you should have become a sports psychologist instead of ⁓ a nephrologist, sport nephrologist. But no, it really is.

Komal Safdar: No, I've seen the training that has required for you to become a sports, a sports psychologist and honestly have so much, you know, so much respect for the things that you go through for this training and such a reminder, right? All of this is so important. It's so intertwined. So anyways, ⁓ huge, huge props to you and anyone else in sports psychology, a really needed field. So.

Mehvish Safdar: very well. We appreciate you saying that. Yeah, it is one of those things where, you when you were talking, I was like, you know, there's the player, but there's the person and they're very integrated in the way that they function. It's important to treat the player as a person. as well, you know, like we're human, kind of similar to what you were saying. Like I'm in the field of sports psychology. So people are like, she probably acts super, you know, appropriately on court and whatnot, but it's, it's like, yes, I do my best to like have the mindset that is optimal for my performance, but like I'm human, you know, like we have human emotions that are just inevitable and that's just part of it. So ⁓ I really appreciate you speaking to the humanness of the athlete as well. So, and it's great, honestly, speaking to you and I chose you as the person to speak to for a variety of reasons. I'm like, it's my sis and she's just a superstar, but just like your comprehensive background, you know? It's like you've got... a really elite sport background. And then you're also a part of the medical field. You're a physician with like an alternative perspective. So ⁓ I just think. We are very fortunate to have you on this podcast to give us like a very holistic perspective on human athlete performance and mental health. But with that, to change gears a little bit, I've got some rapid fire questions, okay? You ready? Okay, so you got this.

Komal Safdar: Okay. I think so. ⁓

Mehvish Safdar: Alright, so a mental tip for an athlete.

Komal Safdar: Don't forget your why.

Mehvish Safdar: ⁓ favorite quote.

Komal Safdar: you miss 100 % of the shots you don't take.

Mehvish Safdar: and I remember your very artistic work on that. Favorite kidney fun fact.

Komal Safdar: okay. So many. ⁓ so your kidneys actually filter 180 liters of your blood every single day, but they actually reabsorb most of it. So that's why you're not constantly peeing. And when you're exercising, your kidney knows and adapts and is actually the main driver for keeping, you you hydrated, having enough sodium. And as why you probably never really think about having to pee while you're playing because the kidneys. No.

Mehvish Safdar: the most long-winded fun fact and ⁓ honestly a very informative fun fact I was wondering, like peeing all the time, like I feel like I need to pee all the time, but like when I'm on court, I'm like, hmm, I feel like I'm okay. ⁓ Good to know. ⁓ All right, or doubles? honestly a very informative fun fact because I was wondering, like peeing all time, like I feel like I need to pee all the time, but like when I'm on court, I'm like, hmm, I feel like I'm okay. ⁓ Good to know. ⁓

Komal Safdar: doubles with you.

Mehvish Safdar: Aww. hidden talent that some might not know.

Komal Safdar: probably that I really enjoy juggling yeah

Mehvish Safdar: Okay, juggling or like just being an absolute wizard at the Rubik's Cube were my couple thoughts on that question for you. Okay, if not tennis or pickleball, what sport?

Komal Safdar: Probably soccer.

Mehvish Safdar: You are pretty, pretty bad. I don't think I can say cuss words on this, but you know what I'm saying. ⁓ talker. if not nephrology, what other specialty?

Komal Safdar: This is going to be a controversial answer, but I actually really liked cardiology.

Mehvish Safdar: Okay, all right. I'll have to ask Dr. Sparks for your Duke advisor how he feels about that answer. But I think I knew that answer. Okay, favorite sport moment.

Komal Safdar: Definitely winning the Ohio State doubles championship with you as my doubles partner. such a great moment. Sport, family, everything. Yeah.

Mehvish Safdar: I did not tell her to say that, but I was hoping she would say that. Okay, and then favorite doubles partner. There's a correct answer.

Komal Safdar: You ⁓ my god. You're just totally setting this up. Mavish stuff there. No, but for real, ⁓ my tennis partner and now my Pickles ball partner.

Mehvish Safdar: Let's go. Okay, there was only one correct answer there and you got it correct. Okay, so anyways, with that, obviously we've learned a lot about Dr. Cis and she's a very busy human being. So I am thankful that we were able to get her on the United podcast. So thank you for joining us. I think, you know. hearing your just story and perspectives with the, what I find like very impressive, relevant, unique background that you have is just very good insight into athletes' health and performance on a very like holistic perspective. So very much appreciate you being on here.

Komal Safdar: Yeah, no, thank you. Thank you so much for having me. This has honestly been such a great experience. And like I said, just have so much appreciation for you and really the field of sports psychology. you know, maybe I'm thinking I should get myself a sports psychologist. It's not too late, although you're always going to be free advice for me. yeah, I think that just, again, I think it might sound like I have some things figured out, but this is really an ongoing journey. ⁓ Yeah, thank you. Thank you so much. yeah, looking forward to future collaborations.

Mehvish Safdar: first professional collab. Nice. Alright, thanks Dr. Sis.

Komal Safdar: Thank you.