Medical Forum
Meet the doctor: Dr Tane Eunson
In Medical Forum’s Meet the doctor series we introduce you to specialists working in WA, the services they provide and what they can offer your patients.
About the Author
Medical Forum
What is your area of practice?
I am a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians, specialising in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries and the broader role of medicine in physical activity and performance.
My work spans both elite and community sport. I am a team doctor for the Fremantle Dockers Football Club, where the focus is not only on managing injury and illness but also on supporting athletes to optimise their health, recovery and performance.
I also work with The Orthopaedic Group WA, where we have established the Acute Sports Injury Clinic designed to bring some of the principles of professional sports medicine - timely assessment, coordinated imaging and clear management pathways - to the wider community.
Where did you train?
My pathway into Sport and Exercise Medicine has been varied, which has given me a broad perspective on both medicine and human performance.
Before studying medicine, I completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology followed by first-class honours in Human Movement, now commonly known as Sports Science. I then completed my medical degree at UWA and undertook my junior medical years at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Hollywood Private Hospital before completing specialist Sport and Exercise Medicine training in Perth.
My training has also provided opportunities to work in elite sporting environments, including with Australian teams at the Touch Rugby World Cup in Malaysia and training placements in New Zealand with the Crusaders rugby organisation.
What services do you offer?
A major focus of my practice is the assessment and management of acute musculoskeletal and sporting injuries.
Through The Orthopaedic Group WA Acute Sports Clinic, patients can access timely specialist assessment, appropriate imaging and interpretation, and a clearly defined management pathway without the prolonged delays that can sometimes occur following a sporting injury.
The aim is to establish an accurate diagnosis early, determine the most appropriate treatment and, where necessary, facilitate the efficient access to an orthopaedic surgical opinion.
Just as importantly, many injuries can be managed non-operatively, with appropriate rehabilitation and collaboration with the patient's physiotherapist, GP and other treating practitioners.
Dr Eunson is also a team doctor for the Fremantle Dockers Football Club
How is your service different?
In professional sport, an injured athlete does not typically wait weeks to establish a diagnosis and treatment plan. We wanted to bring that same philosophy to people in the community, whether they are competitive athletes, weekend sportspeople or simply someone who has sustained an acute injury and wants to return to activity.
Timely access is therefore a central part of the service, supported by efficient imaging pathways and direct collaboration with orthopaedic surgeons when a surgical opinion is required.
Communication is equally important. I place a strong emphasis on prompt correspondence with referring practitioners and being accessible to GPs, physiotherapists and other clinicians who want to discuss a patient.
The aim is to create a genuinely collaborative service in which everyone involved in the patient's care understands the diagnosis, management plan and next steps, thereby getting our patients back in the game.
