Dr. Christopher Camp always dreamed of playing in the Big Leagues when he was a boy. Over the last few years the Lee alumnus has achieved that goal but he's wearing a different uniform than he might have donned as a boy playing ball in his backyard in Nashville.

Camp, 2006 graduate of Lee University, was recently promoted to the role of Medical Director for the Minnesota Twins baseball organization.
 
Camp has previously served as a team physician for the New York Mets and holds many professional positions at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. where he received his Doctor of Medicine and completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency.
 
The thinking was that after graduation he and his college sweetheart, Erica (06') would move back to more familiar surroundings, "We didn't know anybody up there so we thought we'd be up there for school and then come home but we fell in love with the place and have made it our home," Camp said. "Baseball has always played a big part in my life so when I began to dive into my medical school training and residency, I started to dig into the area of sport performance and player wellness."
 
In a sport that prides itself on statistics and numbers, Camp has excelled in the area of orthopedic medicine, with a focus on the shoulder and the throwing motion of baseball players. He compiled extensive data for a 2018 article he authored entitled, "Summative Report on Time Out of Play for Major and Minor League Baseball: An Analysis of 49,955 Injuries from 2011 through 2016," which garnered national attention as the MLB Paper of the Year Award.
 
"As I began to dive into the study and discover the data I found that, much like front office personnel utilize analytics to determine a player's salary, whom to draft and game situational decisions, we could begin to utilize data to help players prevent injury and comeback quicker after an injury," noted Camp. "We are on the cutting edge of using this information with the Minnesota Twins organization and I'm honored to be a part of that development."
 
Camp was a member of the Lee baseball team from 2003-2006. He appeared in 114 games for the Flames and hit .296. with 11 home runs, 15 doubles and 44 RBI. "Chris was the epitome of a student-athlete while playing for our program at Lee.  He was a very talented player but was equally committed to his desire to enter the medical field," said Lee baseball coach Mark Brew. "He has been serving in professional sports in various roles and his research through the Mayo Clinic is well renowned. I am honored to have coached him and we are extremely proud of him in the Flames Baseball Program.  We wish him the best with this new role as Head Physician of the Minnesota Twins." 

Camp continues his work at the world renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The U.S. News & World Report has again recognized Mayo Clinic as the No. 1 hospital overall and top ranked in twelve specialties. "I would say about 65 percent of my work time is spent at the clinic and about the 35 percent is working with the Twins," said Camp. "It's a full plate but I'm blessed to be able to work in a sport that has meant so much to me personally over the years."
 
Camp was honored at Lee's Homecoming this past November as the Alumnus of the Year for the Department of Natural Sciences. He is married to Erica McCaleb (06') and the two reside in Rochester, Minn. with their four children.
 
As you watch the Twins play this season and defend their 2019 American League Central Division Championship, just know that the man keeping a close eye on their health started his journey at Lee University, a place where you can truly expect something great.