My journey from medical school to the race track
Aidan Davis is a first year medical student in Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine.
For as long as I can remember, racing has been more than just a sport for me; it’s been a passion that has grown alongside my desire to become a doctor. As a first-year student at Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, I’m taking steps to achieve my dream of practicing emergency medicine in metro Detroit while also working as a physician and researcher in the racing industry. By blending my training in osteopathic medicine with my love for motorsports, I hope to enhance drivers' safety and performance on the track while providing critical medical care off it.
Growing up, racing was a constant in my life. My dad, brother, and I would watch the Indianapolis 500 together every year, cheering on our favorite drivers. We would also attend the Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle, where the energy of live racing felt palpable. As I started my undergraduate journey in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself spending more time exploring the world of motorsports, immersing myself in its high-speed thrill and precision such as binge watching Netflix’s hit series “Formula 1: Drive to Survive”. This time of reflection helped me see that I wanted to do more than just watch the races; I wanted to contribute meaningfully to the racing world by supporting the health and safety of drivers as a physician.
At Michigan State, I found an invaluable opportunity to pursue this interest through Dr. David Ferguson’s Spartan Motorsport Performance Lab. Working alongside Dr. Ferguson, I’m part of a team that conducts research aimed at improving safety and performance in motorsports. Currently, we have projects in Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, and IMSA that have allowed us to travel to various race tracks around the world.
One of my most memorable experiences was traveling to Austin, Texas for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix last October with Dr. David Ferguson and the rest of the Spartan Motorsport Performance Lab. But back at the lab in East Lansing, I love developing, training, and planning for future races, projects, and tests. With access to specialized equipment like DEXA scans for body composition, VO2 max testing for endurance, and a lower body negative pressure chamber for g-force tolerance training, we’re able to provide drivers with a comprehensive understanding of their physical capabilities. Developing performance plans that help drivers meet the demands of their sport is not only rewarding—it’s essential to helping them achieve their full potential safely.