Dr. Celeste Geertsma 

Sports Medicine Physician, Aspetar, Qatar Sports and Orthopaedic Hospital 

Dr Celeste Geertsema is a South African-born New Zealand sports physician, currently employed at Aspetar. She has been working in football medicine for the past 20 years, including 7 years as a national team physician, 10 years as FIFA medical officer and most recently she was responsible for training the medical workforce (doctors, nurses, paramedics and support staff) working at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venues. Her special interests are in event cover, football medicine and snow and adventure sports.

She was the first female team doctor and first FIFA venue medical officer at a senior men’s FIFA World Cup, and was FIFA CMO at age group World Cups and the most recent FIFA Women’s World Cup. She has worked with the IOC at the Olympic Games, and provided medical cover at several large international sporting competitions, including the athletics, handball and swimming world championships.