USFF announces Dr Juan Valdivia as medical director

The US Freediving Federation has announced that Dr Juan Valdivia has joined the organization as its new medical director.

Valdivia, known as “Juani” in the freediving community, is an expert member of the AIDA Medical & Science Committee as well as a member of AIDA’s Disciplinary Committee. He has contributed to AIDA’s blackout guidelines, lung squeeze guidelines, medical equipment for competition guidelines, AIDA mini-Neuro Exam for Freedivers, and is director of communications for the AIDA Medical Committee, serving under Dr Oleg Melikhov, according to a recent USFF blog post.

He also is a current Peruvian national record holder in both AIDA and CMAS.

According to USFF President Jeremy Stephan, “Given Dr Valdivia’s personal experience with freediving, the extensive research he is doing on the sport and the great lengths he takes to help spread awareness about medical safety, I could not think of someone else more qualified in the United States for this role of Medical Director. The organization, its members and the sport will continue to benefit greatly from Dr Valdivia’s participation with the USFF.” DeeperBlue