Dr. Marlys Misfeldt has worked for nearly 40 years to increase the safety and quality of care for athletes in Saskatchewan while improving awareness of the need for safety policies and procedures in sport.
Months after taking up karate, Dr. Misfeldt began volunteering as a medical official in the sport. From that involvement, she began to learn more about sport medicine. She earned her Diploma in Sport Medicine and played a lead role in the amalgamation of the Sport Medicine Council with the University of Saskatchewan’s Sport Science Program to form the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Saskatchewan. She served 22 years on its board, including 10 years as president.
Dr. Misfeldt served on the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) Sport Medicine Committee from 1995 to the present. She also provided sport medicine seminars at international karate training camps for 12 years. She was the medical judge and team physician for Canada at six ITKF World Championships. A karate participant herself, she began serving as the Chief Medical Officer for the provincial karate tournaments twice a year from 1987 to the time of her induction.
Closer to home, Dr. Misfeldt has worked tirelessly to provide her expertise at all levels and a diverse range of sports. She began her involvement with the University of Saskatchewan in 1992. She was a founding member of the Huskie Health Care Coalition and would go on to develop policies and procedures for the safety of the athletes in competition as well as their long-term health. She served as the team physician for the Huskies’ basketball and wrestling programs for 16 seasons.
She was the volunteer team physician for the Saskatchewan Storm/Saskatoon Slam professional basketball teams from 1990-94 and has been the team physician for the Saskatoon Valkyries since 2012. Dr. Misfeldt has also provided emergency first aid, assessment, and ongoing care for athletes at various Saskatoon events ranging from the ballet to the Special Olympics to figure skating to wrestling. Her volunteer work has helped educate health care providers and sports organizations on the importance of having medical policies and procedures in place to ensure athlete safety.
Installed in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame on September 26, 2026.
