Athlete Forever - The Lifecycle of the Athlete with Dr. William Hill

Life doesn’t always go as planned. For some, the path is clear. For others, it takes unexpected turns. That was true for one former athlete whose dream of going pro ended with a heart condition. But instead of giving up, he pivoted—with purpose.

He moved from the field to farming, and later, to medicine. It wasn’t easy. The path didn’t make sense on paper, but someone believed in him.

Now, he’s creating something bigger: The Youth Sports Awards. More than just trophies, it’s a national stage to honor young athletes as leaders, students, and changemakers. It’s about recognizing not just performance, but potential. It invites doctors, parents, icons, and supporters to pour into the next generation on and off the field.

This isn’t just an event. It’s a movement. A reminder that success isn’t always about staying on the same path—it’s about knowing when to pivot.

Dr. William Hill is a doctor and former college athlete who helps young people succeed through sports and education. He founded Athlete Forever and the Youth Sports Awards to support and celebrate young athletes. He cares deeply about helping young athletes grow both on and off the field, teaching them skills like money management and wellness. 

In this episode with Dr. William Hill, we explore his inspiring journey of overcoming sudden setbacks, transitioning from athlete to surgeon, and the passion behind creating the Youth Sports Awards—a platform that celebrates young athletes’ achievements both on and off the field. Tune in for inspiration on chasing your purpose and supporting the next generation of athletes.

“You have to go after what your mission, vision and purpose is. And if that’s something that others can’t see, you still have to do it.” – Dr. William Hill

Topics Covered:

(00:00:00) Welcome to TimeOut with the SportsDr Podcast 

(00:00:27) Next Level Speaker Clip

(00:02:57) Introducing our guest, Dr. William Hill

(00:03:35) What is a Sports Medicine Fellowship?

(00:06:13) How fellowship highlighted rehab’s role beyond surgery

(00:09:05) Learning to lead a practice

(00:11:06) What is Athlete Forever?

(00:15:06) Life after the final whistle

(00:18:44) Advertisement: Struggling with your finances as a young physician? Doc2Doc Lending is here for you. Founded by doctors, we offer loans tailored to your unique career path—crediting your certifications and specialty training. Visit https://www.doc2doclending.com/ today.

(00:21:32) The bold leap to Med School

(00:23:32) Youth Sports Awards

(00:26:06) Launch of the Transition Hall of Fame

(00:27:17) The power of lasting athlete-physician relationships

(00:29:53) How to attend or support: YouthSportsAwards.net

(00:31:12) Final TimeOut with Dr. Hill: Pursue your MVP (Mission, Vision, Purpose)

Key Takeaways:  

“Some people call it blind faith, but the way I approach life to this day is I have a vision and I’m gonna figure out a way to do it.” – Dr. William Hill 

“Being able to recognize the athlete as a whole person, I think it’s very key.” – Dr. Derrick Burgess

“If you know that what you’re doing isn’t what you’re called to do, stop doing it and start working towards your calling.” – Dr. William Hill 

“Be your own MVP. Your mission, your vision and your purpose. Don’t let yourself down.” – Dr. William Hill 

"I was thinking how I could make the most impact for the most people—and that's where Athlete Forever came from, developing an app that could support the athlete from the recruit phase all the way through retirement, even into their 60s, 70s, and 80s." – Dr. William Hill 

Connect with Dr. William Hill:

Website: https://www.youthsportsawards.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareathletesforever/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7313098095280406528/

Connect with Dr. Derrick Burgess:

Website: https://www.drderrickthesportsdr.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drderrickthesportsdr/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimeOut.SportsDr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-burgess-72047b246/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.derrickburgess243

Email: thesportsdoctr@gmail.com

This episode of TimeOut with the SportsDr. is produced by Podcast VAs Philippines - the team that helps podcasters effectively launch and manage their podcasts, so we don't have to. Record, share, and repeat! Podcast VAs PH gives me back my time, so I can focus on the core functions of my business. Need expert help with your podcast? Go to www.podcastvasph.com.