Sports Medicine Fellowship FAQs

  • How many Fellows? 

    Two

  • What kind of coverage is there? 

    You will be the lead physician for Division-1 soccer and local high school football teams. You will have opportunity to cover additional collegiate sports such as FBS football, men’s and women’s basketball on a regular basis. You will see athletes of many sports in the training rooms.

    At the professional level, there is opportunity to cover MLB during spring training as well as long term care for athletes of two MLB teams who headquarter their minor league systems in the Clearwater area.

    The program is proud to begin the sports medicine care to the local NFL franchise starting in 2020. Integrating the fellows is an ongoing process. 

  • What teams are covered on a regular basis?
    You will be the lead physician for Division-1 soccer and local high school football teams. You will have opportunity to cover additional collegiate sports such as FBS football, men’s and women’s basketball on a regular basis. You will see athletes of many sports in the training rooms.

    At the professional level, there is opportunity to cover MLB during spring training as well as long term care for athletes of two MLB teams who headquarter their minor league systems in the Clearwater area.

    The program is proud to begin the sports medicine care to the local NFL franchise starting in 2020. Integrating the fellows is an ongoing process.
     
  • Is there call?

    There is no in-house call. Fellows are expected to be available by pager during normal working hours when they are not on PTO or have the day off. 

  • Can We Moonlight?
    Moonlighting is allowed provided the fellow is in good standing and any moonlighting opportunities do not interfere with coverage of events.
  • Where do alumni practice?

    Our graduates have moved on to practice at the academic level in fellowship programs, private orthopedic groups, urgent care and within their core primary discipline.

    Please see our link alumni for detailed information.

  • Are there any inpatient requirements?
    There is no required time on any inpatient service.
  • Do you work with other fellows in other specialties?
    There is opportunity to work with the USF sports medicine orthopedic surgery fellow and occasionally with the PM&R fellows at various point during the year. There is frequent interaction with FM residents, medical students and occasional interaction with fellows from the other local program.
  • Who is part of the sports medicine collaborative team?
    The team utilized at USF and other sites includes the head AT, other ATs specific to the team, sports orthopedists, your sports medicine attending, chiropractors, sports psychologists, dieticians and physical therapists. There may be others who are involved but absent from this list. 
  • Where do I see continuity patients?
    Your clinical home is the family medicine residency site in Clearwater shared with family medicine faculty, residents and students. This is an NCQA recognized level III PCMH.
  • What types of patients are seen in clinic?
    Our patient population is diverse ranging from pediatrics to the mature athlete. It covers the expected requisite range in one’s core primary care specialty. This includes retired professional athletes, high school and collegiate athletes, age-group endurance athletes in running and triathlon, recreational athletes, active persons of various ages and activity levels including the elderly. 
  • Do you teach and administer orthobiologics?
    Yes. Currently PRP. This includes the evidence-based indications for orthobiologics. These procedures are performed under ultrasound guidance whenever possible. Some of our local clinical faculty perform orthobiologic treatments other than PRP.
  • Do you teach ultrasound?
    Musculoskeletal ultrasound (sports ultrasound) teaching is longitudinal throughout your fellowship year. It includes practical teaching within clinics, sidelines, cadaver labs, private teaching sessions and within the athletic training room. Faculty utilize POCUS and use portable ultrasound on-site when applicable. Fellows have been involved in teaching ultrasound to family medicine residents as well as collaborate with the ED ultrasound fellowship in helping proctor exam techniques to other residents.
  • What kind of scholarly activity do you participate in?

    Our USF concussion center serves as a resource for research opportunities. Our co-director is a university professor who is actively involved in research. All of our faculty are published and frequently present locally and nationally. All the faculty are actively involved in national organizations such as the AMSSM & ACSM. Fellows have the additional opportunity to provide talks to the community, resident didactics and in a grand round environment during their fellowship year. 

    We also have two sessions per week for didactic discussion. One of the sessions is specifically for PCSM discussion for board preparation and will include journal club and lessons learned. The other session is collaborative with orthopedics, radiology and physical therapist.

  • How do you interact with the residents?
    Family medicine residents from USF and Turley Family Health Center will be present throughout your fellowship year. This will help you to grow as a leader and educator for the primary care sports medicine community.