Sports Medicine

[Claymore]

A few questions:

1. How competitive is it to get a 1-yr sports med fellowship following a family practice residency?

2. Once in practice following a Family residency and Sports fellowship, roughly what percentage of clinical time is spent on general med vs. sports med?

3. Is primary care sports med a turf war with orthopedic surgery sports med?

Any additional comments on the future/outlook of this area would be appreciated. Did anyone pursue this route this year? Thanks.

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[Chris_Topher]

I am also curious.

 

[Claymore]

Anyone?

 

[cozmo]

Hey guys,

I have done over four primary care sports medicine rotations, and start my internship in July, with a fp residency to follow. I have also spoken to a few orth sports med guys and rotated with one. According to a sports med fellowship director (primary care), FP is the best specialty to choose to try and obtain a fellowship. A lot of the fellowships are going to 2 yrs. They are competitive, but reasonably so. About 10-15 people are interviewed per spot each year. it is best to rotate early at the places you are interested in, and to repeat the rotatio later if you can, like during internship or residency. I hope this works for me, I have made 2 really good contacts with fellowship-program directors whom I now consider friends. There is a slight turf war between some ortho surgeons anf primary care sports med guys. Most often however; they work side by side on the field, and share coverage, like some docs in a practice would share call. As for what percentage of sports medicine a fellowship-trained fp would do. It depends. Out of my four rotations, 2 drs. did 100% sports med, and was very very busy. 1 did 100% sports medicine and worked only 3 and 1 half days per week and was less busy, and 1 dr. did 70 % sports medicine, and 30 % general practice at a college student health clinic. Hope this helps.

 

[cozmo]

bump

 

[EMDrMoe]

Cozmo,
Where do you go to school?

As for the sports med thing, seeing that I'm starting med school this fall, I only have the perspective from "the other side." My team doc is an orthopod, which is wonderful if I've got an ACL tear to send. However, when I've got a suspected case of diabetes (like yesterday) I need a family practice doc and send the athlete to her family physician. Another thing to consider in a high school setting is insurance. Most of my athletes need a referral to see the team doc (orthopod) to get it paid.

So the turf war between specialists who are sports med board cert doesn't always apply.

At the moment, I'm leaning heavily on emergency med to sports med (but I'll do a sports med fellowship even if my choice of specialty changes).

 

[carddr]

Ortho field is highly competitive period, and the training time is longer, 5 years plus fellowship which can be 1/2 years. The first year of that 5 years is General Surgery or prelim. FP is somewhat less competitive, but probably less positions open for Sports so overall may be as competitive.
The amount of clinical time in a practice depends on size, location, reputation, are just a few variables. You would need to research a practice first before making a selection.

Turf war was previously addressed in post. I don't think anyone "needing" an ACL would go to a FP except for referral. They would all work together, hopefully.

 

[cozmo]

I agree with your insurance statement. It can be tough, but times are a changin' for Sports Medicine (primary care) as a reimbursable specialty. The future looks bright. By the way, in answer, I graduate from Kirksville in June. I have been doing my rotations in the Akron/Cleveland area, and will be doing my residency in Family Practice and Internship at Cuyahoga Falls General.