VCOM 2023 Annual Report

Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship T he Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship program began in 2004 in Virginia, and in 2015 in Auburn. The program is designed to train fellows to diagnose and manage illnesses and injuries of athletes in a Division I university setting such as Virginia Tech and Auburn University, and to provide care at Radford University as well as to serve all levels of athletes such as high school and grade school physicals, and to treat patients with sports related injuries. The goal is to get the patient back in action quickly and safely as possible. This program includes educational hands on experiences necessary to achieve the knowledge, motor skills, interpersonal skills, professional attitudes and practical experience required to practice sports medicine successfully. VCOM Sports Med Fellow Accomplishments Fellows from the VCOM sports medicine program have gone on to serve as physicians for the United States Ski Team, USA Gymnastics, the United States Paralympic Team, NFL football teams, USA Water Polo team, professional wrestling, and other professional sports teams. Other fellows have served as collegiate and high school team physicians treating athletes in a wide variety of sports such as football, basketball, and other sports. Most have practices treating not only collegiate, high school and professional athletes, but “weekend warriors” as well as a wide variety of recreational athletes participating in a variety of sports activities. In addition to sports medicine activities, fellows have been leaders and advocates in national sports medicine associations, the AOA, their specialty colleges, and state organizations. They are also involved in teaching the next generation of sports medicine physicians serving as program directors, assistant directors, osteopathic directors, and many other educational roles.

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