VCOM View Magazine Vol. 14 | No. 1

Academics Where the Next Generation of Sports Medicine Physicians Lead the Way by Brittany Lilla

I magine it is the final minutes of a packed Auburn University football game at Jordan– Hare Stadium. The crowd roars as a key player suddenly goes down with a suspected injury. Behind the scenes, a sports medicine fellow—training in a fellowship sponsored by Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown—evaluates the situation. Drawing on advanced clinical experience gained through partnerships with VCOM-Auburn and Auburn University Athletics; the fellows make critical decisions that may affect the athlete’s immediate care and long-term performance. Auburn athletes train and compete at the highest level; playing hard comes with risks. When injuries occur, sports medicine fellows respond quickly, using their clinical expertise to guide evaluation, treatment, and recovery. The Sports Medicine fellowship sponsored by Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown is a one-year, ACGME-accredited program that trains primary care physicians to become non-surgical sports medicine specialists. While VCOM-Auburn and Auburn University serve as major clinical training partners, the program blends elite-level athletic care with hands

on clinical experience, enabling physicians to deliver precise, compassionate care for a wide range of sports injuries and medical conditions. Each year, two fellows are selected. Their training includes sideline coverage for Auburn University’s 21 NCAA Division I teams, practice and game support for Tuskegee University athletics, and coverage for a local high school’s collision sports program. Fellows also contribute to community events—including races, pre participation physicals, and adaptive sports—gaining experience with athletes of all ages and skill levels. Fellows develop expertise in musculoskeletal injuries, musculoskeletal ultrasound, guided injection techniques, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and regenerative therapies such as PRP. They manage office-based patient care, refine diagnostic accuracy, and participate in teaching, research, and academic presentations. Training emphasizes injury prevention, rehabilitation, performance optimization, and safe return-to-play planning, preparing fellows to support athletes in diverse settings. Under the guidance of Program Director Jos Edison, DO, and Associate Program Director Bhavesh Joshi, DO—alongside faculty Brett Sprouse, DO;

From the classroom to the sidelines, our Sports Medicine students put their knowledge into action.

30 Academics