Education And Training Of A Sports Medicine Doctor

Being responsible for the upkeep of one’s physical well-being is no easy task. This especially holds true for sports medicine doctors who diagnose, treat, and prevent sports-related injuries and conditions. Any shortcomings on a sports medicine doctor’s end can close the curtains of an athlete’s career. To guarantee that specialists only provide quality care to athletes and non-athletes alike, they must undergo extensive training. Just what exactly does a sports medicine doctor have to go through to survive this highly competitive medical field? Let’s find out.

College Degree

Like most jobs, the first step in pursuing a fine career is to get a bachelor’s degree. For aspiring sports medicine doctors, earning a science-oriented bachelor’s degree should be a given. Taking undergraduate classes in biology and chemistry can be highly beneficial, as medical schools require applicants to take specific undergraduate science courses.

Medical School

After earning a bachelor’s degree, aspiring sports medicine physicians must further extend their knowledge by getting a medical degree. Accepted degrees in medical school can either be a Doctor of Medicine or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. The osteopathic program focuses on the musculoskeletal system more than the general medical doctor program. Medical school requires students to spend four years expanding their knowledge of medicine.

The first two years of medical school are allotted to classroom and laboratory courses about basic sciences, patient care, and medical ethics. The latter half centers on clinical rotations. During clinical rotations, students can interact with patients, manage medical records, and interact with physicians. It is also during the clinical rotations when aspiring sports medicine doctors can choose electives. These include orthopedic surgery or a sports medicine sub-specialty.

Completing Residency

After finishing medical school, graduates can train in their desired specialization during residency. This doctor-in-training can choose between pursuing a career path in orthopedic surgery or primary care sports medicine. Here is a comparison of these training paths:

• Primary Care Sports Medicine: This path emphasizes non-surgical procedures. Residents complete an initial three-year residency in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, or emergency medicine.
• Orthopedic Surgery: This specialization concentrates on surgical methods of dealing with orthopedic or sports-related problems. Aspiring orthopedic surgeons must complete a three-year residency in orthopedic surgery.

Applying For Fellowship

Aspiring primary care sports medicine physicians must accomplish a fellowship in sports medicine for one or two years. This fellowship period allows physicians to expand their knowledge on sports medicine by working as team doctors for high school or college sports teams. Through this experience, they can learn about treating sports injuries and various orthopedic rehabilitation methods.

As for orthopedic surgeon fellows, most of their fellowships are dedicated to studying surgical techniques related to sports conditions. Some surgical treatments include replacements and arthroscopy. Like primary care sports medicine, an orthopedic surgery fellowship requires a one- to two-year completion. Both fellowships may also serve as a gateway for pursuing a medical research field.

Licensure and Certification

Passing a national standardized licensing examination is required of any sports medicine doctor, whether in primary care or orthopedic surgery. In the United States, medical doctors have to survive the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) to provide quality care to patients.

Key Training Requirements Summary

• Undergraduate: Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or related sciences.
• Medical Degree: 4 years of medical school (MD or DO).
• Residency: 3 years in a relevant specialty like family medicine or orthopedic surgery.
• Fellowship: 1 to 2 years of specialized sports medicine training.
• Licensure: Passing national exams such as the USMLE.