Sports Medicine Fellowship

The Sports Medicine Fellowship is a one-year, ACGME-accredited training program at the University of Minnesota.

The program was one of the first of its kind in the nation, established in 1987 under the direction of Robert Johnson, MD. Since its inception, more than 90 fellows have successfully completed the program. Learn more about our Program in Sports Medicine.

Fellowship Goals

To develop expert primary care sports medicine physician leaders, within a multidisciplinary team, who will provide comprehensive and continuous care to athletic and active populations. Strive to promote the pillars of academic sports medicine: clinical practice, education, research, and team coverage at a leading academic institution.

Curriculum Highlights

  • Injury and illness diagnosis and treatment in athletes
  • Sports medicine ultrasound diagnosis and procedures
  • Team and event coverage at a variety of competitive levels

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Curriculum Outline

University of Minnesota Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Outline

Project Overview

  • Twin Cities Sports Medicine Conference: Two minutes two slides two questions (Case report)
  • AMSSM: Research and/or Case Presentation
  • ACSM: Research and/or Case Presentation
  • Fellowship Research Publication
  • North Memorial Resident Lectures: 3-4 lectures per year 20-30 minutes
  • TCF Grand Rounds: 1 hour topic of choice
  • Fairview Southdale Grand Rounds: 1 hour topic of choice
  • Faculty Development Fellowship: Longitudinal curriculum with Capstone Poster Presentation
  • Peer teaching with PT residents: 20 minute presentation topic of choice
  • Quality Improvement Project
  • Journal Club at Southdale: 5-6 papers throughout the year
  • Duluth Grandma’s Race: Half marathon race plus end of year project review (15 minutes)
  • Optional Conference (eg international, topic of interest)

University of Minnesota Sports Medicine Fellowship: Year at a Glance

July

  • Orientation
    • University of Minnesota
    • Sports Medicine Fellowship
      • Meet with Clinic Director and Clinic Supervisor
  • Welcome party for new fellows and goodbye party for out-going fellows (usually 2nd or 3rd Sunday in July in the late afternoon or early evening).
  • USA Soccer Cup Course: Attend lectures, teach at hands-on sessions and evaluate at testing stations (Wed.-Friday)
  • USA Soccer Cup Tournament: Provide care to athletes participating in the tournament, oversee medical students and residents working in the medical clinic at the US Soccer Cup in Blaine at the National Sports Center (Saturday & Sunday of the weekend tournament and then Tuesday-Saturday of the second tournament)
  • Sports Medicine Research Methodology Lectures
    • Taught by Steven Stovitz, MD, MSCR, FACSM
    • Three, 3-hour sessions with Ortho Sports Fellow, and PT residents and others
  • Hands-on Musculoskeletal Examination with the PTs
    • Usually 4-5, two-hour sessions
  • AMSSM National Fellows’ Conference
    • MSK Ultrasound Half day course
    • Sideline Trauma and Event Medicine Course
    • Leadership Conference
    • Research Conference
  • Develop and implement research projects and begin writing background and methods section of journal article
  • Teach 3rd & 4th year medical students MSK joint exams with Dr. Bill Knopp (occurs approximately every 4 weeks)
  • AMSSM in training exam pre-test
  • Plan Quality Improvement Projects

August

  • Six-week block rotations begin:
    • MSK Radiology
    • Primary Care Sports Medicine
  • UMN Gopher football summer camp starts in early August
  • Fairview Sideline Course on Thursday, August 6th for half day in the morning
  • Bethel University and University of St Thomas D3 training room clinics begin on Monday afternoons in mid-late August. St Kate’s athletes: PRN (Arrange with ATC directly)
  • High School training room clinics and football start in mid-late August
  • Attend Twin Cities Marathon medical planning meetings
  • Research: Continue implementation and data collection. First draft of background section and methods section. Writing seminars with faculty.
  • High school PPEs at TRIA Orthopaedic Center
  • TFC Sports Medicine Conference starts (4th Wednesday of the month, 7:00-8:00 a.m. at TCF Stadium)
  • Begin to review fellowship applications

September

  • Gopher football games, D3 football games and high school football games begin (late Aug.-early Sept.)
  • First rotation switch (usually 2nd week of September)
  • Medical coverage of the UM Roy Girak cross country invitational (usually last Saturday of September)
  • AMSSM Young Investigator’s Grant submissions due usually around October 1st
  • Fairview Sports Medicine Grand Rounds start (Wed. 7:00-8:00 a.m. at Fairview Southdale Hospital)
  • TRIA Sports Medicine Conference starts (Tuesdays 7-8:00 a.m. at TRIA Educational Center).
  • Attendance is required if you are at a rotation clinic on Tuesday mornings. Otherwise, you are welcome to attend any of the lectures as your schedule allows.
  • Fellowship Applicant Interview Season begins (Wed. mornings and afternoons).

October

  • Twin Cities Sports Medicine Conference (all day Friday and half day on Saturday over the 1st weekend in October)
  • Medical coverage of the Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday of the first weekend in October
  • Switch rotations:
    • Orthopaedic Surgery Sports Medicine
    • Hip
  • Football coverage continues
  • Gopher women’s hockey game coverage begins (Oct.-March)
  • D3 hockey game coverage begins (Oct.-Feb.)
  • AMSSM Foundation Research Grant Submissions due in early to mid-October
  • First three-month fellow evaluation

November

  • November 1st is the deadline for ACSM case and research abstract submissions
  • Mid-November: AMSSM deadline for case submissions
  • Football & hockey coverage continues
  • D3 football playoffs (you will likely travel with your D3 team to play-offs which start in mid-November and end in mid-December depending on whether your team advances)
  • Minnesota State High School League sectional and state championships game coverage
  • MN State High School Wrestling weight certifications (Tuesday evening of Thanksgiving weekend) in Eden Prairie.

December

  • Early December: AMSSM Research abstract submission deadline
  • Match meeting for ranking of fellow applicants
  • Advanced Team Physician Course: optional
    • May conflict with your D3 football team playoffs
  • Switch rotations
  • Gopher football bowl practices
  • Gopher football bowl game (travel is not guaranteed)
  • Fellow Focus group meeting with Joe Brocato, PhD, to review the first 6 months of fellowship. This may be scheduled in January.
  • No TCF lecture in December

January

  • Teach UM Resident Basic Musculoskeletal Course (One fellow all day on a Thursday)
  • Switch rotations
    • Shoulder
    • TRIA Acute Injury Clinic & Hand
  • Second 3 months fellow evaluation
  • Faculty Development Course starts (Jan-June 3rd Tuesday afternoon of the month)

February

  • Help cover USA Pond Hockey Championships
  • Cover MN High School Alpine and Nordic Skiing State Meet at Giants Ridge Ski Resort in Northern Minnesota
  • Post season Gopher Women’s Hockey play begins near end of Feb.
  • AMSSM-ACSM Clinical Research Grant due ( if submitting)
  • Beer, Burgers and Bowling Social Event

March (AKA: March Medical Madness!)

  • Post season women’s ice hockey coverage
  • Help cover other post-season Gopher events
  • Spring football coverage begins usually two weeks before UMN Spring break and 3 weeks after Spring Break. Off the week of Spring Break.
  • Switch rotations

April

  • American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting
    • Also attend Advanced Sports Ultrasound Preconference Course
    • Present either research and/or case
    • Attend a committee meeting of your choice
  • Football Spring Game (Saturday)
  • Current Concepts in Sports Medicine Conference in Edina, MN (Friday all day and 1⁄2 day on Saturday). This may be scheduled in early May instead of April.
  • Switch rotations: Both fellows are on the Foot and Ankle Rotation

May

  • American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting (Starts Tuesday/Wednesday of the week of Memorial Day and ends on Saturday at noon)
  • Teach UMN Resident Basic Musculoskeletal Course (one fellow all day on a Thursday)
  • Possible softball and baseball post-season game coverage/travel


June

  • Switch rotation
    • Elective rotation (4 weeks)
  • Teach Procedures in Musculoskeletal Medicine to family medicine residents.
  • Freshman Football PPES: mid-June Monday morning (early approx. 6:00 a.m.) on the first day of the summer semester)
  • UMN Department of Family Medicine & Community Health Graduation
  • Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth (Friday educational half day and Saturday Marathon coverage): 3rd week in June
  • Faculty Development Project Presentation (3rd Tuesday afternoon)
  • Turn in Quality Improvement Projects
  • Final fellow evaluation
  • Finish fellowship

Other Important Activities


Sports Medicine Grand Rounds & TCF Sports Medicine Lectures: You will each give one Sports Medicine Grand Rounds Lecture usually in the second half of the year, and you will each coordinate and present at one TCF lecture.

Updated: 6/30/2017

Two women and one man standing and leaning up against the UMN goldy gopher sign.

Research and Scholarship

  • Conduct an independent sports medicine research project
  • Submit research for presentation and publication
  • Present at sports medicine grand rounds and other lectures

Fellows as Teachers

Teach medical students and residents in training rooms and sports medicine clinics as well as at sports medicine courses, workshops, and sports events.

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Where We Practice

Sports medicine fellows practice at clinics and cover various athletic teams and events. Additional opportunities span high school through professional athletics and include event coverage with USA national sports governing bodies and the National Football League (NFL).

Clinics

Team & Event Coverage

NCAA Division I

NCAA Division III

Area high schools

Special events

Fellows

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Elyssa Goldstein, DO

Medical School: Rocky Vista University - Parker, Colorado

Residency: HCA HealthOne Aurora

Clinical Interests: Diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, female athlete health, and endurance athletes.

Hobbies: Alpine ski racing, distance running, weightlifting, and dogs.

Why Minnesota? I chose the University of Minnesota for the unparalleled mentorship, research opportunities, comprehensive procedural training, extensive sports coverage, and incredible location. I enjoyed meeting the faculty during my interview, and I could immediately tell that they are supportive and knowledgeable. I am very grateful to be here!

Man standing outside wearing a collard shirt and maroon pants.

Nirmal Maxwell, DO

Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Des Moines, Iowa 

Residency:  Metrohealth PM&R

Clinical Interests: Performing arts medicine, ultrasound-guided procedures, diagnostic ultrasound, regenerative medicine, sports nutrition, and exercise physiology.

Hobbies: Dance, cooking for family and friends, trying new restaurants, weightlifting, Peloton, and listening to various types of music. 

Why Minnesota? I was thoroughly impressed with the program after interviewing, particularly with the balance of clinic and coverage opportunities for the fellows. I appreciated hearing the level of autonomy given to fellows and faculty challenging them to become the best version of themselves.

Woman standing outside smiling wearing a university of minnesota polo shirt.

Audrey Potts, MB, BCh, BAO

Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Dublin, Ireland

Residency:  Mayo Clinic Rochester Family Medicine Residency Program

Clinical Interests: Musculoskeletal medicine, sports medicine, procedural care in sports medicine, care of the female athlete, care of the LGBT+ athlete, and mental health in athletes.

Hobbies: Ice hockey, mountain biking, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, spending quality time with friends and family, snowboarding, hiking and adventuring with my partner and pets, travelling and being at my cottage in Northern Ontario.

Why Minnesota? I was extremely impressed with the opportunities that the U of M would offer me as a sports medicine physician in training: top notch division 1 and division 3 sports coverage in sports that I am very passionate about, the chance to be extremely independent in all levels of athlete care, and to top it off, learning from some of the most kind and diverse faculty. I knew this program would be able to set me up well for the career that I want in the future.

Career goals: I want to become a comprehensive sports medicine physician, prioritizing the care of the whole athlete. I want to work in a clinic that focuses on the care of underserved athletes, female athletes, and competent procedural care. My ultimate goal is to also become a team physician in the Professional Women's Hockey League.

Contact

Office address:
6-240 Phillips-Wangensteen Building
516 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Mailing address:
420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 381
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Director
Suzanne Hecht, MD
[email protected]

Administrator
Carrie Kwiatkowski
[email protected]
612-624-2455

View our fellowship faculty

Benefits
Program Manual

Bias Reporting at the University

Submit anonymous incident reports online at BRRN UReport or incident reports can also be sent to [email protected].