The Department of Family Medicine

Sports Medicine Fellowship

The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM), Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship is a 1-year ACGME accredited program sponsored by the Department of Family Medicine. The fellowship is designed to provide comprehensive sports medicine training in musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal disease in active individuals. We provide coverage for professional, collegiate, and high school athletes as well as the typical "weekend warrior." The fellow will have ample opportunities to work with athletes from the point of injury through the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation process.

Education is guided by three CAQ trained Primary Care Sports Medicine faculty who come from a variety of backgrounds and are trained in the latest sports medicine therapies, Drs. Kendra Kemmet, Rebecca Morgan, and Luci Olewinski. Our fellow also rotates with many specialists in surgical orthopedics, including our Sports Medicine trained orthopedic surgical faculty member, Dr. Michael Kern.

Fellows participate in a multi-disciplinary approach when providing care involving consultants, trainers, coaches, physical therapists, and family members. The fellow will also have opportunities to educate the community concerning injury prevention, while optimizing training regimens for individuals and teams.

The faculty in the UTGSM Department of Family Medicine is quite exceptional and this is one of the only departments across the country offering fellowships across disciplines including: Sports Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

About the Program

The Primary Care Sports Medicine opportunities offered in this fellowship are some of the best in the country and can give the fellow the skills to be a leader in the field of Sports Medicine. The Sports Medicine Faculty have been team physicians for Olympic, national, collegiate, and high school programs and can provide mentorship throughout your training here and beyond.

The fellow will have ample opportunities to work with athletes from the time of injury through the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation process. In addition, fellows are encouraged to educate athletes, coaches, and the community concerning injury prevention, while providing a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. The consultants and resources offered in this academic medical center provide comprehensive care often not found in other settings. We are proud of our robust ultrasound curriculum, led by Dr. Kemmet, which includes didactics, cadaver labs, and diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound guided procedure certification. Our clinic currently offers ultrasound guided soft tissue platelet rich plasma injections and needle fenestration, and ultrasound guided joint injections of PRP, corticosteroids, and hyaluronic acid.

Fellows rotate in a variety of settings ranging from private orthopedic offices (Tennessee Orthopedic Clinics, University Orthopedic Surgeons), to the University of Tennessee Student Health Center Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy Clinic, and the University Family Physicians Sports Medicine Clinic. Fellows provide coverage for the Knoxville Ice Bears Professional Ice Hockey team, the National Golden Gloves Boxing Program, University of Tennessee Men’s Rugby, and local high schools. Fellows also participate in mass endurance event coverage including the Knoxville Marathon, and through 2021, the USA Cycling Road Championships. In addition, Knoxville is home to the Knoxville Track Club, FC Alliance Soccer Academy, and many individuals who lead active lifestyles. These provide plenty of opportunities for injury assessment, casting and splinting, radiographic interpretation, joint injection, sports nutrition, exercise treadmill, and training room experiences.

The UTGSM Sports Medicine Fellowship is accredited through the ACGME and fellows are eligible to sit for the CAQ exam in sports medicine following successful completion of the fellowship program. Our fellowship start date is July 1.

Curriculum Overview

Team physician experience is garnered throughout the year in the high school, collegiate, and professional settings. The fellow will serve as a team doctor for a local high school and will be available to provide training rooms as needed. The fellow also serves as a team physician for the Knoxville Golden Gloves Franchise, assists with physicals and ringside coverage for the local and regional boxing events, and has the opportunity to travel with the team to national GG and JO (Junior Olympic) tournaments. In addition to boxing and local high school coverage, the fellow also has opportunities for football sideline experience with the UT Chattanooga Mocs and in Johnson City at East Tennessee State University. Finally, the fellow works with the Knoxville Ice Bears Professional Hockey team - four time Southern Professional Hockey League champions. Longitudinal and specialty clinical experiences provide a wide range of primary care and musculoskeletal issues in active individuals of all ages.

Monthly Rotations include:

• Longitudinal Primary Care Sports Medicine clinic
• Four months of orthopedics with focus on hand, foot and ankle, shoulder, and hip
• Three months of dedicated Sports Medicine Orthopedics (Football and Rugby seasons)
• One month of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including dedicated PM&R sports clinic
• One month of focused training room time with the Knoxville Ice Bears
• One month of Physical Therapy rotations
• Three elective months, which can be arranged from a variety of disciplines such as cardiology, rheumatology, pulmonology, neurosurgery, emergency medicine, endocrinology, pediatric orthopedics
  

Fellows will be expected to maintain proficiency in their specialty, which includes one half-day per week of primary care or continuity care with an associate PM&R Faculty. Other requirements include service on one committee in at least two different care settings (Graduate School of Medicine, UT Student Health, University Family Physicians, University of Tennessee Medical Center), scholarly activity including case reports, case presentations, or original research, and finally a quality improvement initiative.

Our fellow will be allocated an ultrasound machine to use in the office and to take to coverage events. Fellows are encouraged to practice scanning at home to complement their learning in didactics, the cadaver lab, and in clinic. Scholarly activity is required according to ACGME standards; and is supported in conjunction with the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine with a dedicated research week to develop and outline research projects, and a conference allowance to encourage attendance at national and regional educational and scholarly events. These educational opportunities are coupled with our weekly sports medicine academic conferences and journal club. This program is ideal for motivated and energetic applicants who want to develop expertise in clinical and research skills, while making an impact on the dynamic field of sports medicine.

Application Process

Fellows are selected through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Applications can be obtained through Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS). Applicants must receive training in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, or Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Deadline: Deadline for applications is September 1, and initial reviews will be conducted early to mid August. Interviews will be offered beginning late August.

Minimum Requirements for application include:

• ERAS Application (will not be reviewed until all supporting ERAS documents have been submitted including USMLE/COMLEX and LOR’S)
• Signed AMSSM Code of Ethics for the match document
• Letter from Residency Program Directors pecifying anticipated graduation date if off cycle
  

For the application materials outside of ERAS please fax, email or mail to our fellowship coordinator, Jennifer Parris-Horner.

Special Note: Candidates are invited for interview based on their application, but predominantly on their personal statement. Please be thoughtful and mindful of this when creating your essay. Your personal statement can be creative and should be written in a way that tells us the most about you and your future career goals.

Please mail your completed application to:
Program Contact Information:

Jennifer Parris-Horner
Student Clerkship and Fellowship Coordinator
Department of Family Medicine
1924 Alcoa Highway, U-67
Knoxville, TN 37920
(865) 305-5055
jparris@utmck.edu