Sports Medicine Physician
By: Celeste Sandoval
Job Description
Sports medicine physicians work with athletes and sports teams at all levels to help heal athletic injuries. These physicians are specialized in either surgical or non-surgical procedures. In order to become sports medicine physicians, candidates must complete medical school, earn a license, complete a residency and fellowship, and earn board certification in sports medicine.
http://study.com/articles/Sports_Medicine_Physician_Education_and_Training_Requirements.html
- I would not be the surgical one I would feel more comfortable being the non-surgical.
- I like the fact that i get to go to medical school
Personal Characteristics Needed
Education Needed
Education :Becoming a sports medicine physician requires obtaining a bachelor's degree and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. During their undergraduate years, students will need to take pre-med classes in biology, anatomy and chemistry. Medical school is a 4-year program in which the last two years include clinical rotations.
Typically, sports medicine physicians have primary specialization in either orthopedic surgery or primary care with subspecialty in sports medicine. During the clinical rotations, students can take electives in one of these specialty areas. Following the completion of medical school, graduates enter into residency programs. No residency programs exist that allow for specialization in sports medicine, but rotations can include sports medicine procedures.
Training : Physicians with subspecialties in sports medicine can pursue the Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine. Primary care sports medicine physicians must also be board certified in family medicine, pediatrics or internal medicine. Surgical sports medicine physicians are also eligible for board certification in sports medicine and typically hold Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon designations.
http://study.com/articles/Sports_Medicine_Physician_Education_and_Training_Requirements.html
Work Setting
- Most physicians work between 40 and 60 hours per week, but nearly one-quarter of physicians work between 61 and 80 hours per week. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/ama-wire/post/many-hours-average-physician-workweek
- In addition to treating patients, primary care sports medicine physicians often consult with athletic trainers, coaches and athletic directors on injury prevention and performance enhancement
- This field is expanding beyond the traditional realm of professional and college athletics. More and more Americans are seeking primary care sports medicine physicians to improve health, maintain strength and endurance and sustain an active lifestyle. http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/168/Primary_Care_Sports_Medicine
- I would probably travel because, I would be working with a team that travels and it being a professional team they travel.
- It would be stressful, because i would be flying everywhere and having to pay for a hotel every time. Yes it would be stressful but not impossible.
- I would dislike paying for a hotel every time I go somewhere and a flying fee, but I would like the fact that I'm able to go somewhere different and get to travel around the country.
Wages and Benefits
http://www1.salary.com/sports-medicine-physician-salary.html
That would be enough money to provide for myself and I would have extra money to spend on myself.
Similar Careers
The field of sports medicine encompasses many different health careers, including:
- Athletic trainer
- Doctor of osteopathy
- Exercise physiologist
- Kinesiotherapist
- Medical doctor
- Nursing
- Nutrition/dietetics
- Physical therapy
My background would help me be a doctor or a nurse, so yes i would be able to change my career if i wanted to.