Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship

We provide care to many of the elite athletes in and around Houston, making this a true sports medicine program with unparalleled access to a broad spectrum of athletes. We are the official health care provider for the Houston Texans (NFL), Houston Astros (MLB) and Rice University Athletics (NCAA). Through the Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM), we also provide care to the Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera. In addition to in-office consultations and surgical and nonsurgical treatment, fellows assist with sideline care, training room care, spring training coverage and draft preparation. Within this arena, fellows learn how to interact with elite athletes, coaches, trainers and agents.

OFFICIAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER 

In addition, Houston Methodist offers one of the largest athletic trainer outreach programs in the country, with affiliations in more than 98 area schools. Our fellows assist with the care of these athletes by providing game coverage, preparticipation physicals and training-room evaluations. 

The faculty outpatient offices are located in Houston Methodist Outpatient Center, connected via a walkway to the main hospital building. The Department of Orthopedic Surgery occupies the entire 25th floor of the Outpatient Center, with an orthopedic-focused operating suite on the 19th floor of the same building.

The Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship is sponsored by the Houston Methodist Department of Orthopedic Surgery and falls within the family medicine graduate medical education umbrella. The fellowship includes a unique blend of primary care sports medicine education offerings for learners.

This is a one-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited fellowship. The Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship is an intensive training program in advanced techniques within sports medicine, offering extensive exposure to caring for elite athletes, both collegiate and professional. The sheer volume of clinical experience our fellows get — both in scope and breadth — makes our program unique. Moreover, as an American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM)-accredited program, this allows graduates to obtain their Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Sports Medicine.

Houston Methodist Hospital has been ranked the No. 1 hospital in Texas by U.S. News & World Report for 14 years in a row. We are nationally ranked in 10 specialties, including orthopedics where we are ranked No. 1 in Texas. Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is one of the largest, most active programs in the nation. Our skilled team of orthopedic surgeons, primary care sports medicine physicians, physical and occupational therapists and athletic trainers use the latest innovative techniques and pioneer new technology to deliver exceptional care to patients with musculoskeletal injuries.

Thank you for your interest in our Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship program. 

Criteria

To be eligible for a fellowship position, certain criteria must be met: 

• Completed a residency training in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited residency program
• Good professional character with at least three letters of recommendation attesting to your academic and personal qualifications
• A graduate of a U.S. or Canadian medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME); or a college of osteopathic medicine in the U.S. accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or a medical school outside the U.S. and Canada with a current valid certificate from Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) prior to appointment; or have completed a Fifth Pathway program through an LCME-accredited medical school
• Licensable in the state of Texas and obtain a physician-in-training (PIT) permit or a valid Texas medical license before beginning training
• Permanent resident status or be eligible for a J-1 visa, if a non-U.S. citizen

We will not be accepting applications from international medical graduates (IMGs), unless they have met the above criteria from the ACGME.

Responsibility

Houston Methodist is committed to improving the health of our patients, employees and communities around us. As a health care provider, it is our responsibility to promote a healthier environment for our employees. 

• Drug and Tobacco Screening – Job seekers will be tested for nicotine and drug usage during the post-offer physical. If a job seeker tests positive for nicotine use, including nicotine gum and patches, the offer will be rescinded, and individuals will be given the opportunity to participate in a free Houston Methodist-provided tobacco cessation program. Job seekers wishing to reapply after testing positive for nicotine may do so 90 days after the date the initial offer was rescinded. If the job seeker tests positive for drug use, the offer will be rescinded. Job seekers wishing to reapply after testing positive for the drug screening may do so one year after the date the initial offer was rescinded.
• Background Check – Prior to employment start date, job seekers must complete a criminal background check.

Materials

To begin the application process, you must submit the necessary materials through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS): 

• Complete MATCH application
• Personal statement
• Wallet-sized color photograph
• U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) transcript
• ECFMG status report, for IMGs only
• Three letters of recommendation, including one from your Program Director and two from Primary Care Sports Medicine (PCSM) faculty