What type of educational background did you have to have to become a physician MD?

- JG

To become a medical doctor one needs to complete a college education. During the 4th year of college you would apply to medical schools who would evaluate your GPA, MCAT scores, letters of recommendation, research, and dedication to the medical field. If you are accepted to medical school it takes 4 years to finish school and obtain an MD degree. After meddical school most physicians pick a field of specialty which requires an additional 2-7 years to complete depending upon the specialty.

- The Jock Doc

What's up Jock Doc?  I'm a sophomore in high school interested in becoming a team physician.  Can you give me information on the education I need and how much a team physician makes per year?

- Brannon

To become a sports medicine physician after graduating college you would then need 4 years of medical school, followed by 5 years of orthopedic surgery residency training, and then a 1 year sports medicine fellowship. Although this may seem like a long time, for the most part the training is interesting and rewarding. The ultimate income of a sports medicine specialist varies widely, but most physicians will make a very comfortable living.

- The Jock Doc

What advice or direction would you give to someone who is highly interested in a career in sports medicine.  I have already completed my bachelors degree as a premed student but have decided now to enter Pepperdine University to pursue a career in Sports Medicine.  What steps do you recommend that would send me in the right direction.

- Carolyn

My advice for someone choosing a career in sports medicine is to first choose how you want to enter the field (physician, trainer, physical therapist, etc.). The usual route for a physician is after completing medical school, is to attend a residency in either orthopedic surgery or family practice. While in residency, you can apply to a sports medicine fellowship to be entered after the completion of your residency. After completion fo the sports medicine fellowship you could then have a practice geared to sports medicine.

- The Jock Doc

What medical college and residency program would you recommend to a prospective student who is planning a sports medical career?

- Chris

Medical school and orthopedic residency programs can be hard to get into. However, most American medical schools and accredited residency programs afford an excellent education. Once you are in a residency program you must perform well so you can be accepted to a sports medicine fellowship. The quality of the sports fellowship will have a significant impact on your sports medicine career.

- The Jock Doc

My name is Alexis Burch and I'm currently a junior attending Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach, FL. I am very interested in becoming a not a surgeon but rather a sports medicine physician and I was hoping that you could give me some advice on what kind of training and schooling and any other information that you could provide for me about the field.

- Alexis

It is possible to become a sports medicine specialist without actually becoming an orthopedic surgeon first. After high school and college you would need to attend medical school. During medical school you would be exposed to numerous medical specialties. Usually it is also helpful to do research in a sports medicine related field while in medical school. If you choose not to be an orthopedic surgeon the next most common route to sports medicine would be a family practice residency followed by a sports medicine fellowship. Good luck.

- The Jock Doc

I am a female who desperately wants to be a team doctor for a professional sports team. I want advice on how to start gaining experience during my schooling. I am at a big school where a lot of people want to help the athletes. Since I have no experience or knowledge, I need some advice on how to stand out. Do you have any advice about how to gain experience in caring for athletes?

- Jennifer

To be a team physician you must complete medical school. During medical school it usually becomes necessary to choose a specialty. Most sports medicine physicians are orthopedic surgeons or family physicians. After you finish your residency in your chosen specialty (3-6 years of additional medical training after completing medical school), You can then do fellowship training in sports medicine. Most professional teams have physicians with sports medicine training. During the fellowship you are likely to be exposed to sports medicine on a professional, collegiate, and high school level. With this experience you could then be in a position to try to get a job with a professional organization. I believe there is a great need for women in sports medicine and I encourage you to work towards your goals.

- The Jock Doc

I am pharmacy student at the Univeristy of Connecticut. I am currently taking an advanced compounding class and for my final project, I need to ask a health care professional if they ever needed something compounded by a pharmacist b/c the formulation is not found on the shelf. As a student, I am going to try to formulate the prescription. Thank you for your help. if you can let me know if anything comes to mind about needing something compounded that would be great.

- Ellen

I rarely have a need for special compounds in my practice. However, a few years ago a pharmacist made a compound of ketoprofan in a paste form for local application and phonophoresis. Good luck.

- The Jock Doc