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How to become a Sports Medicine Surgeon

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Published on Monday, 05 October 2009 01:19

Written by Vic Goradia, M.D.

Here are the Requirements to Becoming a Fellowship Trained Orthopedic Surgeon -by Vic Goradia, M.D.

How does one become a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon?

• 4 years of college
• 4 years of medical school
• 1 year internship
• 4 year orthopedic surgery residency
• Passing written exam
• 2 years of practice
• Passing an oral exam

What is Fellowship Training?

• A voluntary extra year or longer of focused advanced training in a specific subspecialty of orthopedics.

What are the common subspecialties?

• Sports Medicine & Arthroscopic Surgery
• Spine
• Pediatrics
• Hand
• Foot & Ankle
• Joint Replacement

Can Family Practice physicians specialize in Sports Medicine?

• Yes, they have fellowships separate from orthopedic surgeons.
• They do an excellent job of evaluating sports injuries and then referring patients that need surgery to fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons

Do sports medicine specialists see non-athletes?

• Most doctors see athletes and non-athletes
• Sports Med doctors coordinate care and treatment with primary care physicians, coaches, physical therapists and others

Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Sports Medicine

This is additional certification for active surgeons. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery developed the new CAQ in sports medicine beginning in 2007. Board-certified orthopedic surgeons are eligible to apply for this added certificate. To qualify, board-certified orthopedic surgeons must send a list of all surgeries performed over a period of 6 months. These are evaluated by the Board. If accepted, the candidate is required to sit for a 200 question written examination. This exam was given for the first time in November 2007. Beginning in 2011 surgeons interested in receiving the CAQ will have an added requirement of having completed advanced fellowship training in sports medicine. Until then, surgeons without this additional training are still eligible to sit for the exam.

Article courtesy of Dr. Goradia, a fellowship trained in Sports Medicine, Arthroscopic Surgery and Knee & Shoulder Reconstructive Surgery.