Sports Medicine

A sports medicine physician diagnoses and treats disorders for athletes, typically within the musculoskeletal system. They also advise coaches, personal fitness trainers, and physical therapists on the exercises and therapeutic techniques needed for treatments and warn against dangerous practices. They may work hand-in-hand with physicians and they could be the first on call during an emergency with a sports-related practice or competition. Lastly, they work with athletes on nutrition, hydration, dietary supplements, and overall health and well-being.

Prospective healthcare workers interested in a sports medicine physician career may inquire for more information on sports medicine degree options available.

Salary

A sports medicine physician faces salaries that vary widely by location, but they are typically lucrative due to the educational requirements and specialization involved in a sports medicine degree. The median salary both nationally and in California was approximately $166,000 in 2008; however, the lower 10% nationally was at $50,000 and the lower 10% in California was at $92,000. Salary is largely dependent on the demand and economy in each State.

Training and Qualifications

A sports medicine physician must complete the rigorous educational demands of other physicians and surgeons, including 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years in an internship residency. This makes the availability of graduates with a sports medicine degree sparse. Some medical schools offer programs that may be completed in 6 to 7 years instead of 8 years, but residency is still required for licensure.

College students interested in pursuing medical school for a sports medicine physician career should complete undergraduate work in physics, biology, mathematics, English, and inorganic and organic chemistry. This may be completed in a bachelor sports medicine degree program or jump started with an associate degree in sports medicine and fitness technology. Students should also maintain a high GPA and prepare for the MCAD. Once education is complete, the aspiring sports medicine physician will have to pass the United States Medical Licensing Exam, or USMLE.

Job Outlook

Sports medicine physician careers are anticipated to experience a 20% job growth in the 2008-2018 decade according to the Physicians and Surgeons data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are currently 661,000 specialists in sports medicine and there will be a projected 260,500 more positions opening up in the future.

Advancement

A sports medicine physician may pursue advancement through private practice or several years of experience. Due to the extraneous education demanded from simply starting a career as a sports medicine physician, educational advancement is limited, although continuing education maintains licensure.

Learn More

To learn more about a sports medicine physician career and the sports medicine degree options available, fill out the following form. Alternatively, check out the information about dieticians.