This is a 12-month training program during which fellows will rotate daily through a diverse curriculum ensuring that they are educated in a comprehensive range of Sports Medicine related fields. The program is structured to prepare fellows in becoming competent, efficient, and successful primary care sports medicine physicians able to practice in clinics or on the field at the highest levels. Fellows will rotate once a week through their Primary Care Sports Medicine continuity clinic located at Orthopedics Associates of Dutchess County in Poughkeepsie, NY. Fellows will also rotate once a week through the Orthopedic Surgery Sports Medicine clinic at Somers Orthopedics in Poughkeepsie, NY.

As per ACGME guidelines fellows will also take in one day per week in their primary specialty to maintain their skills in the primary specialty. For Emergency Medicine trained fellows this will occur at  Vassar Brothers Medical Center, a tertiary care teaching facility located also in Poughkeepsie, NY. Family Medicine trained fellows will partake in once-a-week Primary Care clinic at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck, NY. During other days of the week fellows will rotate through an entire host of orthopedic subspecialties (trauma, hand surgery, foot/ankle, etc.), physical therapy, performance therapy, nutrition and sports neurology.

During these rotations our fellows will learn a wide array of commonly performed procedures including: Joint aspirations and injections, fracture management, and diagnostic ultrasound.

Fellows may also select one elective rotation during the year. Electives may be taken in a wide range of sports medicine disciplines in accordance with ACGME guidelines and program policies.

Fellows will be actively involved with the on-field sporting events, mass participation events and training room coverage. They will provide sideline coverage for football practice and assist with sideline coverage for home games at Mahopac High School, Somers High School and Arlington High School. Training room education will be covered between two collegiate athletic departments, Vassar College and Mount Saint Mary’s College, which will give the fellows a unique opportunity to see a broad pool of athletes at different competition levels. Semi- Professional Sporting coverage will also be available through the Kingston Stockade Football Club, Pathfinders Football Club, as well as the professional Minor League baseball team, the Hudson Valley Renegades.

Fellows will undergo several formats for ongoing didactics throughout the year. Once per week didactic sessions will be held with lectures to be given by faculty and fellows. This will help advance fellows’ education for the CAQ exam along with developing their presentation and lecture skills. A monthly journal club, led by faculty and fellows from Sports Medicine, along with interested residents from family medicine and emergency medicine.

Quarterly journal clubs will be done in combination with other NYC based Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship programs. Fellows will get a robust ultrasound curriculum that includes bedside teaching sessions, monthly didactic sessions and QA sessions with the Emergency Medicine Ultrasound division.

Fellows will also be responsible for independent research study while in the fellowship. They will have dedicated research days throughout the year which will be used to advance publications, literature review and poster presentations.

Fellows will be expected to submit poster presentations to the national AMSSM conference and will be provided the opportunity to attend the conference for further education and networking. All faculty members will be available for help in the research study portion of their education.

Finally, fellows will be expected to be involved in the education of residents and medical students. Throughout the year fellows will be involved in didactic sessions and small group workshops for the departments of Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine.

Rotations and Sites:

I – PRIMARY CARE SPORTS MEDICINE

• Vassar Brothers Medical Center – Poughkeepsie, NY
• Northern Dutchess Hospital – Rhinebeck, NY
• Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County – Poughkeepsie, NY

II – ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY SPORTS MEDICINE

• Somers Orthopedics – Poughkeepsie, NY

III – PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

• Feldman Physical Therapy – Poughkeepsie, NY and Fishkill, NY
• Apollo Performance Chiropractic – Pleasantville, NY

The Block Schedule will consist of two primary rotations:

Primary Care Sports Medicine (PCSM)

Orthopedic Surgery Sports Medicine (OCSM)

Fellows will also rotate longitudinally at Sporting Events with supervising faculty from each primary rotation, and physical therapy clinics.

The schedule accounts for a block dedicated to research and an elective block.

Our fellows are active amongst our community attending a multitude of sports events and mass participation events from the local to collegiate level. Some of the coverage we provide include:

I – PROFESSIONAL AND SEMI-PROFESSIONAL TEAMS AND EVENT COVERAGE

• NY Team of Professional Women’s Hockey League (Pro Team) – UBS Arena, Elmont, NY
• Hudson Valley Renegades (Official Minor League) – Wappingers Falls, NY
• NY Sirens (PWHL)- Newark, NJ
• Kingston Stockade FC – Poughkeepsie, NY
• NYC Marathon – NYC, NY

II – NCAA AND COLLEGIATE TEAMS AND EVENT COVERAGE

• Vassar College – Poughkeepsie, NY
• Mount Saint Mary College – Newburgh, NY
• PACE University Football – Pleasantville, NY
• Arlington High School – Lagrangeville, NY
• Mahopac High School – Mahopac, NY
• Somers High School – Lincolndale, NY

The Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Sports Medicine Fellowship Program at Vassar Brothers Medical Center participates in the NRMP match and will be utilizing ERAS only.

Please Note: In ERAS we are listed as “Sports Medicine (Emergency Medicine).” We also take Family Medicine and Internal Medicine residents and have designated tracks for both.

Requirements for applying:

1. Full ERAS application is required.
   • (2) USMLE Parts 1-3
   • (3) Medical School transcript
   • (4) Personal statement
   • (5) 3x Letters of Recommendation – At least one letter from your current program director and two additional letters of recommendation from Sports Medicine Physicians.

Interviews will be offered, by invitation only, September 1st through December 1st. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify completion of application requirements.

For more info regarding the Department of Emergency Medicine, go to the Emergency Medicine Residency Program page.

For more info regarding the Department of Family Medicine, go to the Family Medicine Residency Program page.

For more info regarding the Department of Internal medicine, go to the Internal Medicine Residency Program page.

Q: What makes a complete applicant for your program?
A: We are looking for the applicants who are eager and ready to take on the Primary Care Sports Medicine journey. We are also looking for applicants who want to be leaders not only in the field but also leaders within our community that will help push our program to new heights!

Q: Do you accept residents ONLY from Emergency Medicine residencies?
A: No! At this time we accept residents from Family Medicine and Internal Medicine residencies.

Q: Why should I train in the Hudson Valley?
A: The Hudson Valley is one of the beautiful and picturesque locations in all of New York State. We are located right on the banks of the Hudson River and only 1.5 hours from New York City. In the Hudson Valley you are able to enjoy all four seasons which brings exciting hiking, skiing, culinary and biking opportunities. Let’s also not forget that there is no apple like the NYS apple and being in the Hudson Valley allows for some of the best apple picking and apple cider in the entire state. With all these exciting adventures that await you we hope you’ll love the Hudson Valley as much as we do.