The Orthopedic Sports Medicine Physician Assistant Fellowship includes a competency-based curriculum with didactic and practical modules based on the medical model.

During the program, learning experiences allow you to:

• Gain a greater understanding of orthopedic anatomy and physiology
• Become proficient in taking a detailed history and performing an orthopedic physical exam
• Develop and implement treatment plans
• Master operative first-assist techniques
• Perform in office injections under supervision
• Diagnose and treat illnesses
• Order and interpret tests
• Counsel on preventative health care
• Participate in Orthopedic Department didactics
• Develop and pursue research opportunities
• On-field game coverage

Clinical training and rotations

Your fellowship training gives you exposure to these clinical topics:

• Arthroscopic surgery of the:
• Shoulder
• Elbow
• Hip
• Knee
• Ankle
• Common open surgical treatment of sports injuries
• Non-operative management of common athletic injuries
• In office injection with and without ultrasound
• Training with musculoskeletal radiologist
• Brief introduction into shoulder, hip, and knee total arthroplasty
• Brief introduction into hand surgery
• Assist with game coverage of local high school, college, and professional teams
• Participate in Orthopedic Department Grand Rounds, M&M, Sports Medicine Didactic Conference, and Sports Medicine Journal Club

Schedule and hours

The majority of the fellowship schedule includes 10-hour days (may vary with each rotation), five days a week. On occasion, you will assist with afterhours coverage of sporting events.

Department and faculty

The Orthopedic Sports Medicine Physician Assistant Fellowship is coordinated and taught by the consulting and physician assistant staff of Mayo Clinic's Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Faculty members are chosen for their commitment to teaching, as well as their clinical practice and research. Many have published and lectured extensively and are highly regarded in their fields.

Visiting professors and lecturers

A hallmark of higher education excellence is the breadth and depth of information and experience provided to you by faculty and visiting experts. Each year, many prominent professors visit Mayo Clinic to lecture in their areas of medical and scientific expertise.

As a fellow of Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, you are encouraged to learn from these valuable resources by attending all relevant conferences, lectures, and seminars prepared for students, residents, fellows, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and consulting staff.

Facilities

Mayo Clinic has two campuses in Arizona. The campus in Phoenix, Arizona, includes the state-of-the-art Mayo Clinic Hospital, the first hospital entirely designed and built by Mayo Clinic. Phoenix Magazine has recognized it several times as the Best Hospital in Phoenix. Services in numerous medical and surgical disciplines are provided, including outstanding programs in cancer treatment and organ transplantation.

Mayo Clinic's campus in Scottsdale, Arizona, is centered around a beautiful, five-story outpatient clinic. This modern facility contains extensive exam rooms, an outpatient surgery center equipped for general anesthesia, a full-service laboratory, a pharmacy, a patient education library, an endoscopy suite, and a 188-seat auditorium for patient, staff, and student education programs.

During the fellowship, the majority of your time is spent at the Phoenix campus.

Evaluation

Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences uses these evaluative tools:

• Written examination
• Demonstration of skills
• Self-assessment exercises
• Faculty reviews