1. One versus two year fellowship?    

    Fellows have the choice of either a one year or two year training program. The twelve-month curriculum includes extensive clinical training, a multitude of teaching and educational opportunities, as well as preparation and support for clinical research and scholarly activity.

    The two year program can be tailored to the specific interests and career goals of each fellow. Based upon the goals for the fellow, it can provide more research and academic experience as well as more elective time to expand upon areas of interest. Fellows electing this program may also choose to participate in the UCLA Medical Education Fellowship Program. In the past few years, about half of the incoming fellows have chosen the two-year option. However, an applicant’s ranking is not affected by the intent to pursue a one year or two year training program. The decision to proceed with one or two years of fellowship training can be made after the match but before August of that fellowship year.
     

  2. How many fellows does UCLA accept?

    UCLA currently maintains a complement of 3 fellows. Since some fellows may be continuing for a second year of training, the number of available fellowship positions will vary each year, and can thus range from 0-3.
     
  3. Does UCLA provide experience in pediatric sports medicine?

    The program has an extensive sports medicine experience that involves children, adolescents and young adults. Overall approximately 70% of clinic experience is with patients 22 years old and younger. Each fellow serves as a team physician for a local high school and attends weekly training room clinics and covers events. At the Orthopaedic Institute for Children the fellows attend a pediatric sports medicine clinic and a separate pediatric fracture clinic. Fellows also provide a pediatric sports medicine consultation service to the Venice Family Health Center. Further pediatric and young adult sports medicine experience occurs with our sports medicine clinics at UCLA and with the UCLA Student Health Service on campus.
     
  4. How much time is allocated for teaching and research?

    In addition to the existing weekly educational half day, one to two half-days per week are provided as protected time for preparation of presentations and to work on research projects. Fellows have the option to start a new project or expand upon ongoing projects under the mentoring of one of the faculty. Faculty assist the fellows through the process of developing a project, writing a grant if indicated, applying to the IRB, implementing the project, analyzing the data, and preparing to present it at a conference and/or publish in journals. UCLA provides an excellent balance between clinical and academic experience.
     
  5. Does the fellowship provide support for travel expenses for conferences and away rotations?

    Yes. The program provides 100% funding for the AMSSM Fellows Research Conference in July, travel and lodging for UCLA Football Fall Camp in August, as well as travel and lodging for the winter Acute Injury Clinic in Lake Tahoe. Each fellow will also have the opportunity to travel (all-expenses paid) with the UCLA Football Team to select away games in the Fall. Additionally, the fellowship provides a $1500 educational fund, which can be used to allay the cost of attending AMSSM and ACSM conferences, or for educational materials
     
  6. What is the role of the fellows with UCLA athletics?

    The fellows play an integral role in the care of UCLA student-athletes. This is truly a unique experience. The fellows have the opportunity to work with elite level Division I athletes at the university with the most NCAA titles (111 and counting!) Every fellow works with UCLA football, including the opportunity to travel with the team for away games. In addition, each fellow also serves as a team physician for 2-3 other UCLA teams. This provides a very unique hands-on experience with athletes of this level. In addition, fellows also provide a sports medicine clinic at the UCLA training room facility while seeing athletes from all sports independently (with attending backup). It provides a great experience with appropriate autonomy.
     
  7. What is a typical interview day schedule?

    The interview days are usually on Wednesdays. Most applicants will stay in the area the night before. Schedule permitting, the fellows organize a dinner for the applicants the Tuesday evening before the interview. The interview day typically begins at 7:30 with a tour of the Sports Medicine office led by the fellows. The applicants will then head to Westwood for the interviews which end around 11:30am. At noon, applicants attend the sports medicine grand rounds. This is followed by a tour of the UCLA campus with a stop at the Acosta Training Center and the UCLA Student Health clinic. The day typically ends around 3pm. Depending on the schedule fellows may be covering sporting events around the time of your interview. You are welcome to join the fellow. Please notify us in advance if you are interested.
     
  8. Does UCLA provide any training in musculoskeletal ultrasound?

    Yes. The faculty routinely use musculoskeletal ultrasound into their clinical practice, and fellows obtain experience in ultrasound guided procedures and diagnostic scans, as well as participate in hands-on scanning workshops. The program works closely with attendings and fellows from UCLA’s musculoskeletal radiology fellowship program, and our fellows have both didactic and hands on training with this group. Each year a formal musculoskeletal ultrasound training course was held at UCLA which the fellows attended.