Fellowship Program

We offer a sports medicine fellowship providing advanced primary care training to highly- qualified physicians. This fellowship program is among the only premier, advanced training opportunities offered in the western United States. This program provides exceptional opportunities to train and teach in a diverse setting. We pride ourselves on the diversity delivered by our structured medical education opportunities. Our sports medicine fellowship allows physicians the chance to treat Division I collegiate athletes.

About the Program

Discover our comprehensive learning experience.

The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Sports Medicine Fellowship in Las Vegas is one of the premier primary care sports medicine fellowships in the United States. We offer an innovative Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited sports medicine fellowship through our department of family medicine.

Fellows experience a diverse learning program designed to train individuals balanced in knowledge of musculoskeletal injuries, connective tissue disorders, exercise physiology, and medical conditions specific to athletes. Through our intimate affiliation with the athletic department at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, fellows enjoy the unique opportunity to provide team coverage at the Division I collegiate level.

Take the next step in mastering the skills you need to become a leader in sports medicine.

Contact

Please contact us about questions you may have regarding your application to the program and interview.

Email: sportsmedicine.fellowship@medicine.unlv.edu

Quick Facts

Accredited: 2004 by the ACGME

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Affiliation: Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ

Duration: One year

Salary: View Info

Application Deadline: Nov. 1

Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Sports Medicine Fellows gain extensive clinical experience in the care of musculoskeletal disorders through longitudinal training at the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ athletic center and primary care sports medicine care centers. Fellows rotate with general orthopedists sports orthopedists, orthopedists specializing in foot, ankle and hand disorders; neurosurgeons; and orthopaedists trained in pediatric sports medicine.

  • The Kerkorian School of Medicine's Sports Medicine Program Director is the medical director and head team physician for 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ athletics, offering unparalleled learning opportunities.
  • Our innovative program is leading the way as the first orthopedic sports medicine program in Nevada.
  • Fellows, alongside the program director, will work intimately with the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Division I athletic program.
  • In addition to the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, we also have an exceptionally strong clinical experience.
  • Our specialty preceptors are highly-trained, easily approachable, and many have extensive publication and speaking backgrounds.
  • 100 percent of our sports medicine fellows have successfully passed their Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQ) exam on the first attempt.
  • Each of our fellows has enjoyed multiple employment opportunities. We currently have fellows in academics, private practice, and the urgent care setting.

The program director, Dr. Wade Gaal, is directly employed by 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ as the medical director and head team physician. The fellowship is intimately linked to the school's athletics through this relationship.

Applications are accepted through . ERAS opens in July and applications are accepted through Nov. 1. Applications are reviewed as received and interviews begin in the fall. Successful applicants must qualify for board certification in family medicine and licensure in the state of Nevada.

We interview approximately eight to ten applicants and accept one fellow per academic year via the match.

  • Applicants should demonstrate interest in sports medicine and acumen to succeed.
  • Applicants should express the unique qualifications of family-medicine trained physicians in the field of sports medicine.
  • Applicants should demonstrate an appreciation for the diversity of sports medicine.

We offer interested medical students and residents a two to four week sports medicine rotation with us. This is a great opportunity to learn more about sports medicine and to get to know us better. Please contact us as early as possible to arrange a rotation.

How to Apply

All applicants must complete the following requirements:

  1. Successful completion of accredited three-year family medicine residency
  2. Complete American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) application (you may  on the AMSSM website)
  3. Three letters of recommendation, including one from your residency program director
  4. Copies of all United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores
  5. Letter of interest and personal statement

The program email address is sportsmedicine.fellowship@medicine.unlv.edu.

Please mail all required documents to:

Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
Las Vegas Sports Medicine Fellowship
1701 W. Charleston Blvd., Ste. 590
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Educational Opportunities

Sports Medicine Fellowship: Las Vegas

We offer a multitude of educational opportunities designed to support fellows in their mastery of the skills required to be successful in sports medicine.

Didactics take place every Monday evening and cover topics pertinent to primary care sports medicine and the CAQ sports medicine examination. The fellow is expected to present one to two times per month at didactics. The fellow will also lecture school of medicine students on sports medicine topics.

Sports medicine fellows are expected to present a case presentation at the AMSSM annual meeting and are expected to complete a scholarly project during the course of the year.

The CAQ sports medicine examination preparation will consist of weekly didactic lectures, assigned readings, and completion of the CAQ sports medicine in-training exam.

Rotations and Clinical Experience

Each rotation is one month in length.

  • Primary Care Sports Medicine Clinic at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas athletic training room
  • Orthopedic sports medicine
  • Hand surgery
  • Pediatric orthopedics
  • Musculoskeletal radiology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Foot and ankle surgery
  • Sports Medicine Clinic at the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Health Center
  • Primary Care Continuity Clinic at the School of Medicine Family Medicine Patient Care Center, Las Vegas
  • Primary Care Sports Medicine Clinic at the School of Medicine Family Medicine Patient Care Center, Las Vegas and Patient Care Center, Henderson

Fellows will also have the opportunity to learn and perform diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound and ultrasound-guided injections.

Sports and Event Coverage

  • 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ home men's and women's basketball games
  • 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ home football games and one away football game
  • 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ home men's and women's soccer games
  • Mountain West Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments
  • Western Athletic Conference (WAC) men's basketball tournament
  • Pacific-12 (PAC-12) Conference men's basketball tournament
  • Multiple opportunities to cover mass participation events, such as the Red Rock Marathon and local triathlons.

Grants and Special Projects

There are several grant-funded projects within the department, including the Nevada Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (RESEP), Nevada Test Site Medical Surveillance Program, Rural Medical Education Collaborative, and Nevada Family Medicine: Maternity Care Advancement Project.

Nevada RESEP

Nevada Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program offers medical outreach and education to those affected by nuclear weapons testing. Eligible individuals are offered no-cost medical screenings, educational materials, referral services, and assistance with filing claims under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.