Becoming a team doctor requires a medical degree, specialization in sports medicine, and experience. It’s easier to start with local or high school teams, but credentials and reputation are important. Focus on orthopedics, sports medicine, and injury rehabilitation, and join professional organizations for networking opportunities.
The path to becoming a team doctor is not an easy one in most places: Candidates must earn a medical degree, specialize in sports medicine or sport-related injuries, and generally have years of honed experience. Of course, specific requirements vary by team, but it’s not always possible to become a team doctor straight out of medical school. Most teams recruit established doctors who will be able to lend their expertise and provide top-notch treatment to players.
Likewise, there are certain steps you can take to increase your chances of success in the field. Especially for professional sports teams, your credentials and pedigree will be very important. The better your medical school, the more likely your resume will stand out.
It is generally much easier to become a team doctor for a local or high school team than it is to become a team doctor for a professional sports organization. Many smaller organizations are open to hiring doctors who are passionate about sports injuries, even if they don’t have a lot of experience. If you are simply hoping to help athletes without the prestige of working for a nationally or internationally recognized team, look for local or smaller-scale opportunities. Working with small teams generally does not act as a stepping stone to working with larger teams, although it can in some circumstances.
Regardless of your aspirations, your medical training is important. Focus your medical school energy on orthopedics, sports medicine, and injury rehabilitation. When you become a staff doctor, you will be responsible for a number of patients’ illnesses. Many will be bone and muscle related, and that’s where orthopedics comes in. Comprehensive courses in sports medicine teach how to deal with a variety of other player ailments. There are no fixed requirements for the staff physician, but a diverse education is always considered an asset.
Surgery is often a solid foundation for a staff physician career. While it’s unlikely that you’ll be performing surgery after becoming a staff physician, having the detailed and accurate knowledge of a surgeon will help you in your career. Many of the world’s top team physicians have surgical backgrounds. This increases their prestige and helps them do their job.
Whatever your field of expertise, you will generally need to establish your professional reputation before you start looking for staff physician jobs. Physicians with successful sports medicine practices are often highly desirable for teams. In most cases, team doctors do much more than simply help players. They also add to the caliber of the team and often serve as a face for player health in press releases, reports and press conferences.
Physicians with a sports medicine background who hope to become team physicians often join professional organizations as a way to network with hiring managers and team representatives. Most medical boards and licensing bodies have societies or divisions for specific branches of medicine, including sports injuries and rehabilitation. These groups hold educational conferences and seminars, as well as networking opportunities for members. Joining a sports group is a great way to start connecting with the profession, especially when you’re starting out.
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