Sports Medicine Fellowship

In 1998, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Boston University Medical Center established a graduate resident education program in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine under the direction of Dr. Robert E. Leach.   Dr. Leach was the original chief editor of the American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM) and also Past President of the AOSSM.  The Sports Medicine Fellowship received full accreditation by the ACGME Residency Review Committee in January 2002. This sports medicine fellowship position is affiliated with the ACGME accredited residency program in Orthopaedic Surgery at Boston Medical Center.  Fellowship activities stem from and occur in close connection with the accredited Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Training program.

The Boston University Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, Dr. Xinning (Tiger) Li, a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, who is a nationally recognized expert in both sports medicine and complex shoulder surgery (www.tigerortho.com).  Dr. Li completed two top-ranked academic fellowships in sports medicine and complex shoulder surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery and the Harvard Shoulder Service, respectively.  Dr. Li is responsible for directing the BU Sports Medicine Fellow’s educational, clinical and surgical responsibilities.  Dr. Robert Nicoletta, a former graduate of the Boston University Sports Medicine Fellowship and an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Boston University is also on faculty for the sports medicine fellowship.  Additionally, Dr. Michael Kain, an expert in hip pathology and arthroscopy, is also part of the BU sports medicine fellowship faculty.  The fellow will also rotate with Dr. Thomas Wuerz at the New England Baptist hospital for a complete hip pathology and arthroscopy experience and Lahey Hospital and Medical Center for an elbow experience with Drs. Mark Lemos and Eric Tolo.

The goals and responsibilities of this fellowship include a sophisticated subspecialty sports medicine and shoulder surgical experience at Boston Medical Center and the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.  Additional hip arthroscopy experience will be at the New England Baptist hospital and elbow exposure at Lahey Hospital.  Due to the fellow’s rigorous clinical, research, and teaching responsibilities, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will only consider applicants who have successfully completed and graduated from ACGME-accredited programs in orthopaedic surgery.

The fellow’s supervised surgical experiences include all aspects of sports medicine and shoulder-related surgery including arthroscopic surgery, ligament reconstruction (ACL, PCL, Multi-ligamentous injuries), shoulder arthroplasty (primary and revision), complex shoulder reconstruction for instability, muscle transfers, cartilage restoration, and surgical procedures particular to athletes including overuse syndromes.  Furthermore, extensive hip arthroscopy experience at the New England Baptist hospital will be a major component of the fellowship.  The fellow will obtain outpatient sports medicine clinical experience under attending supervision for evaluation of acute and chronic athletic injuries at the Boston University Intercollegiate Athletic Sports Medicine Clinic on a weekly basis. In addition, the fellow is involved with on-the-field supervised coverage of athletic events including, but not limited to hockey, lacrosse, field hockey, soccer, and basketball.

The fellow devotes at least one-half day per week to clinical and basic science research including combined projects with the Sports Medicine Department at Boston Medical Center.   The fellow is required to complete at least one, but preferably two original research projects with the goal of publication in a major, peer-reviewed journal.

Additionally, the sports medicine fellow participates actively in our didactic teaching program for the BU Orthopaedic residents in training. The department has developed an extensive sports medicine teaching syllabus that is an integral part of our educational program.  Accordingly, the fellow is responsible for preparing didactic lectures and presentations at our weekly orthopaedic grand rounds in addition to presenting a comprehensive anatomy-teaching syllabus that includes dissection of cadavers. The fellow also participates actively in the department’s nationally acclaimed annual sports medicine conference that includes bioskills teaching. The sports medicine fellow has access to a bioskills teaching laboratory and is exposed to protocols and clinical pathways in the hospital. The educational exposure includes at least three conferences, including participation and attendance at the AAOSM, AANA, and AAOS Annual Conference and at least two bioskills-centered courses.  The Fellow will also have opportunity to attend industry-sponsored courses in both sports medicine and shoulder arthroplasty throughout the year.

For further information or directions for completing a successful application, please contact the Graduate Medical Education Coordinator at email lynnette.stlouis@bmc.org.