Program Overview
The Penn Highlands Healthcare Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship offers a premier, hands-on training experience designed to prepare physicians to excel as leaders in both community and academic sports medicine. Our program combines exceptional event coverage, cutting-edge procedural training, advanced ultrasound education and innovative research under the mentorship of national leaders in operative and non-operative sports medicine.
Event Coverage Experience
Fellows participate in extensive collegiate and high school athletic event coverage, working directly with teams across multiple sports. From sidelines to training rooms, fellows gain firsthand experience managing acute injuries, concussion protocols, return-to-play decisions and athlete wellness. This immersive exposure ensures confidence in real-world sports and musculoskeletal medicine settings.
Research and Scholarly Activity
Research is a core pillar of the fellowship. Fellows are encouraged and supported to design, conduct and publish impactful studies in collaboration with our experienced faculty.
Current research focus areas include:
- Tenotomy procedures
- Neuromodulation technologies and techniques
- ACL reconstruction outcomes
- Osteoarthritis management and regenerative therapies
Fellows are mentored in all aspects of scholarly work — from study design to presentation — and regularly present at regional and national conferences, contributing to the advancement of sports medicine research.
Excellence in Ultrasound Diagnostics and Intervention
Ultrasound is a cornerstone of the Penn Highlands Healthcare fellowship. Fellows develop expert-level proficiency in musculoskeletal ultrasound for both diagnostic evaluation and image-guided intervention. Training emphasizes:
- Comprehensive MSK ultrasound scanning protocols for joints, tendons, ligaments and peripheral nerves
- Ultrasound-guided injection techniques for precision and safety
- Dynamic assessments for sports-related and overuse injuries •
- Integration of ultrasound into clinical decision-making and procedural planning
Graduates complete the fellowship with advanced competence in diagnostic imaging and procedural ultrasound, positioning them among the most technically skilled physicians in the field.
Advanced Procedural Training
The procedural experience at Penn Highlands Healthcare is among the strongest in the nation. Fellows train in a full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using state-of-the-art equipment and ultrasound guidance. Core procedural competencies include:
- Neuromodulation — temporary and permanent peripheral nerve stimulation and nerve cryoablation
- Minimally invasive soft tissue procedures, including:
- Carpal tunnel release o Trigger finger release
- First dorsal extensor compartment release
- Tenotomy procedures using TenJet and Tenex systems
Through this comprehensive procedural exposure, fellows develop the technical proficiency and clinical judgment to expand access to minimally invasive treatments in their future practices.
Faculty and Mentorship
Fellows learn directly from nationally recognized experts in both operative and non-operative sports medicine. Our multidisciplinary faculty includes orthopedic surgeons, primary care sports medicine physicians and rehabilitation specialists who are passionate educators committed to advancing the field and mentoring the next generation of sports medicine leaders.
Program Mission
The mission of the Penn Highlands Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship is to cultivate skilled, compassionate and innovative sports medicine physicians. Graduates are equipped to provide exceptional care to athletes and active individuals, advance research in musculoskeletal and procedural medicine and serve as leaders in clinical, academic, and community settings.