Sports Physician

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Work Tasks

SPORTS PHYSICIANS are responsible for the health and well being of athletes and treat athlete's injuries and illnesses. These physicians are generally practitioners in family practices or orthopedic surgeons. At the scholastic level, a sports physician is usually the school physician, as appointed by the school board. The college level team will usually have one or more full-time staff physicians. Many will have an orthopedic surgeon as well. Sports physicians treat the illnesses and medical problems that arise during the season, such as sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, and contusions. Sports physicians may develop programs to help educate athletes to prevent or reduce sports or exercise related injuries.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $171,500 average per year ($82.50 per hour)
• A medium occupation (97,800 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)

Entry Requirements

It takes many years of education and training to become a SPORTS PHYSICIAN. To obtain a medical degree requires 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency, depending on the specialty chosen. Premedical students must complete undergraduate work in physics, biology, mathematics, English, and inorganic and organic chemistry. All states require physicians to be licensed. Licensing requirements include graduation from an accredited medical school, passing a licensing examination, and from one to seven years of graduate medical education (internship and residency).