Sports, Shoulder & Elbow Fellowship

This ACGME-accredited program provides opportunities to develop unique skillsets in advanced orthopedic medicine, complex knee, shoulder, elbow, and hip surgery.  We expect our fellows to be motivated self-learners who actively participate in their own educational plan under close faculty mentorship supervision. Fellows will develop high-level proficiency in the operative and non-operative care of athletes of all ages and skill levels, with expertise in both basic sports medicine as well as sub-niche areas including multi-ligamentous knee reconstruction, cartilage restoration, open shoulder, primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty, and hip arthroscopy.

The OrthoCarolina Sports Medicine Fellowship program acknowledges OMeGA Medical Grants Association and the support of Zimmer Biomet for its generous Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship grant.

CURRENT FELLOWS: Class of 2025

Max R. Haffner MD

UC Davis Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Research

John D. Mueller, MD

Columbia University/New York Presbyterian
Research

Fletcher "Rich" Preuss, MD

UCLA Orthopaedic Surgery
Research

ALUMNI

Class of 2024

Edward "Grant" Carey, MD

Hospital for Special Surgery
Research

Chris Laprade, MD

Stanford University
Research

Haley Smith, MD

Northwestern University
Research

Class of 2023

Elise C. Bixby, MD

Columbia University/New York Presbyterian
Research

William M. Cregar, MD

Rush University Medical Center
Research

Joseph B. Kahan, MD

Yale University School of Medicine
Research

Clinical Faculty

• Dana Piasecki, MD - Program Director
• James Fleischli, MD
• Patrick Connor, MD
• Shadley C. Schiffern, MD
• Durham Weeks, MD
• Jonathan Riboh, MD

Research

Research is a priority of the fellowship, as we believe a high level of proficiency in research is critical for leadership in all practice environments.  We believe this is best achieved with a ‘quality over quantity’ approach. While the opportunity is there for far greater productivity, fellows are only asked to complete 2-3 high-quality projects that contribute significantly to the literature.  To achieve this, fellows have weekly protected research time and are supported by the OrthoCarolina Research Institute (OCRI). A close relationship with Atrium’s nationally ranked orthopedic residency also provides many opportunities for co-authored publications with motivated and highly capable residents.

Sample Case Log

2022-2023 FELLOW CASES OVERVIEW

2022-2023 FELLOW CASES DETAIL

Rotations

All rotations are based on a one-on-one mentorship model.  The heart of the training program involves an initial one-month rotation with each complex knee (Dr. James Fleischli & Dr. Dana Piasecki) and complex shoulder (Dr. Patrick Connor & Dr. Shadley Schiffern) faculty member, followed by a two-month repeat rotation with each.  An additional one-month hip rotation with Dr. Durham Weeks occurs in the second half of the year. 

Fellows are allowed one surgical case off-rotation each week with any sports center faculty, including Drs. Jonathan Riboh (Pediatrics Sports), and may increase their hip, complex knee, or shoulder experiences in the second half of the year to meet specific requirements their new practices may have (i.e. extra dedicated rotation with specific faculty members). Additional optional operative exposure to Dr. Nady Hamid (Complex Shoulder / Elbow) is possible for each fellow for one month.  

Autonomy

We recognize one of the most stressful professional transitions is the move from fellowship into surgical practice and believe this transition can be made substantially easier with graduated exposure to autonomous practice during the fellowship year.

For that reason, in addition to the normal, graduated autonomy provided by each faculty member, fellows are given additional exposure to autonomy outside their mentors, which can further develop their experience depending on their comfort level.

To this end, an independent practice experience is provided through coverage of the Myers Park Clinic (one fellow covers one-half day each week), a resident-run clinic with the opportunity to independently indicate and perform sports operations as an attending.  Fellowship faculty, just as your partners will be in practice, are available for backup and are happy to serve as assistants in particularly complex cases.  Recognizing that call is part of all practices, fellows may take advantage of optional paid Level 3 ER Calls to further their development towards comfortable autonomy.

Additionally, Fellows are given an autonomous Team Physician experience in taking care of their own high school throughout the year.

Criteria for Promotion & Graduation

Upon completion of this program, the fellow should be well-grounded in the evaluation and treatment of common sports-related injuries, the more unusual injuries requiring PCL and multi-ligamentous knee reconstructions, periarticular osteotomies of the knee, meniscal and cartilage transplantation, complex open shoulder, both primary and revision arthroplasty, and hip arthroscopy.

Additionally, through experience teaching residents, the fellow should be comfortable in the role of educator so they might be teachers for their patients in methods of prevention and management. Fellows should be proficient at both interpreting and conducting research, equipped to begin careers of leadership in their local communities and at a national level.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• High School Football Coverage
• Myers Park Clinic Coverage
• Research Presentation (at Fellow Graduation Day)
• UNC Charlotte Physicals
• Davidson College Physicals
• Research Requirement
  • Fellows are expected to complete 2 – 3 quality research studies during their one-year tenure, each of publishable quality. Fellows select one of their projects for formal presentation at an end-of-the-year OrthoCarolina academic conference.
• Mandatory Conference Attendance
  • 3^rd Monday Morning - Didactic Lectures
  • Thursday Morning – Weekly Grand Rounds/M&M (when sports topic)
  • Friday Morning – Weekly Sports Medicine Conferences: Research, Indications / M&M, Journal Club, Fellow’s Conference

Conference Schedule

Monday Morning

• Didactic Faculty Lectures / 1 – 2 times per month

Thursday Morning

• Weekly Grand Rounds (where applicable to Sports)

Friday

• Sports Medicine Conferences: Rotation of Research, Indications, Sports M&M, Journal Club, and Fellows Conference
• Cadaveric Labs: 1 – 2 Labs per month (covering all arthroscopic and open procedures throughout the year)

MEETINGS

• Fellow's choice of any 3 national meetings (ie: AAOS, AANA, ASES, AOSSM, etc.)

Team Coverage

Fellows will have significant - but balanced - exposure to team coverage at all levels including high school, college, semi-professional and professional teams defined by the attending they are rotating with. Each fellow will also act as Head Team Physician for a local high school throughout their fellowship year. The overall coverage experience is meant to provide fellows with a skillset to be highly effective team physicians - at any level of sport - without overwhelming time commitments that distract from the remainder of their education.  Practically, this amounts to an average of one high school or college game per week in the Fall. This formula has proven highly successful in our history, with fellowship graduates now acting as successful high school, college, and professional team physicians.

• Carolina Panthers
• Charlotte FC
• Charlotte Knights
• Joe Gibbs Racing
• Hendrick Motorsports
• Charlotte Roller Girls
• Queens University
• Davidson College
• Johnson C. Smith University
• Charlotte Hounds
• Charlotte Cobras
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg High Schools
• Charlotte Latin School
• Charlotte Country Day School
• Providence Day School

Charlotte, NC Highlights

FAQ Videos

• What is the pediatric experience like? 
• Can you receive private practice and academic experience? 
• How do you teach fellows?
• Can you describe the mentorship experience here? 
• What is the team coverage experience like? 
• Can you describe the fellowship's didactic program? 
• What is the Shoulder/Elbow experience like? 
• What is the complex knee experience like? 
• What is the hip experience like? 
• What are you looking for in a fellow? 

Applying to Our Program

To apply to our fellowship program you must register with the San Francisco Match program (SF Match).

No applications are accepted via email or outside of the match.

Qualifications:

• Graduate of a medical school accredited by the LCME

Annual Stipend: $68,000

Excellent Benefits:

• Health & Dental Insurance for Fellow and dependents
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Basic Life Insurance, equivalent to 2x annual salary
• Retirement Plan, eligible first of the quarter, following ninety (90) days of service
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Up to three weeks of PTO; which includes sick time and vacation days
• We are an ACGME Accredited Program for Sports 
• Provide coverage under OrthoCarolina’s professional liability plan, with tail coverage provided at the end of the fellowship.
• Paid Call