Pediatric Sports Medicine Fellowship

In conjunction with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s McGaw Medical Center, we offer a one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine. In addition to excellent clinical training in sports medicine, our program's curriculum includes research, advocacy and community outreach activities. Our sports medicine fellow assists with providing medical coverage at a variety of sporting events at the high school and college level, as well as mass-participation events such as the Chicago Marathon.

Our Sports Medicine fellow works with sports medicine department at Northwestern University to provide care to Division 1 athletes.

The fellow spends two full days per week in Lurie Children’s sports medicine clinics, one half-day per week in continuity clinic, one half-day per week in fracture clinic, and has one half-day of protected academic/administrative time. The fellow also spends one day each week caring for athletes at Northwestern University’s Ryan Field House. Northwestern is a member of the Big 10 and offers 19 division 1 sports. There is also opportunity for sideline coverage on evenings and weekends.  

Didactic Programs

Fellowship trainees and faculty meet at Lurie Children’s for one half-day each month for journal club and didactic sessions. Additionally, sideline workshops and didactics are offered at Northwestern University, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The AbilityLab hosts a series of musculoskeletal ultrasound workshops that culminate in a weekend-long seminar.

Clinical Experiences

  • Primary care sports medicine
  • Surgical sports medicine
  • College athletics
  • Research
  • Musculoskeletal radiology
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation sports medicine
  • Fracture clinic with casting and splinting
  • Physical and occupational therapy, orthotics
  • Neuropsychology
  • Nutrition
  • Rheumatology
  • Bone health
  • Additional electives are available

All fellows carry out an original research project. A research rotation early in the fellowship provides the fellow with dedicated time to develop a research protocol. Faculty and certified research professionals provide mentorship and research support. Fellows present their results at Northwestern’s Research Scholars Day and are encouraged to submit research for presentation at national conferences.

Rebecca L. Carl, MD
Fellowship Director
Sports Medicine Attending

Cynthia LaBella, MD
Assistant Fellowship Director
Sports Medicine Attending
Medical Director, Institute for Sports Medicine

Craig J. Finlayson, MD
Attending Surgeon

Michelle Sagan, MD
Attending Surgeon

Please visit the McGaw Medical Center website for complete information on fellow stipend and benefits.

Applicants must have completed a residency in pediatrics, family medicine, med/peds, physical medicine and rehabilitation, internal medicine or emergency medicine. Because our hospital’s mission is to care for children and adolescents, we will give priority to candidates with a background in pediatrics. Applicants must be board certified or board- eligible and be eligible for a medical license in the state of Illinois.

We only accept the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) Application.

Application deadline is October 1 of year prior to start date.

Interviews are held in the autumn of each year.

Barbara Crenshaw, Program Coordinator
bcrenshaw@luriechildrens.org 
312.227.6626