For Fellowship Applicants

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Match Program​

Along with other orthopaedic subspecialties, sports medicine participates in the single orthopaedic fellowship match, which is administered by SF Match. ​

The Match utilizes the Centralized Application Service (CAS) that allows applicants to complete one application that can be distributed to any participating program across all sub-specialties. Applications sent directly to fellowship programs will not be accepted. ​

Applicants wishing to participate in the Match must register directly with SF Match. All applicants must also abide by the AAOS Board of Specialties (BOS) Fellowship Committee Code of Conduct, Sports Medicine Match Agreement and SF Match Rules.

SF Match Timeline

The match opens in early August of each year, with Match Day the following April. Training begins on August 1 the following year.

Interviews​

AOSSM supports in-person interviews, with virtual interviews to be made available for extenuating circumstances such as health reasons, military commitment, etc. Interviews are scheduled based on regional windows.

• What pro­grams par­tic­i­pate in the Match?

  Only ACGME-accredited orthopaedic sports medicine programs are eligible to participate in the Match. See a list of programs here.

• How do I apply for the Match?

  All applicants must register with SF Match and apply through its Central Application Service (CAS). There is a $150 non-refundable application registration fee that covers registration and matching. All applicants must agree and abide by the SF Match rules and policies as well as the Code of Conduct.

• What is the advan­tage of train­ing at an ACGME-accred­it­ed fel­low­ship program?

  Accreditation of a fellowship program assures fellows receive a level of training to be competent for performance of the subspecialty upon completion. Furthermore, upon completion of an ACGME-accredited fellowship program, fellows are eligible to sit for the Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine issued by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

• What is the inter­view method for sports med­i­cine fellowships?

  AOSSM and its Fellowship Committee strongly support in-person interviews. Feedback from programs and applicants from past match cycles indicates this is the preferred interview method. There are some institutions that have mandated interviews be virtual. Additionally, virtual interviews can be offered for candidates with extenuating circumstances such as health reasons or military commitment.

• What if I match, but decide to seek a posi­tion offered else­where? Can I drop my match?

  No. Certification of your rank list indicates that you agree to withdraw from all competing matches. Do not commit to a year of training outside of the fellowship to which you were matched without withdrawing from the match. If an applicant accepts a position outside of the match during the interview process, you must notify SF Match and the programs to which you have applied of your intent to withdraw. ​
  

  The Fellowship Match is considered a binding agreement, and matched applicants are expected to honor their obligation to the matched fellowship program. Once you accept a position and a contract has been signed, you have made a binding commitment with the institution, pending satisfactory completion of the prerequisite training. Note that there may be consequences for failure to abide by the contract terms.

• Can I end up being matched to a pro­gram I do not real­ly like?

  Yes. If you rank a program that you do not really like, it is possible you will be matched at the program. For that reason, if you do not like a program, you should not rank it.

• Should I con­tact pro­grams after my interview?

  No. The Code of Conduct is very clear regarding communication after interviews. Do not ask program directors or faculty how you will be ranked. Thank you notes are discouraged. Applicant questions regarding logistics should be directed to the program coordinator. These rules are in place to preserve the integrity of the blind match.

• Who can I con­tact if I have ques­tions about the Match?

  Please contact Ashley Meyer, Manager of Resident and Fellow Education, at ashley@aossm.org with any questions.

• How do I report a poten­tial vio­la­tion of the SF Match Rules or Sports Med­i­cine Match Code of Conduct?

  Individuals can report suspected match violations by logging in to their AOSSM account here. Submissions will be jointly reviewed by AOSSM and SF Match.