Educational & Clinical Experience - Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program

Every Friday afternoon, fellows participate in collaborative virtual didactics alongside the sports medicine fellowship programs at LSU Lafayette, LSU Baton Rouge, and Coastal Carolina. This collaborative curriculum offers exposure to a broad range of sports medicine topics, with expert instruction from specialists in cardiology, neurology, radiology, nutrition, and other relevant disciplines.

The academic year begins with an eight-week sports medicine boot camp covering the major joints, including relevant anatomy, physical examination techniques, and commonly tested pathologies. As the year progresses, fellows transition to weekly sports medicine topics and board review sessions designed to reinforce core knowledge and prepare them for the Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) examination in Sports Medicine.

Fellows participate in dedicated weekly ultrasound training with Dr. Carnahan, beginning with focused scanning tutorials and continuing with individualized, hands-on instruction from faculty. This structured approach helps fellows develop the technical skills and clinical judgment needed to incorporate musculoskeletal ultrasound into everyday practice.

Recognizing that ultrasound proficiency requires consistent practice, fellows are encouraged to continue scanning beyond scheduled clinic and didactic hours and submitting slide decks for faculty to review. Ultrasound machines and portable Vscan devices are available for independent practice, allowing fellows to build confidence and refine their skills throughout the year.

Our fellowship emphasizes both the volume and diversity of procedural experience, with faculty members sharing their individual areas of expertise to provide fellows with a broad foundation in nonoperative sports medicine procedures. Through supervised instruction and hands-on experience, fellows develop skills in a variety of techniques, including:

• Ultrasound-guided injections for the evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions
• Injectates and regenerative therapies, including corticosteroids (CSI), hyaluronic acid (HA), prolotherapy, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
• Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection techniques for selected nerve entrapment and soft tissue conditions
• Minimally invasive percutaneous procedures, including Tenex and TenJet

By the completion of fellowship, fellows will have gained experience with a diverse range of procedural techniques to support evidence-based, nonoperative care of athletes and patients with musculoskeletal conditions.

Fellows are expected to prepare and submit at least one case report for presentation at the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) Annual Meeting. Fellows interested in pursuing additional research have opportunities to develop their own projects or collaborate on ongoing faculty-led research initiatives. A dedicated research team is available to provide mentorship and guidance throughout the research process.