UC Davis Sports Medicine Internship: A Comprehensive Guide
The University of California, Davis, offers several sports medicine internship programs designed to provide aspiring healthcare professionals with hands-on experience and valuable skills in the field. These internships cater to different levels of experience and interests, ranging from undergraduate students to veterinary medicine graduates. This article provides a detailed overview of the various sports medicine internship opportunities at UC Davis, including their requirements, responsibilities, and application processes.
Undergraduate Sports Medicine Internship
This internship is tailored for undergraduate students seeking practical experience in sports medicine. It provides a unique opportunity to work alongside medical professionals and gain clinical and didactic skills.
Program Overview
- Commitment: Interns are expected to dedicate up to 15 hours per week to the program, with a commitment of 1-2 years.
- Learning Opportunities: The internship focuses on developing clinical and didactic skills essential in sports medicine. Interns gain exposure to surgical observations, work with physicians, and have priority access to in-patient and out-patient physical therapy internships. They also have opportunities for direct patient contact.
- Hands-on Experience: Student interns collaborate with intercollegiate athletic teams on campus, providing medical coverage during practices and events, as well as assisting in the rehabilitation clinic.
- Skills Development: In clinical and on-field settings, interns develop skills in taping, bracing, soft tissue manipulation, equipment fitting, first-aid, emergency care, and injury rehabilitation, with the goal of facilitating athletes' return to play.
- Program Size: The program accommodates approximately 35 students each year.
- Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is intrinsically motivated, demonstrates a mature demeanor and professional appearance, and possesses a strong work ethic.
- Objective: The primary goal is to expand the intern's knowledge base, develop practical skills applicable to various allied health professions, and foster a deeper understanding of sports medicine.
Responsibilities
Undergraduate interns work alongside certified athletic trainers (ATs) in both the rehabilitation clinic and as first responders. ATs are healthcare professionals who work with physicians to care for physically active individuals. The UC Davis staff ATs are responsible for the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries sustained by all of the Aggie intercollegiate student-athletes.
Application Process
The application process occurs during the fall and winter quarters.
- Application Submission: The application is due at the end of the fall quarter. The application form can be found at: SMSIP Application Form.
- Observation Hours: Applicants must complete 15 hours of observation during the winter quarter in the UC Davis athletic training facilities under the supervision of the AT staff. This provides an opportunity to observe day-to-day operations, ask questions, and interact with staff and current interns.
- Confidentiality Agreement: Applicants must read and sign a confidentiality agreement before commencing observation hours.
- Letter of Recommendation: Submit one letter of recommendation from a supervisor or former employer.
- Mandatory Meeting: If all application materials are received by the deadline, applicants will be invited to attend a mandatory meeting during the first week of winter quarter.
- Interview: Following the review of applications and observation hours, selected candidates will be contacted individually to schedule an interview.
Orientation and Training
Accepted students participate in an orientation class during the spring quarter, which introduces them to the program and their duties. This course covers various therapy and first aid techniques, with opportunities to practice these skills during clinical hours. During the summer Session II and the following academic year, interns work side-by-side with certified athletic trainers in both the rehabilitation clinic and in a first responder role to learn and implement skills.
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Equine Integrative Sports Medicine Internship
The William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis offers a one-year internship program in equine integrative sports medicine for individuals who have completed a DVM or equivalent degree.
Program Overview
- Duration: The program is 12 months long, starting on August 1st.
- Eligibility: Candidates must have graduated from an accredited school of veterinary medicine.
- Goal: The program aims to provide advanced clinical training in equine integrative sports medicine, serving as ideal preparation for a residency in equine sports medicine or a career in equine practice with a focus on sports medicine.
- Integrative Approach: The program blends traditional Western medicine with complementary modalities such as acupuncture and chiropractic to treat the whole horse, rather than focusing on specific regions or structures.
- Clinical Service: The Equine Integrative Sports Medicine Service, led by Dr. Sarah le Jeune, sees cases both in-house and in the field and offers rehabilitation services.
Clinical and Teaching Responsibilities
- Supervision: The intern works under the direct supervision of Dr. Sarah le Jeune.
- Patient Evaluation: The intern will be exposed to the diagnosis and treatment of various musculoskeletal and performance-limiting diseases and injuries in equine patients from different athletic disciplines.
- Advanced Techniques: UC Davis provides a competitive environment for this internship with the ability to perform advanced imaging (CT, PET CT, MRI, nuclear scintigraphy) and surgical services. In addition to traditional medical modalities, the intern will learn integrative techniques such as acupuncture and chiropractic.
- Assistance and Mentoring: The intern will assist Dr. le Jeune with performance/lameness examinations, acupuncture, chiropractic, saddle fit evaluations, shockwave, and laser therapy to in- and outpatients as needed. The intern will also be involved in rehabilitation protocols of hospitalized equine patients. The intern will work with and individually mentor senior veterinary students and trained technicians, providing clinical teaching and evaluation.
- Emergency Duties: Emergency and overnight requirements include weekend and night duties as part of the Equine Emergency Surgery Service and Equine Field Service. The intern will also be expected to assist the Equine Surgery Service with the work-up of inpatient lameness cases and Equine Field Service with clinical duties when responsibilities to the Equine Integrative Sports Medicine Service have been fulfilled.
- Rotations: Arrangements can be made to rotate through specialty services of interest on a case-by-case basis for a total of 3 weeks per year.
- Meetings: The intern will be expected to attend and participate in the Equine Integrative Sports medicine journal club and rounds, the Equine Surgery journal club, Equine Surgery resident rounds, and Large Animal Grand rounds weekly.
- Research: There will also be opportunities to assist in research activities and to attend the equine sports medicine annual meeting.
Qualifications and Application
Academic Achievement: Selection is based on academic achievement, letters of recommendation, career objectives, experience in the horse industry, clinical skills, interpersonal skills, personal narrative, and pertinent experience.
Licensing: A valid California driver’s license is required and is subject to the California DMV pull program.
Veterinary License: The California Veterinary Medical Board requires all veterinarians working at the University of California, Davis with primary patient care duties to hold a full California license or a University veterinary license.
Visa Requirements: Candidates should be US citizens, US permanent residents, or foreign nationals eligible for a J1 scholar visa (and at the time of application not be subject to holds, bars or in-country rules) or Canadian/ Mexican citizens eligible for a TN visa. Candidates will be expected to pay for their visa fees.
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Application Materials:
- Curriculum vitae
- Letter of Intent
- Three letters of recommendation
- Veterinary Academic Transcript(s)
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Salary and Benefits
The salary for the internship is $50,183 plus benefits. The intern is eligible for 24 days of vacation annually.
Sports Performance and Wellness Internship
The UC Davis Sports Performance and Wellness program, housed within UC Davis Sports Medicine in Sacramento, offers an internship designed to immerse students in every aspect of the program.
Program Overview
- Location: The program is located in a 10,000-square-foot facility in midtown Sacramento, California.
- Staff: The UC Davis Sports Medicine staff includes nationally renowned orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, exercise physiologists, biomechanists, and sports dieticians.
- Focus: The program focuses on injury treatment and prevention, sports performance improvement, and training program development.
- Assessments: The Sports Performance and Wellness program offers a variety of assessments to help people more effectively measure and optimize different aspects of their health and fitness.
- Ideal Candidate: The program seeks enthusiastic, eager-to-learn students willing to take initiative and become immersed in all aspects of the program.
- Eligibility: The program is primarily open to undergraduate and graduate students in exercise physiology, biomechanics, or related fields.
- Compensation: At this time, there is no stipend offered. However, academic credit and transcript notation can be arranged through the UC Davis Internship and Career Center.
Application Process
- Letter of Intent: A letter of intent should introduce the applicant to the hiring committee, explain their interest in the internship, and describe how it fits into their academic or career goals.
- Observation Hours: Applicants are required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of observation in the athletic training facilities.
- Observation Hours Reflection Essay: Share with the selection committee what you learned about the internship program through your hours of observation. Include any comments, thoughts, or insights you may have gained through your experience. After seeing the day to day activity in the athletic training room explain why you would be a successful addition to the student athletic training intern group.
- Confidentiality Statement: A signed confidentiality statement is required before observation hours can begin.
- Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation from former supervisors or employers highlighting your character, work ethic, ability to cooperate with others, and your strengths and weaknesses.
General Requirements and Expectations
Regardless of the specific internship program, several general requirements and expectations apply to all UC Davis sports medicine internships:
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- Professionalism: Interns are expected to maintain a mature demeanor, professional appearance, and strong work ethic.
- Flexibility: The nature of these positions often requires a flexible schedule, including the ability to work nights and weekends.
- Commitment to Learning: A willingness to learn and take initiative is crucial for success in these internships.
- Collaboration: Interns must be able to cooperate effectively with others, including staff, students, and other healthcare professionals.
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