Employers
Most sports physicians are in private practice, so they work for themselves or with other medical doctors. Some sports physicians, however, may work for sports clinics, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and college/university teaching hospitals. Still other sports physicians travel with professional baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer teams to attend to those specific athletes. Sports physicians are employed all over the country.
Starting Out
Many sports physicians begin by joining an existing practice and volunteering with a local sports organization. After several years they may apply to the school board for consideration as a team physician for their local school district. Later, they may apply for a position with a college team until they ultimately seek a position with a national or international professional athletics team or organization. This gradual climb occurs while the individual also pursues a successful private practice and builds a strong, solid reputation. Often, the sports physician's established reputation in an area of specialty draws the attention of coaches and management looking to hire a physician for their team.
Others take a more aggressive and ambitious route and immediately begin applying for positions with various professional sports teams as an assistant team physician. As in other professions, contacts can be extremely useful, as are previous experiences in the field. For example, a summer internship during high school or college with a professional hockey team might lead to a job possibility with that hockey team years later. Employment opportunities depend on the job candidate's skill and ambitions.
- Addiction Therapists
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Aerobics Instructors and Fitness Trainers
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Athletic Directors
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Bicycle Mechanics
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
- Community Health Nurses
- Community Health Workers
- Contact Tracers
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dental Therapists
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Telehealth
- Dispensing Opticians
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Epidemiologists
- Ergonomists
- E-Sports Professionals
- Exercise Physiologists
- Fitness Directors
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grief Therapists
- Health Advocates
- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Health Educators
- Health Informaticists
- Hematologists
- Histologic Technicians
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Jockeys
- Kinesiologists
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Lifeguards and Swimming Instructors
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Screeners
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Music Therapists
- Naturopaths
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Personal Trainers
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Education Teachers
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Professional Athletes, Individual Sports
- Professional Athletes, Team Sports
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Recreation Workers
- Recreational Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- School Nurses
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Ski Resort Workers
- Social Workers
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Agents
- Sports Broadcasters and Announcers
- Sports Equipment Managers
- Sports Executives
- Sports Facility Managers
- Sports Instructors and Coaches
- Sports Photographers
- Sports Psychologists
- Sports Publicists
- Sports Scouts
- Sports Trainers
- Sportswriters
- Stadium Ushers and Vendors
- Strength and Conditioning Coaches
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Umpires and Referees
- Urologists
- Yoga and Pilates Instructors