This program is based out of the University of Illinois – College of Medicine in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. The Program Director is a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The fellow rotates with three sports medicine physiatrists, (Dr. Ankur Verma, Dr .Sara Dykowski, Dr. Jon Kurjan) one sports medicine orthopedist (Dr. Mark Hutchinson- UIC Head Team Physician and Team USA Olympic team physician).

Highlights of this fellow-focused program include:

• Hands-on NCAA Division 1,
• Missouri Valley Conference,
• Sports coverage and athletic training room clinics at UIC,
• Chicago Marathon coverage, and professional volleyball coverage.
• Additionally, we have a close relationship with the Sports Physical Therapy Residency at UIC.

Our main clinic is housed in the UIC Flames Athletic Center, the home of UIC Athletics and the main practice facility for our athletic teams, facilitating easy communication between athletes, athletic trainers, and physicians.

This program is academically supported by the Department of Family Medicine and funded by the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

Significant skills training include: dedicated time for diagnostic radiology and ultrasound, including ultrasound guided injections and prolotherapy/PRP, other advanced procedures, casting & splinting, and suturing.

Our fellow spends one day a week with the Advocate Group.  High school football medical game coverage and athletic training room coverage is included through this program.

The fellowship includes funding and support toward presentation at major conferences. Publication is mentored and encouraged.

Didactics highlights include combined monthly Sports Medicine/Sports Physical Therapy journal club (involving sports physicians, sports physical therapists, fellow, sports physical therapy resident, and athletic trainers), weekly sports medicine didactics (including journal club or boards-focused lectures), and lectures given to physical medicine and rehabilitation, family medicine, orthopedic, and pediatric residents.

Ideal fellows are team-players, driven, exhibit a growth mindset, and have ambitious aspirations.

We participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

Acceptance Timeline

Application review begins mid-August and is usually completed by the end of August.

Contact Dr. Ankur Verma (averma28@uic.edu) or Pat Donovan (pdonoc1@uic.edu)

Dr. Ankur Verma

Dr. Ankur Verma is the proud program director for the UIC Sports Medicine Fellowship, a fellow-focused fellowship program that strives to bring out the best in its trainees. He grew up in the Detroit area and still considers himself a Michigander.

Dr. Mark Hutchinson

Dr. Mark R. Hutchinson practices in the Department of Orthopedics at UI Health. Dr. Hutchinson is the director of Sports Medicine, and he serves as the head team physician for UIC Flames Athletics. He has nearly three decades of involvement with Team USA Athletics, and he was part of the official medical staff for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

• Education
  • Board Certification: Orthopedic Surgery with added certificate in Sports Medicine
  • Fellowship: Kentucy Sports Medicine
  • Residency: Michigan State University
  • Internship: Michigan State University
  • Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
• Interests
  • Orthopedic Sports Medicine
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Ligament, meniscus and cartilage injury of the knee; shoulder pain and instability; elbow pain and instability; ankle pain and instability; leg pain and exertional compartment syndrome; athletic and sports related injuries, work-related injuries, as well as overuse and traumatic injuries of the musculoskeletal system

Dr. Sara Dykowski

Dr. Sara Dykowski grew up in the Metro Detroit Area. For undergraduate, she attended Michigan State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Physiology and minor in Spanish. She then earned her medical degree from the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. During medical school, she was inducted into the Gold Humanism and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Societies. She then completed residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI where she served as chief resident.

She is an active member of the American Medical College of Sports Medicine Emerging Physician Leaders Program and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. As a former softball and volleyball athlete, Dr. Dykowski is passionate about helping patients get back to the activities they love by improving quality of life and optimizing function. Her primary clinical interests include pediatric and adult sports medicine, diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, women’s rehabilitation, exercise oncology, adaptive sports, and medical education.

Dr. Jon Kurjan

My name is Jon Kurjan and I grew up in metro-Detroit. I attended Michigan State University for my undergraduate and medical school education and am a big Spartan fan. I did my residency training at Schwab Rehab Hospital down the road from UIC. I am now completing my Sports Medicine training with OhioHealth in Columbus OH where I’ve gotten to cover my own D3 college and the Columbus Blue Jackets. I am beyond excited to return to Chicago! In my free time, I enjoy running, skiing, trying new restaurants, and board/video games.

Dr. Terry Nicola