Sports Medicine Fellowship
About the Program
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Duration
1 year
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ACGME Accredited
Yes
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Accepts
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, ER, Pediatrics, Med/Peds
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Program Director
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Associate Program Director
Terry Nicola, MD
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Program Coordinator
Pat Donovan
pdonoc1@uic.edu
Fellowship Overview
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.
UIC Sports Medicine Fellowship Video
Application Instructions
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.
Questions about the Program?
Contact Dr. Ankur Verma (averma28@uic.edu) or Pat Donovan (pdonoc1@uic.edu)
UIC Sports Medicine Center Flames Athletic Center
Current Fellow
aLUMNI
Alumni
- Shrina Parekh, Sports Medicine Fellow (2024-2025)
- Joey Brutzkus, Sports Medicine Fellow (2023-2024)
- Phillip Yun, Sports Medicine Fellow (2022-2023)
- Ryan Robin, Sports Medicine Fellow (2021-2022)
- Dr Andrea Cyr, Sports Medicine Fellow (2020-2021)
Our Faculty
Dr. Ankur Verma
Dr. Ankur Verma
Fellowship Program Director
Specialty: PM&R – Sports Medicine
- Undergrad: University of Missouri – Kansas City
- Medical School: Michigan State University
- Residency: University of Chicago/Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital
- Sports Medicine Fellowship: LSU Athletics/Baton Rouge General
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. When he is not working, Dr. Verma enjoys learning about sports analytics, playing tennis, and watching all sports. He is also a two-time Golden Apple Teacher award winner.
Dr. Terry Nicola
Dr. Terry Nicola
Dr. Mark Hutchinson Director of Sports Medicine
Dr. Mark Hutchinson
Director of Sports Medicine
Dr. Mark R. Hutchinson practices in the Department of Orthopedics at UI Health and is distinguished professor of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in UIC College of Medicine. 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 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, 2008 Paralympic Games in Turin, 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, and the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
- Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
- Internship: Michigan State University
- Residency: Michigan State University
- Fellowship: Kentucky Sports Medicine
- Board Certification: Orthopedic Surgery with added certificate in Sports 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. Jon Kurjan
Dr. Jon Kurjan
Specialty: Sports Medicine/Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Undergrad: Michigan State university
- Medical School: Michigan State university College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Residency: University of Chicago/Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital
- Fellowship: OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital Primary Care Sports Medicine
Dr. Kurjan is a member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and American Academy for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. He has a special interest in ultrasound guided procedures, regenerative medicine, and rehabilitation from injuries. He also has sideline experience in professional sports, having previously covered the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
Interests:
Soccer, Cross Country, Track and Field. Outside of clinical work, Dr. Kurjan is an avid runner participating in and volunteering for the Chicago Marathon amongst other races, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Dr. Sara Dykowski
Dr. Sara Dykowski
Specialty: PM&R – Sports Medicine
- Undergrad: Michigan State University
- Medical School: Oakland University
- Residency: University of Michigan
- Sports Medicine Fellowship: Stanford University
Interests:
Injury prevention and management, sports performance, female athlete care.
Dr. Sara Dykowski practices in the Department of Orthopaedics at UI Health. Dr. Dykowski’s sports medicine practice includes non-surgical management of a wide range of sport and musculoskeletal injuries. Prior to UIC, Dr. Dykowski provided team coverage for Stanford University’s Men’s Football, Women’s Volleyball, Women’s Softball, Women’s Beach Volleyball, Women’s Lacrosse, as well as Men and Women’s XC, Track & Field, and Swimming & Diving teams, in addition to Division 2 Menlo College, and local high schools. She is an active member of the American Medical College of Sports Medicine Emerging Physician Leaders Program and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.
Yazdan Raji
Dr. Yazdan Raji
Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine
- Undergrad – Georgia Tech
- Medical School – Medical College of Georgia
- Residency – Case Western Reserve University / University Hospitals Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
- Fellowship – Stanford University Orthopaedic Sports Medicine & Shoulder Surgery Fellowship
Interest in Collegiate Sports Medicine:
Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball
Dr. Yazdan Raji is an orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon in the Department of Orthopaedics at UI Health. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech and earned his Medical Degree from the Medical College of Georgia. His postgraduate training includes an orthopaedic surgery residency at University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University and a visiting rotation in shoulder surgery at Foundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma in Madrid, Spain. He completed his fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine and shoulder surgery at Stanford University. Dr. Raji has extensive experience as a team physician, having worked with the Oakland Athletics, San Jose Earthquakes, and Stanford University Football and Men’s Basketball teams prior to joining UIC.