ACEP Sports Medicine Section Spotlight: Sideline Skills, MSK Confidence, and a Clear Path to Get Involved

In this ACEP Early Career Physicians spotlight, Dr. Laurel Barr talks with Dr. John Kiel (Chair) about what the Sports Medicine Section offers emergency physicians who want to get better at musculoskeletal care, event coverage, and the growing overlap between ED practice and sports medicine. The conversation focuses on practical entry points, mentorship, and the real-world ways EM physicians can build a sports medicine lane without needing a perfect local setup. 

What the Section offers

Sports medicine in emergency medicine is more than “RICE and refer.” The section is a home for EM clinicians who want stronger MSK exam skills, better injury decision-making, and a clearer understanding of what sports medicine looks like as a career mix. The section provides a community that is heavily education-focused, with many members involved in residency and fellowship training. 

Why this matters for early-career physicians

Because many residency programs lack EM sports medicine faculty, early career physicians often have little exposure to the field and few people to guide them. The section lowers the barrier by offering mentorship, practical resources, and support for getting started, even outside sports focused institutions. 

Sideline and event coverage: how to start in the real world

The roadmap for getting into sideline coverage is intentionally practical. Physicians are encouraged to begin with existing athletics coverage at their own institution when possible. If that is not available, the next move is to create connections locally through athletic trainers, schools, teams, and community event organizers who already coordinate medical coverage. Rather than focusing on professional sports, the section emphasizes that valuable experience is often much easier to find at the high school, collegiate, and community level, where physicians can build skills, visibility, and long term relationships. 

Resources you can use now

The section offers a range of practical resources for learners and early career physicians interested in sports medicine. These include MSK exam videos, virtual mentorship opportunities, educational content on common clinical topics such as concussion and low back pain, and guidance for those considering an EM sports medicine fellowship.

Virtual mentorship: the easiest starting point

A standout resource is the section’s virtual mentorship program, which helps bridge the gap for learners who may not have EM sports medicine faculty where they train. The program draws on a large volunteer network of mentors and is built around a simple promise: learners who want support should be able to find it. If a match does not happen quickly, the advice is to follow up, since the issue is usually logistical rather than a lack of willing mentors.

Closing takeaways

Sports medicine is framed here as an accessible extension of emergency medicine, and the section helps bring that path into view through mentorship, shared learning, and practical guidance for getting started.

Visit the Sports Medicine Section