Western North Carolina is currently in a state of emergency following Hurricane Helene, but we want to assure that our program is moving forward with its upcoming recruitment season. Please see our application process page for more details.
Welcome to Our Program!
We are so excited you are interested in our program and joining our sports medicine family. Here at the MAHEC Sports Medicine Fellowship in Asheville, we pride ourselves on mentorship, scholarly opportunity, teaching, feedback, and work-life balance - all at an unbelievable location within an active outdoor community. Our vision is to be a leader in primary care sports medicine training and musculoskeletal care at a local and national level by training agents of change. This will be an outstanding year, and I invite you to be part of the sports medicine revolution.
After completing this fellowship, you will move forward with skills in:
Lifestyle medicine
Ultrasound
Research
Teaching
Faculty development
Quality improvement and practice transformation
Female athlete care
Equitable delivery of healthcare
Mass event participation coverage
Treadmill Gait analysis
Orthotics
Running Medicine
Team physician
Our Team
Jessica Knapp, DO, CAQSM Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Director, Core Faculty
Brian Atkinson, MD, CAQSM Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship
Assistant Program Director, Core Faculty
We train community-oriented Sports Medicine Physicians teachers by promoting sustainable and fulfilling careers as leaders of inclusive and innovative multi-disciplinary teams. We do this in order to address the evolving needs of Western North Carolina as well as improve quality and access to sports medicine care for everyone.
Our Vision
Our vision is to be a leader in primary care sports medicine training and musculoskeletal care at a local and national level by training agents of change.
Values Statement
Excellence: We deliver quality activities and services that our customers and partners value.
Diversity: We promote equity and inclusivity.
Integrity: We act with fairness, transparency, and the highest level of ethics.
Collaboration: We value partnerships and support interprofessional approaches.
Improvement: We continuously innovate and improve our work.
Foundational Principles
Civility: We treat all people with respect and kindness, all the time.
Inclusivity: We value the contribution of people different than ourselves and the merits of an
organization that reflects differences in our teams and our community.
Empowerment: We value engagement, commitment, and ownership of MAHEC’s mission, work, and
budget.
Our Commitment
MAHEC is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive place to work, learn, and receive care. We actively recruit physicians, staff, and students from underrepresented minorities, and we strive to implement policies and procedures that value and support diverse backgrounds and experiences. MAHEC does not discriminate on the basis of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, spiritual practice, geography, disability, or age.
Our Benefits
Our program offers competitive salary and benefits; please click here for more details. We also provide the latest books and cover registration fees, travel, and accommodations to several conclaves and CME events, including AMSSM Annual Conference.
Our Curriculum
Our curriculum is longitudinal and rotates on a 6 month cycle with elective time built in to meet your individual learning needs.
Longitudinal Time
Knapp Biltmore Sports Medicine – primary care SM, OMT, US, prolo
Atkinson Biltmore Sports Medicine – primary care SM, Treadmill Gate Analysis, US, prolo
Ultrasound clinic Biltmore – Knapp and Atkinson
Boykin Emerge – SM ortho
Shea Emerge – primary care SM
Riley Emerge – Ortho hand
Raustol Mission Pediatric Ortho – Ortho pediatric
Judkins Emerge – Primary care SM, prolo, PRP, OMT, US
Training Room HS, UNCA, Warren Wilson
Hartley Mission Radiology
Research Academic Time
Wednesday Morning SM Grand Rounds
Friday afternoon SM teaching time – General and US
Fellows will be the primary team physicians at UNCA and WWC, where they will do weekly training rooms and provide medical coverage for soccer, basketball and any other teams they choose. Fellows will also be assigned a high school football team and will provide medical coverage at home and away games. Finally, fellows will provide medical coverage for several mass participation endurance running and triathlon events.
Fellows also have the option to cover WCU Football, Asheville Tourists, Asheville City Soccer Club, Asheville Rugby Football Club based on their individual sports interests.
Medical Coverage for Sporting Events
Asheville Championship Basketball Tournament D1
Asheville Marathon
Asheville Turkey Trot
Biltmore Marathon
Grapple Wrestling Tournament (county high schools)
Haute Route international cycling race
The Hellbender One Hundred trail race
International Tennis Fed Cup
Kick It Running Events x 4
Lake Logan Triathlon
Shut-In Trail Race
Southern Conference Basketball Tournament D1
Fellow 1
July-Dec
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
AM
Boykin (Emerge)
Continuity Clinic (MAHEC)
Knapp (MAHEC)
Research Admin / 1 hour radiology time per month
Knapp US (MAHEC)
PM
Atkinson US (MAHEC)
Raustol (Mission)
Research Admin
Knapp (MAHEC)
Teaching Time / Didactics
Jan-June
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
AM
Knapp US / Healthy Living with Stitchel (MAHEC)
Continuity Clinic (MAHEC)
Knapp (MAHEC)
Atkinson US (MAHEC)
Riley (Emerge) / 1 hour radiology time per month
PM
Judkins (Emerge)
Shea (Emerge)
Research Admin
Training Room (Asheville High / UNCA / Warren Wilson)
Teaching Time / Didactics
Fellow 2
July-Dec
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
AM
Knapp US / Healthy Living with Stitchel (MAHEC)
Continuity Clinic (MAHEC)
Knapp (MAHEC)
Atkinson US (MAHEC)
Riley (Emerge) / 1 hour radiology time per month
PM
Judkins (Emerge)
Shea (Emerge)
Research Admin
Training Room (Asheville High / UNCA / Warren Wilson)
Teaching Time / Didactics
Jan-June
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
AM
Boykin (Emerge)
Continuity Clinic (MAHEC)
Knapp (MAHEC)
Research Admin / 1 hour radiology time per month
Knapp US (MAHEC)
PM
Atkinson US (MAHEC)
Raustol (Mission)
Research Admin
Knapp (MAHEC)
Teaching Time / Didactics
Elective Rotations
Thank you for your interest in our MAHEC Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. We have a short elective rotation available to visiting residents. If you would like to learn more, please contact the program administrator at kelci.dishner@mahec.net. We look forward to hearing from you!
Alumni Testimonials
What makes the MAHEC Sports Medicine Fellowship in Asheville so
special?
"I have always told people interested in learning more about the fellowship program or prospective fellows that the MAHEC sports medicine fellowship combines academic medicine and hands-on clinical training better than many and most fellowships I have come across. Sometimes, you have to give up hands-on experience when you’re at a big academic center, and often times at a small community program there is a lack of high-quality academics and sports medicine coverage. At MAHEC, there is both. There is a push to understand our clinical decision-making at a fundamental and academic level and there’s also a push to get hands-on athletes. Furthermore, we do not stand behind orthopedic fellows or other attendings as they treat high-level athletes. We are pushed to the front row and are expected to learn through experience while being carefully guided by the faculty. I always felt as though I had ample opportunity to improve my procedural skills and had the time to debrief with my attendings about clinical decision-making. This is a real world fellowship training us for being real world sports medicine physicians. You can take this education and go to a D1 program and be a sports medicine provider where you’re only seeing high level athletes, or you could combine primary care and sports medicine in a private office and provide excellent care for the whole patient—MAHEC prepares you for both scenarios and everything in between. "
— Kyle Judkins, Class of 2019
"Well-balanced education with a wide variety of specialists in the area. Excellent training in ultrasound and coverage of many sports events. Great didactics and support for individual interests. Excellent attendings that care about your education."
— Jonathan Mongold, Class of 2017
“I am very grateful for the experiences during my MAHEC sports medicine fellowship. Having been an 'untraditional fellow' I felt incredibly supported by the program's core and community faculty and staff. I came to MAHEC after 24 years of rural family practice in southern Vermont. I was so pleased to be a part of a program committed to my personal needs and development. I was not pigeonholed into a cookie cutter program. The faculty focused on individualized development, leveraging my experiences and adding to it. Education was emphasized over service, providing a broad exposure to the various aspects of sports medicine, spending time with diverse providers (physicians, podiatrists, therapists, trainers, dietitians, pedorthists, and behavioral health specialists, etc.) in order to provide the best care for our patients, athletes of all ages and skill level. The environment was a great balance of academics and hands-on experience, a real life experience in a great community large enough to see all manner of diagnoses while small enough to provide personal feedback and teaching. We were given the freedom to grow with ample personal support. I was able to add the lessons learned in advanced sports medicine to the knowledge and style I had acquired in my pre fellowship experiences. During my year, I was exposed to various aspects of sports medicine to give me a better idea of where my path ultimately would lead. Interacting with family medicine and internal medicine residents also provided the opportunity to teach learners as we learned. As a result, the learner has become a teacher—I am now core faculty for a new family medicine residency at Dartmouth overseeing its sports medicine curriculum. I owe this new career path to my mentors, Jessica Knapp and Brian Atkinson, who were so supportive of me. So, if you want to have a great education in real life primary care sports medicine, in a professional and supportive environment, you have only to look to the program at MAHEC."
— Peter C. Park, Class of 2023 Assistant Professor, Dartmouth Health, Cheshire Medical Center Family Medicine Residency
What makes it a great place to practice medicine?
“I had never been to Asheville before. My time in Asheville was as enjoyable and fulfilling as my time as a fellow. The greater Asheville area is a great place to live and learn. My wife and I enjoyed the great culture of the area. It was such a rich experience personally as well as professionally. Even after only one year, we have relationships which we are eager to continue even after leaving."
— Peter C. Park, Class of 2023 Assistant Professor, Dartmouth Health, Cheshire Medical Center Family Medicine Residency
"MAHEC and Asheville are great places to learn and practice sports medicine because it is such an active outdoor-oriented community. You see everything from professional athletes to weekend warriors to retirees perfecting their golf game. MAHEC supports you throughout this year with options of many diverse practices and opportunities. You work together with MAHEC and the Asheville community to make the year of sports medicine fellowship what you want it."
— Mia Snapp, Class of 2021
"Supportive learning environment with great coworkers, great faculty, and great staff in the clinic."
— Katie Walker, Class of 2020
What impressed you about MAHEC when you interviewed with the
program?
"People who work at MAHEC are generally nice and good hearted. They go the extra mile to serve and enjoy the outdoors in their free time."
— Katie Walker, Class of 2020
What kind of relationship do the faculty have with
fellows?
"As a fellow, I always felt 100% supported by both the core and the community faculty. They were always willing to meet me where I was and help me to get to where I wanted to go. They did not try to shape every fellow into a mold. The faculty are extremely approachable and since graduating a few years ago, I have continued to use them as references for clinical questions, general advice, and have remained friends with many of them. I have always sought mentorship at every step of my education all the way back to choosing to go to a small liberal arts college in New England for my undergraduate years. The decision to go to this fellowship was no different. I also felt as though the faculty are willing to learn from their fellows, which is a mark of a great teacher. Teaching learners how to be doctors is very difficult and now teaching learners of my own, I understand some of the unique challenges—especially with teaching procedures. It gives me a great appreciation for the teaching I received, which was experiential and well guided."
— Kyle Judkins, Class of 2019
“This fellowship is so special to me because I was treated as a colleague in a very supportive and collegial atmosphere. You are here to learn but also here to contribute your individual strengths and skills to the program. The faculty are here to assist you to be all that you want to be. At the same time, they are humble, approachable, and enthusiastic teachers who are open to what you bring to the table. They model being exceptional caregivers, being thoughtful teachers, and being care team members focused on what is best for the care of each individual patient and their personal health goals. The faculty create a family atmosphere dedicated to your medical knowledge and your professional and personal development.”
— Peter C. Park, Class of 2023 Assistant Professor, Dartmouth Health, Cheshire Medical Center Family Medicine Residency
"It’s essentially a family environment and not just with the direct faculty at MAHEC. You develop relationships with other medical providers in the community, from the doctors to nursing staff to athletic trainers and local PTs. The networking opportunities from the program are vast. The best thing is that I still stay in contact with some of these providers to continue to learn and to ensure that patients get the best care possible in this WNC region."
— Josh Wu, Class of 2019
How did MAHEC prepare you for your current job?
"The vast array of experiences and learning opportunities were greatly beneficial and allowed me to treat patients of all ages in all the different realms of sports medicine/orthopedics. MAHEC doesn’t just prepare you to treat and practice medicine on athletes but active people of all life stages. You learn how to approach each patient with the mindset of helping them heal, providing them encouragement to recover from their injuries, or propel them to make good healthy choices for themselves. In addition, my ultrasound training from MAHEC allowed me to be proficient in using my skills to expand my practice abilities and provide new treatment/information for both patients and my other partners in the practice."
— Josh Wu, Class of 2019
Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Director, Core Faculty
I grew up in Erie, PA in a tight knit family. I started my training as an undergrad at Penn State Behrend where I was inducted into the college’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014 for my achievements as a long-distance runner that included being named Female Athlete of the Year twice among other awards. Then continued to stay in my home town and went to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine for her medical training. While in medical school, I served as head coach for high school and middle school cross country and track teams. Then I decide it was time to get out of the snow belt and trained in Wilmington, NC for family medicine and then completed a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Connecticut. After my fellowship, I worked as core faculty at Tufts Family Medicine Residency and spent several years teaching the physical exam courses at Tufts School of Medicine and Harvard School of Medicine. We decided to move out of the city in 2018 to be closer to friends and family, leave the snow, and enjoy the mountains! Since moving we have had our daughter Jane whose pics grace my presentations.
MAHEC has been a great organization to move to. We have made friends within the department and community. Teaching learners is absolutely my favorite part of my job and energizes me. I appreciate how willing MAHEC has been to embrace change culture.
I am very interested in research and over the past few years earned the Young investigator’s Research Grant Award and Humanitarian Award from the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. I serve as the national subcommittee chair for Faculty Development American Society of Sports Medicine and completed the North American Primary Care Research Group Research Fellowship. My work focuses on female athletes and disordered eating, body image issues, the female athlete triad (energy deficiency, menstrual disturbances, and bone loss), the benefits of sports participation for young girls, group visits to encourage pediatric patients to get moving, health equity, and managing change.
Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship
Assistant Program Director, Core Faculty
Dr. Brian Atkinson was born and raised in the small beach town of Melbourne Beach, FL. He was a competitive runner throughout high school, earning both track and cross country individual state championships, along with a team cross country state championship while at Melbourne High School. He then attended college at Duke University, where he earned a B.S. in Biology, competed on the Duke University Track and Cross Country teams, and, most importantly, met his wife Kayla. While at Duke, he earned All ACC honors in both Track & Field and Cross Country, and also earned All-America honors in the 10,000m. After completing his undergraduate training, he earned his MD at University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa, FL. He also continued running competitively, and qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. After completing medical school, he returned to the great state of North Carolina for his Family Medicine Residency at MAHEC in Asheville, NC, where he earned the UNC School of Medicine Resident Teacher of the Year award. He subsequently attained his Sports Medicine fellowship at Cone Health Sports Medicine in Greensboro NC.
Brian is passionate about Exercise as Medicine, running medicine, diagnostic ultrasound, and helping his patients to continue to do the exercise they enjoy. He loves teaching medical trainees at all levels. In his free time, Brian enjoys running (especially in trails), hiking, camping, and spending time with his 2-year-old daughter, Andie and his wife, Kayla.
Dr. Robert Boykin is a sports medicine and shoulder surgeon with EmergeOrtho, Blue Ridge Region in Asheville, NC. Originally from South Carolina, Dr. Boykin graduated as a Morehead Scholar with highest distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He then received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University, where he was elected President of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and Vice-President of his medical school class. Dr. Boykin completed his internship and residency training in the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program in Boston, Massachusetts. He served as Administrative Chief Resident for the Massachusetts General Hospital while also working at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Children’s Hospital Boston. During his time in residency Dr. Boykin assisted with care of the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, and Boston Bruins.
Dr. Boykin then received subspecialty training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery at The Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. During his time in Vail he traveled with the U.S. Ski Team and worked with numerous professional athletes. After fellowship he traveled to Annecy, France where he completed additional subspecialty training in advanced shoulder surgery at the Alps Surgery Institute.
Dr. Boykin is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor for UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine and is president elect of the North Carolina Orthopedic Association. He is a member of the prestigious American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Society and currently serves as associate editor for the Jounral of Shoulder and Elbow Arthroplasty. He has published articles in peer reviewed journals, authored book chapters, and presented sports medicine research at national and international meetings. He also has served as a team physician for the U.S. men’s and women’s alpine ski team, a consultant to the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation for hip research in tennis players, and is currently a team physician for Asheville High School, North Buncombe High School, Montreat College, and Warren Wilson College.
Dr. Hartley received her Doctor of Medicine from The University of Tennessee College of Medicine before training as a resident first in Orthopedic/ General Surgery at the Campbell Clinic in Memphis, TN and then completing residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Wake Forest University/ Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, NC. Additional fellowship training in Musculoskeletal Imaging was also completed at Wake Forest.
Dr. Hodges is a graduate of Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC. He completed a residency in Radiology and his fellowship in Musculoskeletal Radiology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.
Dr. Aimee Riley completed her undergraduate studies at Liberty University where she graduated summa cum laude. She completed her medical training at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, earning the Distinguished Scholar Award in General Surgery, the Student of the Year award and the TOUCH (Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health) Pin Award.
She completed her orthopedic surgery internship and residency at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctors Hospital followed by a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University.
She’s a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Association for Hand Surgery, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, the American Osteopathic Association, and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.
Dr. Riley specializes in the latest surgical and nonsurgical hand and upper extremity treatments, including trauma surgery and advanced microsurgical techniques, to restore her patients’ function.
When she is not seeing patients, Dr. Riley spends time with her family enjoying the outdoor activities such as running, cycling, hiking, and camping.
Dr. Shea earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, in Notre Dame, IN, where he graduated cum laude. In 1999, he received his medical degree from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. He completed both his internship and family medicine residency in Greensboro with the Moses Cone Family Medicine Residency Program at Moses Cone Health System, where he also conducted his fellowship in primary care sports medicine.
Dr. Shea treats sports medicine and non-surgical orthopedic conditions with a focus on overuse injuries in runners and cyclists. He founded the orthopedic urgent care in 2009 and cares for patients in the Asheville and Arden offices. He is trained in ultrasound guided injections.
He provides sports medicine coverage for several local high schools and colleges including UNC Asheville and Erwin High School. In his spare time, he enjoys gravel cycling and hiking with his wife and kids.
I am originally from New York City. I have lived in New York, New Jersey, Washington, Maryland and North Carolina. I received my Bachelor Degree in Biological Sciences from Binghamton University. My first career was in secondary education. I spent 10 years as a high school science teacher in NYC during which time I earned my Master’s Degree in Education from Queens College. I also had a brief career in the photography industry during a hiatus from teaching.
I moved to Asheville with my wife and two daughters in 2004. In 2007, I returned to school to study Nutrition and Dietetics. I earned my credentials as a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Nutritionist in 2010. Since then, I have worked to create Nutrition Care programs in primary care practices throughout the area. In 2007, I came to MAHEC to develop Nutrition Care and with the support of so many wonderful colleagues, we have built a robust program that offers Medical Nutrition Therapy to all MAHEC patients as well as patients from other practices in the community. I also serve as the clinical nutrition and dietetics educator providing didactic and participatory learning opportunities for all MAHEC learners from all disciplines. Working with patients, providers and learners at MAHEC has been the most rewarding professional experience of my career. I am always grateful for the opportunity to participate in the interdisciplinary care we provide, cooperate with so many special people, help our community improve their health, and provide our next generation of health care providers with knowledge and resources to integrate nutrition into patient care.
As my colleagues at Family Medicine will attest, I am passionate about incorporating healthful eating patterns and lifestyle practices into disease prevention and management. I believe that my role as an advocate for lifestyle intervention is as important as my role as a counselor in this treatment. It is always exciting for me to meet and work with residents and other learners who share this passion and show interest in collaborating with me in this advocacy.
Now that my daughters are grown and on their own, I have plenty of time for my other passion of exploring the forests by bike and foot. I have been an avid cyclist for over 20 years. I spend the majority of my free time mountain biking, running, hiking and enjoying our empty nest with Karen, my wife of 30 years.
Brian spent much of his time growing up in Trinity, NC, but also has childhood roots tracing back to Minnesota and Connecticut. He attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (Go Seahawks!) where he received a BS degree in biology while competing in track and cross country. He remained in North Carolina for medical school and attended Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine and then went on to complete his Family Medicine Residency at Wake Forest University.
Throughout his training, he has provided coverage for Wake Forest University, Campbell University, Winston Salem State University, The Winston Salem Dash (minor league baseball), The Carolina Thunderbirds (minor league hockey), and many other local sporting events. Brian is thrilled to be joining the MAHEC family and for the opportunity to serve the very active Asheville community.
Brian loves building relationships with his patients and working with them to get back to doing the things they love. He has special interests in ultrasound & running biomechanics. In his spare time, he enjoys running with his wife Avery, woodworking, reading, and the friendly-competitive game of Spikeball!
Ronnie Otieno, aka "Oti," was born and raised in Kisumu, Kenya, by the shores of Lake Victoria, and considers himself a “Son of the Lake”. He commenced his higher education in the country’s capital, Nairobi, before relocating to the U.S. He has always been active, playing rugby and other sports.
Oti attended Washington University in St. Louis for his undergraduate studies, focusing on clinical research management. He then went to Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU) for medical school. He completed his Family Medicine Residency at Creighton University in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2024.
Oti has been involved in numerous community projects, including working with St. Vincent’s De Paul Community Development Organization in Kibera, Kenya’s largest slum, and participating in various volunteer activities and outreach programs in St. Louis, MO, and Phoenix, AZ, as well as in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico amongst others.
Oti is delighted to be in Asheville and honored to join The MAHEC family in serving the wider WNC community.
Friendly Oti loves taking care of his patients and treats everyone with love and like family. He believes in the philosophy of seeking intentional happiness and living life to the fullest. Movement is medicine! He has a special interest in ultrasound, procedures and making healthcare accessible.
Originally hailing from the Boston area, Allison attended the University of South Carolina (USC) where she studied exercise science and psychology. A passionate advocate for community health, she began her professional career at the South Carolina Department of Public Health, during which time she also earned a master’s degree in health service policy and management. Working through a broad policy lens, Allison soon came to understand the need for primary care physicians, particularly in underserved areas, and realized her dedication to community health would be best served by directly interfacing with patients.
Allison went on to attend Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she worked with underserved populations in South Carolina, as well as in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, she became active in health care advocacy as a student physician by serving as the South Carolina Osteopathic Medical Society’s Executive Board Student Representative, the South Carolina Medical Association’s Medical Student Section Executive Board Member and the South Carolina Medical Political Action Committee’s Student Representative. In 2023, Allison completed her residency at Sutter Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California.
A lifelong athlete, Allison is dedicated to physical fitness and passionate about helping people and communities stay healthy and injury-free. Allison is a former Team USA synchronized skater, marathon runner and personal trainer. She loves all things outdoors, including camping, hiking, running, climbing and especially skiing. She joins the Asheville community alongside her partner John and their rescue pup, Leo.
I grew up in New Jersey and participated in multiple sports before discovering my love for running. I was fortunate to be a part of a very successful high school team, winning multiple state championships and earning All-American honors. I then attended Duke University and was a member of the women's cross country and track teams. After graduating from Duke, I worked as a research assistant in cardio-oncology at Duke for my gap year. I then attended medical school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Following in the footsteps of my family practice physician mother and grandfather, I too felt called to family medicine. After finishing medical school, I deferred residency to pursue competing in triathlons at the professional level. After three seasons of racing I returned to medicine and moved to Greenville, SC for my family medicine residency at Prisma Health Upstate. I loved my time in the clinic and while I had always thought I would go into sports medicine, I decided to join an outpatient family practice closer to family following residency. During this time I enjoyed building therapeutic relationships with my patients and their families, but the feeling that something was missing led me back to sports medicine.
As a longtime runner and endurance athlete, I am excited to be able to meld my passions of medicine and sports and care for active people and young athletes, and am thrilled to be joining the MAHEC sports medicine fellowship. I am particularly interested in caring for endurance athletes, female athletes, and the integration of lifestyle and sports medicine.
My husband and I are excited to move back down south. We love spending time in the mountains hiking and running and cannot wait to show our son our favorite places in Asheville.
Harris Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Silva, NC, Team Coverage for Western Carolina University, Andrews HS, Blue Ridge School, Swain HS, Hayesville HS, Murphy HS, Rabun County HS (GA), Smoky Mountain HS, Robbinsville HS.
MAHEC Sports Medicine Continuity Clinic
This ambulatory clinic provides a wide variety of experiences. Athletes of all ages receive care at MAHEC for acute as well as chronic injury and related illnesses. The fellows provide care with supervision from attending physicians. The MAHEC Family Health Center at Biltmore has on-site X-ray, casting rooms, and a lab that allows for full-spectrum care.
Each sports medicine fellow will be assigned weekly continuity sports medicine clinics working in conjunction with primary care sports medicine physicians.
EmergeOrtho: Blue Ridge Division
This ambulatory clinic provides a wide variety of experiences. Students from multiple local high schools receive care at EmergeOrtho for acute as well as chronic musculoskeletal injury. EmergeOrtho has a very robust walk-in, same-day urgent care clinic seeing a large volume of patients and staffed by two primary care sports medicine fellowship trained physicians. EmergeOrtho is a large orthopaedic practice staffed by physicians, many of whom have completed sports medicine/specialty-specific fellowships. The fellows provide care with supervision from attending physicians.
Carolina Spine and Neurosurgery Center
This ambulatory clinic provides a wide variety of experiences. The rotation will primarily be with Dr. James Hoski, a board-certified neurosurgeon who specializes in the operative and non-operative care of spinal/brain conditions. Some of the athletes seen in this clinical setting have suffered repetitive head injuries and complex concussions. Fellows provide care with supervision from attending physicians.
Appalachian Foot and Ankle Associates
This ambulatory clinic experience will primarily be affiliated with Dr. Thomas Rehm, who is a podiatrist specializing in the operative and non-operative care of foot and ankle problems. Dr. Rehm has specific interest in foot and ankle issues in athletes. Fellows provide care with supervision from attending physicians.
ARA Health Specialists
This clinic site will provide primarily an outpatient radiologic experience. Fellows learn in an indirect manner through the interpretation of radiologic studies. They will also be exposed to interventional radiology in the observation of higher level radiologic-guided procedures. Fellows will be paired exclusively with one musculoskeletal radiologist throughout their rotation. There will be no direct exposure to sporting events, team sports, or mass participation events in this rotation. Throughout the year, there will be monthly multispecialty cased-based radiology reviews.
Mission Hospital
Mission Hospital is a tertiary care hospital located in Asheville, NC providing both inpatient and outpatient services to the greater Western North Carolina counties and surrounding region. Mission Hospital and Mission Children’s is the location of our pediatric orthopedic attending Dr. Ole Raustol.
Asheville Physical Therapy
This ambulatory clinic site will provide primarily an outpatient physical therapy experience. Fellows will be integrated into the clinic setting in both an observational and direct patient care role. Sporting events and team sports will not be included in clinical expectations; however, fellows will participate in community awareness, education, and performance camps affiliated with the group involving athletes from local primary schools. Fellows will work with Dr. Brian Lawler.
FootRx Running
The fellows will interact with Scott Socha, certified pedorthist, primarily in an outpatient clinical environment gaining experience and exposure to gait/foot analysis and foot orthotic fabrication. Preceptors will interact with fellows on a 1:1 basis. The parent organization hosts many local races and mass participation events for which the fellows will have opportunities to participate in, or cover, from a medical perspective.
The Runner's Mechanic
This ambulatory clinic site will provide an outpatient physical therapy experience. Fellows will be integrated into the clinic setting in a primary observational role. Sporting events and team sports will not be included in clinical expectations; however, fellows will participate in community awareness and education affiliated with this rotation site. The fellows will work with Miriam Salloum, MPT, COMT, OCS. This rotation site sees predominantly high-level running athletes. Fellows will gain exposure to myofascial treatment modalities, dry needling, and gait analysis, among other treatment approaches.
Anti-Fragile Physical Therapy
This ambulatory clinic site will provide an outpatient physical therapy experience. Fellows will be integrated into the clinic setting in a primary observational role. Sporting events and team sports will not be included in clinical expectations; however, fellows will participate in community awareness and education affiliated with this rotation site. The fellows will work with Wes Miller, PT, FAAOMPT. This rotation site sees predominantly high-level athletes. Fellows will gain exposure to myofascial treatment modalities, dry needling, and gait analysis, among other treatment approaches.
UNC Asheville Campus Health and Athletic Training Room
This ambulatory clinic provides a wide variety of experiences. The patient population includes the general collegiate student as well as scholarship and club student-athletes. Patients are seen on a walk-in basis; however, there will be a continuity established with appropriate follow-up. At this site, fellows will gain exposure to general medical problems in the collegiate student-athlete. Fellows will provide on-site coverage in conjunction with team physicians for UNC Asheville. Fellows are assigned continuity teams for which they regularly provide care. They also attend weekly training room sessions at which they will see injuries from multiple sports with oversight by attending physicians in conjunction with staff athletic trainers.
Western Carolina University
This ambulatory clinic provides a wide variety of optional coverage experiences. The patient population includes primary scholarship student-athletes.The fellows have the option to work with WCU team physicians to help coordinate care with former MAHEC sports medicine fellow Dr. Josh Wu and can cover any desired sporting events.
Warren Wilson College
The ambulatory clinic provides a wide variety of experiences. The patient population includes student-athletes involved in basketball, cross-country, soccer, swimming, tennis, and cycling. Fellows provide training room services under the supervision of the team physicians every other week. Fellows will have the opportunity to provide on-site coverage for a fall sport of their choosing.
Fellows are expected to participate in scholarly and academic development activities during their fellowship. They will learn about research basics, utilizing evidence-based medicine for daily practice, faculty development, and quality improvement methods including LEAN methodology. Fellows will work together with faculty to plan and implement a QI project and longitudinal research project with Dr. Knapp. Her research centers on equity in sports medicine, disordered eating, childhood obesity, and body image in sports. Dr. Knapp has received grant money for her research including the AMSSM Young Investigator Award. Dedicated time for projects is carved out during the academic year, and support will be provided during that time by Dr. Knapp and our growing research department. Projects are meant to be collaborative, and fellows will have the opportunity to work with other fellowships in the region.
We hope to support you in your academic development as well as with teaching and writing opportunities as our faculty are experienced authors and presenters. They have written chapters in Netter’s Sports Medicine, and presented locally to the national level at AMSSM. We are here to support your academic and scholarly development to prepare you for presentations at AMSSM and beyond fellowship.
Teaching is a priority for our program. Our goal is for fellows to learn from excellent teachers, and to develop their own teaching skills during their fellowship year. Our fellows will participate in teaching residents, medical students, and high school students during various didactic and clinical opportunities.
Weekly Friday porch teaching and check-in: discussion-based learning for fellows, rotating at folks' porches.
US curriculum: monthly ultrasound teaching and hands-on practice for fellows on Friday afternoons.
Radiology rounds: fellows will have the opportunity to teach residents during this weekly morning teaching. Fellows will also have monthly teaching with MSK-trained radiologists.
Wednesday mornings Sports Medicine Grand Rounds: twice per month, invited speakers for fellows.
Teaching residents and UNC med students (clinical and didactic teaching)
Healthy Living Clinic
Pediatric wellness group
Faculty Development (integrated into porch teaching in the spring)
Collaboration with Local fellowships (several local conferences, journal clubs throughout the year)
Faculty Teaching Highlights
Knapp
Faculty Development Subcommittee Chair AMSSM
2020 Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award: MAHEC Family Medicine Residency
2016 The Sara B. Karp MD Award: Outstanding Faculty Teaching: Tufts Family Medicine Residency
2016 Nominated for med student teaching award Tufts
2013 Outstanding Family Medicine Resident: Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Compassion
2013 Outstanding Research in Family Medicine Resident: Academic Research and Evidence Based Medicine
Atkinson
2021 UNC School of Medicine Resident Teacher of the Year
Equity is a priority for our program.
We recognize the intersectionality of equity. We have created a systematic approach using AAMC guidelines to improve equity in the interview process and tracking our results. Click each image to view larger.
We have created QI and Research projects following the Robert Wood Johnson Roadmap for providing more equitable care LINK with interventions to help change systems in our organization. Several presentations and published abstracts presenting data at AMSSM below.
Equity-Related Publications
Gray K, Knapp J. Effect of Socioeconomic Factors on Exercise Prescription Following Injury. Rising with Research Oral Presentation at American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Annual Convention, Austin, Texas. April 2022
Gold B. Beck M, McNeill D, Dyer T, Knapp J. Differences in Treatment for Patients with Psoas Injuries. Poster Research Oral Presentation at American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Annual Convention, Virtual Conference. April 2021 Poster Research Oral Presentation
Sain J, Strong R, Olawumi D, Knapp J. Poverty Burden and Bone Healing in Western North Carolina: A Socio-geographical Study. Poster Research Oral Presentation at American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Annual Convention, Virtual Conference. April 2021 Poster Research Oral Presentation
Wegener A, Lian S, Knapp J. The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Treatment Following Sports Medicine Injuries. Poster Research Oral Presentation at American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Annual Convention, Virtual Conference. April 2021 Poster Research Oral Presentation
Feaster B, Napper J, Turcios H, Knapp J. Evaluation of Multifactorial Management of Stress Fractures. Poster Research Oral Presentation at American Medical Society of Sports Medicine Annual Convention, Virtual Conference. April 2021 Poster Research Oral Presentation
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
Dear Fellowship Applicants,
We hope this message finds you well! While Asheville is currently in a state of emergency, we want to assure you that we are moving forward with our upcoming recruitment season and look forward to meeting each of you. Our community is actively rebuilding, and we anticipate being fully operational by the next academic year. We are confident that our program will remain as strong as ever when Asheville is back to full capacity.
To ensure everyone's safety and ease, we will continue conducting virtual interviews this season, so there is no need for you to travel to Western North Carolina. Our fellows and faculty plan to remain in the region, committed to their training and dedicated to providing excellent care for our patients.
We are excited to share with you what makes MAHEC a unique and exceptional place to train and grow, and we look forward to connecting with you soon.
Sincerely,
Jessica Knapp, DO, CAQSM
Program Director, Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, MAHEC
Application Requirements
We invite you to apply to our program via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We will review your application and contact you if we wish to invite you for an interview. Typically, our interview season runs from late-September through October.
Applicants must have satisfactorily completed a family medicine or internal medicine residency program, have DEA certification, and be eligible to obtain a license to practice medicine in North Carolina through the NC Medical Board.
Applicants will be required to submit:
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Personal statement
Three letters of recommendation (one should be from a residency program director)
Medical school transcript(s)
Current licensure information
A virtual interview
Questions regarding the application process should be directed to the Fellowship Program Coordinator, Kelci Dishner, at kelci.dishner@mahec.net.
VISA Sponsorship
MAHEC does not directly sponsor residents or fellows that need a J-1 Sponsorship VISA. Non-U.S. citizen applicants needing visa sponsorship must secure this directory from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The ECFMG is authorized by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor foreign national physicians for the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa for the purpose of participating in U.S. programs of graduate medical education or training. ECFMG is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a BridgeUSA sponsor for J-1 exchange visitor physicians enrolled in accredited programs of graduate medical education or training, or advanced research programs (involving primarily observation, consultation, teaching, or research). Although many universities and research institutions in the United States are authorized to sponsor exchange visitors as research scholars, ECFMG is the sole sponsor of J-1 physicians in clinical training programs.
Questions regarding VISA Sponsorship should be directed to the GME office at 828-232-2946 or gme@mahec.net.