UPDATES:

Para traducir el sitio web, deslice hacia bajo en la página y seleccione el idioma (language)


Enka Candler Family Health Center – open for walk-ins Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00

Enka Candler Pharmacy – open Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00

Biltmore Pharmacy – opening Oct. 10th 9:00-5:00

Biltmore Ob/Gyn - opening Oct. 9 with limited capacity

Brevard Women’s Care – open Mon-Fri 8:30-5:00

Franklin Ob/Gyn – open Mon-Thurs 8:00-5:00

Internal Medicine - office will open Oct.14 but telehealth available now

Biltmore Family Health Center - office will open Oct.14 but telehealth available now

Newbridge Family Health Center – opening Oct. 9 and accepting walk-ins

Cane Creek Family Health Center office – closed

Center for Psychiatry – open for telehealth beginning October 7 (assume your appt is telehealth unless we contact you)

Dental Health Center at Columbus - opening Oct. 10 with limited capacity; please do not arrive for your appointment unless called by a team member

Dental Health Center at Biltmore - opening Oct. 14 with limited capacity; please do not arrive for your appointment unless called by a team member

Continuing Education events – being evaluated daily and participants will receive email updates


If you are a patient needing help with resources, please contact us here: https://mahec.feedtrail.com/Misc/RCF/RCF


If you would like to directly contribute to those in our community who need extra help getting through this disaster, please visit mahec.net/donate

Image

Asheville Sports Medicine Fellowship

divider graphic

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 Jessica Knapp, DO, CAQSM
Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Director, Core Faculty


Brian Atkinson, MD, CAQSM Brian Atkinson, MD, CAQSM
Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship Assistant Program Director, Core Faculty


Kelci Dishner, AS Kelci Dishner, AS
Fellowship Program Administrator
email kelci.dishner@mahec.net

Asheville Area Running/Hiking Guide

Our Mission

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

Longitudinal Elective Time

  • Garbarino - Primary Care SM
  • Burnworth – Primary Care SM
  • Jansen - Ortho SM
  • Mangone - Ortho ankle
  • Socha – Pedorthist
  • Salloum – PT, running
  • Lawler – PT, all athletes
  • Miller – PT, running and biking
  • Minton – PT, biking
  • Rhem – podiatry
  • Kelly – PT, feet
  • Leiby – PT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
  • Fusco – Controlled Substances, Addiction – Safe Prescribing clinic
  • Ortho Trauma service

Sports Medicine Fellowship Coverage

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

Faculty

Fellows

Past Fellows

MAHEC Sports Medicine Continuity Clinic

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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

Image

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.

Faculty CV's

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

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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.

divider graphic
arrow-up icon