How to become a sports team physician

Having served as a team physician for both college and professional sports teams, I’m often asked, “As a doctor of chiropractic, how do you become involved with a sports team?”

The answer may surprise you. 

Team physicians work hard physically

While the position sounds like one of glamour and great reward, those certainly are not the reasons to connect yourself to a team. There may be some fanfare that goes along with the position, especially when your community learns of your role. However, the reality is being a team doctor often requires long hours, as well as time away from your practice and family. And if you’re working with small colleges or high schools, there may be little to no pay for your work.     

As a member of the “medical” team, you will likely work odd hours and, at times, be required to attend long practices and games. The physical demands can also be tremendous. For example, adjusting a 300-pound offensive lineman can be a bit taxing on your body. You may also be required to treat athletes in awkward environments, such as the locker room or on a sideline bench. In addition, you will most likely run into a few athletes with “interesting personalities” who can be a challenge. 

Train to be a team player

To become a team physician does not necessarily mean you need additional training or certifications. In my opinion, chiropractic physicians are already well-educated about form and function, which is really what working with athletes is all about.   

While additional education might be a choice to make in your role as a team doctor, we also have an obligation to uphold our profession. Patrick Hammond, DC, who serves on the healthcare team for a major professional sports organization, noted, “As a DC, you have to think about the profession and treat the athletes with the utmost respect. And always be a team player on the healthcare team.” 

Alex Kallio, DC, an NCAA D1 team doctor, echoes that same point about becoming part of the organization. “The higher the level of sport you are working with — pro, D1, high school, etc. — the more the scope of what you will be doing for the team will narrow. It is imperative that you understand your role within that structure and be able to communicate with other professionals.” 

When you first join a team, there may already be a group of other healthcare professionals working with the athletes. These might include medical doctors, trainers and physical therapists and you will have to quickly adapt and understand your role as the team DC, as well as build trust with the athletes, coaches and other members of the medical team.   

In that regard, Kallio noted, “As you are around the team and the other health providers more over time, the more they will begin to trust you. Even providers who may have been a bit anti-chiropractic will begin to open up and ask questions once they see the value the athletes are receiving.” 

Define your role

When joining a team, it’s important for everyone to completely understand what services you provide and your time commitment. Defining your role as team physician can help build a trusted relationship with the team. 

“Have clear expectations going in and what the structure will be of your position, including what you are allowed to do,” said Kallio. “This not only includes treatment modalities and methods, but what you are allowed to put on social media or to advertise.” 

Above all, being a team physician can be very rewarding and will challenge you in a positive way. Most of all, have fun. Kallio added, “For me it was all about being in a locker room/team environment again and having the chance to be a small part of improving the athletes’ recovery and performance.” 

Final thoughts

I promised you the secret to securing a position as a team physician. It’s surprisingly simple: Just ask. Many sports teams are out there who don’t have a medical team and rely on the coaches to do their best to triage injuries. They would jump at the chance to have you help. 

My first team physician position was with a local community college. One day, I met a new neighbor who happened to be the athletic director at that school. I simply asked if they had a team doctor. Discovering they didn’t have anyone helping them was the open door for me to offer my services, and it was a great experience for everyone. 

Above all, enjoy your time as team doctor. It really brings a level of joy and challenge to your chiropractic career. And, as Hammond has said, being a team physician is a “great opportunity to promote chiropractic in a positive way.” 

MICHAEL PERUSICH, DC, a former investment banker, is a solutions-focused advisor with more than 25 years of success across the healthcare and consulting industries. His broad areas of expertise include coaching, training, content development and motivational speaking. Perusich is the CEO for Kats Consultants LLC, where he and his team offer a unique platform of business knowledge and tools for today’s chiropractic entrepreneur. Perusich can be reached at 407-308-5590 or katsconsultants.com.