Sports Medicine Fellowship

• Focus Areas: Arthroscopy, sports medicine, and trauma with emphasis on team physician responsibilities.
• Duration: August 1 – July 31 (one-year fellowship).
• Surgical Volume: Approximately 1,200 procedures annually among the group, fellow volume approximately 700 cases annually. Additional independent call experience (compensated in addition to salary).
• Accreditation: ACGME-accredited since 2022, 2 fellows.

• Team Assignments: Primary team physician for Mammoth High School and local ski/snowboard teams.
• Event Coverage: Includes Mammoth Mountain skiing events like the Grand Prix and travel with US ski and snowboard teams.

• Curriculum: Based on AOSSM guidelines with regular presentations, conferences, and journal clubs.
• Facilities: Mammoth Hospital, MOI in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, Northern Inyo Hospital, CA.
• Labs: Anatomy/Cadaver labs (twice yearly in Reno, NV).
• Stipends: Covers one sports medicine CME course and other approved educational expenses.

• Requirements: Completion of at least one full research project guided by faculty.
• Opportunities: Focus on sports injuries, trauma, and recreational injuries unique to the Mammoth Lakes area.
• Skills: Training in study design, hypothesis testing, and critical analysis of literature.

• Eligibility: Graduates of accredited medical or osteopathic schools and orthopedic residency programs in the U.S. or Canada.
• Exams: Completion of all three USMLE steps.
• Licensing: Eligibility for California medical and fluoroscopy licenses (fees covered by the fellowship).

The Mammoth Orthopedic Institute Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship offers a distinctive training experience that combines high-volume surgical exposure, individualized mentorship, and exceptional athletic coverage in the heart of the Eastern Sierra. As an ACGME-accredited program, fellows develop advanced clinical and surgical skills while caring for athletes ranging from local high school competitors to elite winter sports participants. Our goal is to graduate confident, compassionate, and technically skilled orthopedic sports medicine surgeons prepared to excel in any practice setting.

Clinical Experience and Athletic Coverage

Fellows serve as a primary team physician for Mammoth High School and provide medical coverage for local ski and snowboard teams. Working alongside fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine surgeons, fellows gain extensive experience caring for athletes of all ages and levels of competition.

Event Coverage

The fellowship provides coverage for a variety of regional and national sporting events, including Mammoth Mountain competitions such as the Grand Prix, endurance events, and other community athletic competitions. Fellows may also have opportunities to travel with U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams, providing exposure to elite athletes in a unique mountain sports environment.

Didactic Curriculum

The educational curriculum follows the recommendations of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and includes:

• Weekly didactic conferences
• Case-based indications conferences
• Journal Club
• Faculty and fellow presentations
• Multidisciplinary educational conferences
• Evidence-based discussions focused on the diagnosis and management of sports-related injuries.
• Clinical Facilities Fellows rotate through a diverse practice environment that includes:
• Mammoth Hospital Mammoth Orthopedic Institute – Mammoth Lakes
• Mammoth Orthopedic Institute – Bishop
• Northern Inyo Hospital

This combination of clinical sites provides a broad spectrum of operative and outpatient sports medicine experience while serving both mountain and rural communities.

Operative Experience

The Mammoth Orthopedic Institute Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship provides a high-volume operative experience with progressive autonomy under the mentorship of five fellowship-trained orthopedic sports medicine surgeons. Fellows participate in all aspects of patient care, including preoperative evaluation, surgical planning, operative management, and postoperative follow-up.

The surgical experience encompasses the full spectrum of contemporary sports medicine procedures, including:

Shoulder

• Arthroscopic and open rotator cuff repair
• Anterior and posterior shoulder instability
• Bankart repair
• Latarjet and bone block procedures
• SLAP and labral repair
• Biceps tenodesis
• Acromioclavicular joint reconstruction
• Shoulder arthroscopy
• Primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty

Knee

• ACL, PCL, and multiligament reconstruction
• Meniscus repair and meniscectomy
• Meniscal transplantation
• Cartilage restoration procedures
• Osteochondral allograft transplantation
• High tibial and distal femoral osteotomies
• Patellofemoral instability surgery
• Knee arthroscopy

Hip

• Hip arthroscopy
• Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) treatment
• Labral repair and reconstruction
• Endoscopic gluteal tendon repair

Elbow

• Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction
• Elbow arthroscopy
• Tendon repair and reconstruction

Sports Trauma

Because of the region's active mountain community and year-round recreational activities, fellows gain extensive experience managing acute sports injuries and fractures resulting from skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, climbing, and other outdoor sports.

Throughout the fellowship year, operative responsibility increases as technical proficiency and clinical judgment develop. Fellows work directly with faculty in a one-on-one learning environment that promotes graduated autonomy while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and surgical excellence.

Research

Scholarly activity is an integral component of the fellowship. Each fellow is expected to complete at least one faculty-mentored research project during the fellowship year.

Research opportunities focus on sports medicine, orthopedic trauma, and recreational injuries unique to the Eastern Sierra and Mammoth Lakes region. Fellows receive mentorship in:

• Study design
• Research methodology
• Hypothesis development and testing
• Statistical interpretation
• Critical appraisal of the orthopedic literature
• Scientific writing and presentation

The goal is to prepare fellows to become lifelong consumers and contributors to evidence-based orthopedic sports medicine.

Application Process

The Mammoth Orthopedic Institute Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship participates in the SF Match Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Match. All applicants must apply through the Central Application Service (CAS).

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit the following through CAS:

• Completed CAS application
• Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• USMLE or COMLEX score reports
• Letter of Good Standing from current residency program
• Three letters of recommendation

Interview Process

Selected applicants will be invited to interview on:

Interview Dates: February 5–6, 2027

Applicants are also invited to attend a casual social event with our faculty and current fellows on the evening of Friday, February 5, 2027, providing an opportunity to learn more about our program and the Mammoth Lakes community in an informal setting.

Why Mammoth Orthopedic Institute?

Our fellowship offers a comprehensive and individualized training experience that combines:

• High-volume operative experience
• Progressive clinical autonomy
• Collegiate, high school, and endurance sports coverage
• Team-based mentorship with experienced sports medicine surgeons
• Research and scholarly activity opportunities
• A unique practice environment serving an active mountain community and world-class outdoor athletes

The result is a balanced fellowship that prepares graduates for successful careers in academic or private practice sports medicine.

Contact Information

Sarah Lang
Program Coordinator
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Dr. Brian Gilmer
Program Director
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Visa and Work Authorization Information for Mammoth Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Applicants

The Mammoth Orthopedic Institute Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship is committed to creating a supportive environment for all participants. However, please note that our fellowship program does not have the capacity to assist with visa applications or work authorization processes. All fellows must independently secure and maintain the necessary legal documentation to reside and work in the United States for the entire one-year duration of the fellowship.

Important Details for Applicants:

Independent Visa Sponsorship: Mammoth Orthopedic Institute is unable to act as a visa sponsor for this fellowship. Applicants who require a visa must obtain it independently before the start of the fellowship.

Eligibility for Work in the United States: Fellows must possess a visa or work authorization that allows them to legally work and reside in the United States for the entirety of the program (from August 1st through July 31st).

Timeline for Documentation: We encourage applicants to review their visa options and timelines carefully, as visa and work permit processes can be lengthy and complex. Please be prepared to secure all necessary documentation before the program start date.

Additional Costs: Any costs related to obtaining and maintaining a visa or work permit, including application fees, travel expenses for visa interviews, or legal fees, will be the sole responsibility of the applicant.

Recommendation to Seek Guidance: If you require assistance in understanding your visa options, we recommend consulting a qualified immigration attorney or visa consultant who can provide personalized advice based on your individual circumstances and the requirements in the United States.

• Modified Lemaire Lateral Extra-Articular Tenodesis Using an Inlay Technique and All-Suture Knotless Anchor Fixation
• Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair: Current Concepts
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• Arthroscopically Assisted Fixation of Terrible Triad Variant Injuries of the Elbow With Small-Bore Needle Arthroscopy
• Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation Of Posterior Femoral Condyle Lesions Utilizing An Open Posterior Approach To The Knee
• Modified Bosworth Technique for Medial Collateral Ligament Reconstruction of the Knee Using Semitendinosus Tendon Autograft
• Quadriceps Tendon Allograft for ACL Reconstruction With and Without a Bone Block

Testimonials have been anonymized for applicant privacy-

Dr. Gilmer and MOI,

Dr. Gilmer was a tremendous help to me during my training, the first years of my practice, and the successful navigation of Board certification. He is knowledgeable, skillful, and approachable. I am so thankful for his help and expertise in navigating the start of my career!

-Anonymous

Dr. Gilmer and MOI,

I would recommend the mammoth sports medicine fellowship to anyone. Dr. Gilmer and Dr Crall gave me more in gaining autonomy than anyone I’ve worked with before while also maintaining excellence in surgical management. I’ve never met two physicians more passionate and invested in teaching. Not only were they invested in teaching during my fellowship but have been a huge asset early in my practice. They have been available and happy to answer questions and provide wisdom and feedback which has been far more valuable early in my practice than I could have imagined. I also enjoyed taking solo call and living in mammoth. Not only was call beneficial financially, but more importantly, there was good mountain trauma to get my hands prepared for solo practice. I also had plenty of down time to explore the beautiful eastern sierras with my family.

-Anonymous

Dr. Gilmer and MOI,

Thanks for the opportunity to interview at Mammoth Lakes. I enjoyed getting to meet you after hearing so much about you and your practice. You and the team did a great job of making us feel welcome. The values and goals of the Mammoth Fellowship align with my career aspirations. Thank you again.

-Anonymous

Dr. Gilmer and MOI,

Thank you for having considered me as a candidate for the fellowship program. It was a pleasure getting to meet you and your team. It is clear that Mammoth has the resources and environment to help train a successful fellow. Regardless of the outcome I appreciated learning more about your program. Thank you again for the chance to share skills, experience, and interest.

-Anonymous

Dr. Gilmer and MOI Team,

Thank you for accepting my application for an invitation to interview. It was a true honor to be able to interview with your program. I was amazed at what you have all built at Mammoth Orthopedic Institute. The open and family environment you all have built and foster is inspiring. Everyone clearly gets along well and is in it for the right reasons. Too often, you see people complaining about ER doctors, anesthesiologists, and administrators… not praising them and hanging out with them outside of work. Your program is a great reminder about the way things should be compared to the often aggressive and confrontational atmosphere that medicine has unfortunately become in so many places with people focused on all the wrong things.

Thank you for hosting us, taking time out of your day to show us around, provide food, and entertainment at the bowling alley. It’s a great time and I was very impressed. I am looking forward to reading the book Dr. Karch provided us as well. It was nice to meet you all. I also really enjoyed the opportunity to come in a little early and get some solid skiing in… it’s always therapeutic!

-Anonymous