FAQ

What specialties do you accept? How long has your program been in existence? Will I be able to pass my CAQ exam upon graduation from your fellowship? What does your compensation package look like? Can I take vacation time during the fellowship year? Can I come and do a rotation?

What specialties do you accept?

We have two dedicated positions for candidates with a background in any primary care specialty, including family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics, and emergency medicine. We have another one-two dedicated positions for physical medicine and rehabilitation candidates that follow a two-year Spine and Sports Fellowship. We accept candidates with J-1 visas but not H1b visas.

All DO candidates must have taken COMLEX 3 in order to obtain a Michigan license.

How long has your program been in existence?

The Michigan State University Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship has been in existence since 1986. It was originally established by Dr. David Hough, one of the founding members of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM), to provide care to the community athletes and continues to flourish to this day.

Will I be able to pass my CAQ exam upon graduation from your fellowship?

Graduates to date have found that Sparrow/MSU Sports Medicine Fellowship prepares them well for passing the certificate of added qualification (CAQ) exam. Fellows participate in the in-training exam and find the results helpful in guiding their education and study.

What does your compensation package look like?

For the 2025-26 academic year, the salary is $67,000. Fellows are given conference days for continuing medical education and provided $1500 of CME for the year; reimbursement up to $500.00 is available for relocation/moving expenses when relocating for the fellowship.

The fellowship provides payment in full for:

Medical education license
Medical malpractice insurance
Fellows have the ability to participate in health insurance (there are 2 plans to choose from), dental insurance, and medical / daycare reimbursement accounts.

Can I take vacation time during the fellowship year?

Fellows receive 20 working days of time off and must submit a request to use their time six weeks in advance. Requests must be approved by the program director. Fellows also have opportunities to take additional time away for CME and job interviews.

Fellows are required to present cases and/or research projects at the yearly meetings for MWACSM, AMSSM and/or ACSM; compensatory time off is provided.

Can I come and do a rotation?

We welcome residents from any accredited program to explore life as a sports medicine fellow by completing a sports medicine rotation with us.

Prior approval from our fellowship program director is required. The rotation is designed to mirror the schedule of our sports medicine fellows. If you are interested, please contact the fellowship coordinator or clinical site coordinator:

Fellowship Coordinator:

Roxanne Burnham
Sparrow Family Medicine Residency
MSU Sports Medicine Fellowship
Phone: 517.364.5783
Fax: 517.364.5764
Email: roxanne.burnham@u mhsparrow.org

Clinical Site Coordinator:

April Arras
4660 S. Hagadorn Rd, Suite 420
East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: (517) 353-4100
Fax: (517) 884-6234
com.orthopedics(at)msu.edu