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To support graduate student career success, the MS program in Sports Medicine offers experiential opportunities that combine academic scholarship and professional practice. These career-related experiences allow students to be immersed in a work environment that will build their skillset, deepen their knowledge, and bolster career confidence. Each of these experiences allows for hands-on opportunities, professional networking, and personal development. In addition, each of these positions includes a scholarship. The amount of funding varies by year.  

To be considered for one of these positions, applications to the MS in Sports Medicine program must be received by January 15. In your personal statement, in addition to other essay requirements, express your interest and qualifications for one of the positions being offered.   

If applicants are recommended for admission into the program, qualified applicants will be required to interview with the program faculty for final selection of the experiential position and scholarship.  

Experiential positions vary by year.

Open Experiential Positions: 2023-24

Athletic Trainer – Pitt Club Sports

The Athletic Trainer (AT) candidate is hired through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Sports Medicine and will have the opportunity to provide autonomous health care to the University of Pittsburgh Club Sports student-athletes. The Department of Campus Recreation oversees the club sports activities. The AT has access to UPMC Sports Medicine physicians and specialists as well as the University Health Services. In addition to the scholarship, this position includes hourly compensation as determined by UPMC Sports Medicine. 

Responsibilities:

  • Provide injury evaluation and treatment to competitive club sport student-athletes
  • Coordinate with Pitt Club Sports Medical Liaisons for event coverage
  • On-campus (primary) competitions and off-campus home event travel
  • Effectively communicate with the Campus Rec staff, teams, AT supervisor
  • Order/re-stocking supplies as needed
  • Assist with UPMC casual call requests
  • Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Medicine (MS) program
  • Board of Certification, Inc (BOC) certification (by the start of the fall semester)
  • PA Board of Medicine license (by the start of the fall semester)
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification
  • Available 20 hours per week

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Prior experience as certified athletic trainer or athletic training student
  • Skills: organization, communication, collaboration

READ MORE ABOUT THIS EXPERIENTIAL OPPORTUNITY

Community Engagement Fellow – SHRS Wellness Pavilion

The Community Engagement Fellow candidate will have the opportunity to work in a community-focused environment at the SHRS Wellness Pavilion. The Wellness Pavilion is a student-led community space that offers person-centered inter-professional services and programs which aim to improve, maintain, and promote the health and wellness of Homewood residents and surrounding communities across the lifespan.  

Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a liaison to the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition and the Wellness Pavilion 
  • Work with the program coordinator, SHRS faculty, and community partners to create programming and initiatives for the Homewood community members 
  • Implement, supervise, and attend programming 
  • Effectively communicate with the Wellness Pavilion team, faculty, and students  
  • Other duties as assigned 

Requirements:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Medicine (MS) program 
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification (training can be provided) 
  • Available 10 hours per week

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Experience in community engagement/outreach 
  • Interest in working with community members across the lifespan 
  • Ability to have conversations with community and university leadership 
  • Experience with creating marketing, advertising, and social media content

Exercise Specialist – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

The Exercise Specialist candidate will have the opportunity to work in a patient-centered environment and interact with a multi-disciplinary team to provide customized, holistic, whole-person care at the Wellness and Integrative Oncology Program (WIOP) at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. The providers offer suggestions for how to use food, exercise, hands-on therapies, and mindfulness to improve symptoms and quality of life. 

Responsibilities:

  • Provide exercise prescription to Wellness and Integrative Oncology patients within the Wellness Suite and Studios at the Hillman Cancer Center that is safe, supervised by physician, and addresses symptoms and quality of life for oncology patients 
  • Effectively communicate with the Wellness and Integrative Oncology team including pre- and post-intervention symptoms assessment, co-creation and co-implementation of integrative care plan, and timely completion of documentation 
  • Follow ambulatory clinic procedures regarding consent forms and infection-control 
  • Maintain patient confidentiality and sensitivity during all patient interactions 
  • Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Medicine (MS) program 
  • Minimum Certification: National Strength and Conditioning Association – CSCS or CPT or American College of Sports Medicine – CPT or EP-C 
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification (training can be provided) 
  • Available 10 hours per week

Preferred Qualifications/Experience: 

  • Preferred Certification NSCA - Certified Special Population Specialist or ACSM/ACS – Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer 
  • Note – if candidate does not have specialty certification, it will be expected that within the first year, student will obtain the ACSM/ACS Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer certification

 

Other Experiential Opportunities – Inquire for availability 

Athletic Trainer – Chatham University 

The Athletic Trainer (AT) candidate is hired through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Sports Medicine and will have the opportunity to provide health care to the student-athletes at Chatham University. Located just 2 miles from Pitt’s campus, Chatham University is a NCAA Division III athletics program. A team of UPMC athletic trainers, sports medicine physicians, and orthopedic surgeons collaborate to provide comprehensive care for the student-athletes. In addition to the scholarship, this position includes an hourly compensation as determined by UPMC Sports Medicine.  

Responsibilities:

  • Provide athletic training services to the student-athletes as assigned  
  • Collaborate with the athletic training staff at Chatham University  
  • Effectively communicate with coaches, and UPMC Sports Medicine clinicians  
  • Provide weekly time sheets to UPMC Sports Medicine   
  • Other duties as assigned  

Requirements:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Medicine (MS) program  
  • Board of Certification, Inc (BOC) certification (by the start of the fall semester)  
  • PA Board of Medicine license (by the start of the fall semester)  
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification   
  • Available 20 hours per week   

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Prior experience as certified athletic trainer or athletic training student

Athletic Trainer – Pittsburgh Passion

The Athletic Trainer (AT) candidate is hired through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Sports Medicine and will have the opportunity to provide autonomous health care to the Pittsburgh Passion professional women’s football team. The AT will collaborate with UPMC Sports Medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, and other specialists to deliver comprehensive health care. In addition to the scholarship, this position includes hourly compensation as determined by UPMC Sports Medicine. 

Responsibilities:

  • Provide athletic training services to a diverse athletic population
  • Effectively communicate with coaching staff
  • Effectively communicate with the UPMC Sports Medicine physicians and specialists
  • Provide weekly time sheets to UPMC Sports Medicine
  • Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Medicine (MS) program
  • Board of Certification, Inc (BOC) certification (by the start of the fall semester)
  • PA Board of Medicine license (by the start of the fall semester)
  • First Aid/CPR/AED certification
  • Available 20 hours per week

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Prior experience as certified athletic trainer or athletic training student

 

Student Researcher – Neuromuscular Research Laboratory (NMRL)

 

Successful applicants should have a strong desire to pursue a career in human performance research. The student will gain valuable hands-on research experience across several research studies and can develop a thesis project within the capabilities of the lab resources and interests. The NMRL is staffed by multidisciplinary research faculty and graduate students. The successful applicant will be given the opportunity to aid projects funded by the Department of Defense centered around performance optimization and injury prevention in both tactical and athletic populations. 

Responsibilities:

  • Data processing and management
  • Database entry of laboratory 
  • Database management 
  • Collection of biological samples (muscle and blood) 
  • Body composition and bone density scans 
  • Biomechanical performance assessments 
  • Other duties as assigned  

Requirements:

  • Acceptance to the Sports Medicine (MS) program 
  • Ability to work flexible hours (i.e. early mornings and weekends) 
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office products 
  • Available 10 hours per week  

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

  • Previous human subjects research experience  
  • Undergraduate degree in athletic training, exercise physiology, kinesiology, bioengineering, or related field 
  • Experience with or a desire to learn data analysis and statistical methods 
  • CPR/AED certification (training can be provided)