Non-Operative Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Fellowship
This Pediatric Non-Operative Orthopedic Medicine Fellowship is a one-year, non-ACGME accredited training program designed to prepare physicians to become leaders in pediatric musculoskeletal and sports medicine care. The fellowship emphasizes comprehensive, evidence-based, non-surgical management of orthopedic and sports conditions in children and adolescents across clinic, training room, and sideline settings.
Fellows develop advanced competencies in pediatric orthopedic care, sports injury evaluation and management, fracture care, concussion management and longitudinal athlete care. Training includes sideline sports coverage, team physician experience, and hands-on skill development in musculoskeletal ultrasound and image-guided injections. Graduates are prepared to manage a broad range of pediatric MSK conditions with confidence and independence.
Training takes place at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Pediatric Orthopedic Center in South Florida, a nationally recognized, high-volume pediatric program serving one of the country’s most diverse and rapidly growing regions, with strong year-round youth and competitive athletic participation. This setting supports a wide range of case complexity and clinical volume. Fellows benefit from broad clinical exposure, multidisciplinary collaboration, and continuous sports coverage opportunities.
- Length of Program: 1 year
- Accreditation: Non-ACGME
- Focus: Non-Operative Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Start Date: August 1
- Applications Open: September 1 (rolling review until filled)
- Completion of a pediatrics or related residency program from an ACGME-accredited institution is required prior to the start of fellowship
- Must hold a Florida medical license at start, or be eligible to obtain one
- Salary and benefits aligned with FY1 compensation structure
- Standard institutional benefits package
8 Months of Scheduled Compulsory Rotations + 4 Months Elective
Core Rotations (Required)
-
Sports Medicine – 4 months
- 3 months with non-operative sports/orthopedic physicians
- 1 month with orthopedic surgeons
- Spine & Scoliosis – 1 month
- Hand & Upper Extremity – 1 month
- Lower Limb / Hip / Cerebral Palsy – 1 month
- Foot & Ankle / Clubfoot – 1 month
Elective Rotations (4 Months Total — Customizable)
Electives are tailored to fellow interests and career goals and may include:
- Adult Orthopedics
- Advanced MSK Ultrasound & Procedures
- Pediatric Rheumatology
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
- Sports Psychology
- Musculoskeletal Radiology
- Procedural and Injection Clinics
- Biweekly didactic sessions led by faculty and the fellow
- Monthly journal club focused on pediatric MSK and sports medicine literature
- Structured procedural and ultrasound teaching
- Required scholarly project suitable for presentation or publication
-
Supported submission and presentation at national meetings such as:
- AMSSM
- IPOS
Alexandre R. Boulos, MD
Medical School: Brown University
Residency: Brown University
Fellowships: Brown University, Rady Children's Hospital
Randolph B. Cohen, MD, FACS, FAAP
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Fellowships: Scottish Rite Hospital For Crippled Children
Michael Dressing, MD, FAAP
Medical School: Wright State School of Medicine
Residency: University of South Florida
Fellowships: Orlando Regional Healthcare System
Eric A. Eisner, MD, FACS
Medical School: University of California, Davis, School of Medicine
Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Fellowships: Rady Children's Hospital
Mathew L. Fazekas, MD, FAAP
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Residency: Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Fellowships: Boston Children's Hospital - Harvard Medical School
Jeremy S. Frank, MD, FACS, FAAP
Medical School: Northwestern University Medical School
Residency: University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial Hospital
Fellowships: Boston Children's Hospital - Harvard Medical School
Michael H. Jofe, MD, FACS, FAAP
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School - Harvard University
Fellowships: Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School Program
Neal P. McNerney, MD, FACS, FAAP
Medical School: University of Michigan School of Medicine
Residency: William Beaumont Army Medical Center
Fellowships: Children's Hospital of San Diego
Stephen M. Plachta, MD, FACS
Medical School: Chicago Medical School
Residency: St Louis University School of Medicine
Fellowships: Columbia University
Hayley Sacks, MD
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medical College
Residency: NYU Langone
Fellowships: Children's Hospital of Colorado
Stephen K. Storer, MD, FACS, FAAP
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Residency: Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Fellowships: Boston Children's Hospital - Harvard Medical School
Stanley Szybinsky, MD
Medical School: University of Queensland School of Medicine & Ochsner Clinical School
Residency: Memorial Healthcare System
Fellowships: Baylor College of Medicine
Jeffrey Thomson, MD
Medical School: George Washington University
Residency: Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Fellowships: University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial Hospital
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements listed above should submit the following materials by email to Melissa Vale at mvale@mhs.net:
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Personal statement
-
Three to four letters of recommendation
- Preferably including one from your residency program director
- One from an orthopedic or sports medicine faculty member
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For questions about the fellowship or application process, please contact:
- Melissa Vale: mvale@mhs.net
- Michael Dressing: mdressing@mhs.net
POSNA and AAP
To learn more about the pediatric nonoperative orthopedic fellowship, please visit the POSNA and AAP websites.
Additional Information/Questions
For more information about the Non-Operative Pediatric Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Fellowship please contact:
- Michael Dressing, MD: mdressing@mhs.net
- Mathew L. Fazekas, MD: mfazekas@mhs.net
- Szybinsky, MD: Sszybinski@mhs.net
- Melissa Vale: mvale@mhs.net
