> Skip repeated content

Rehabilitation

HSS and New York Mets Baseball Club Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship

The HSS and New York Mets Baseball Club Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship is a clinically-based training program for physical therapists seeking to specialize in sports upper extremity physical therapy.

This non-accredited fellowship program's mission is to prepare each fellow for both the clinical and on field challenges experienced by Major League Baseball’s rehab and performance staff. This fellowship will accelerate professional development through the unique educational experiences which include mentoring, research opportunities, rehab progressions, surgical observation as well as on and off field player management. These experiences will allow each fellow to provide superior patient care and enhanced patient outcomes. This fellowship is designed to prepare each candidate with the tools and training required to work in Major League Baseball and be leaders in the field of sports physical therapy.

Time Commitment and Salary

The HSS and New York Mets Baseball Club Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship is a full-time position, 13 months in duration. The fellow is expected to work 40-45 hours/week. Approximately 30% of their time is spent in educational experiences and 70% providing supervised care. A salary and benefits package is provided.

Important Dates

  • The fellowship runs from August 1 - August 31
  • The application deadline is May 1

Application Form (pdf)

Minimum requirements for applicants

  • US citizenship
  • Graduation from an accredited physical therapy program
  • Malpractice insurance (minimum $1 mil per occurrence/$3 mil aggregate)
  • ONE of the following: a current ATC designation, current license as an EMT, OR certification as an Emergency Responder
  • Current NY State Physical Therapy license in good standing, along with a current FL State Physical Therapy license or demonstrate an ability to obtain Florida licensure
  • Possess ABPTS Sports or Orthopedic board certification or completion of prior ABPTFRE accredited sports physical residency

How to Apply

Application and supporting materials should be submitted to Terrence Sgroi, PT, DPT, SCS, MTC, Fellowship Director, via email at sgroit@hss.edu

Your application packet will need to include:

  • A completed and signed application form (pdf)
  • Your resume/curriculum vitae, including academic and clinical education, continuing education, clinical and other relevant experience
  • A brief summary (400-800 words) of your relevant clinical experiences thus far, with an emphasis on sports rehabilitation and sports medicine exposures'
  • A short essay (one page) explaining your reasons for applying for the clinical residency, your goals and why you consider yourself to be a good candidate
  • Three letters of professional reference

Admissions Process

Applications are evaluated by the Upper Extremity Fellowship Director and faculty based on:

  • Admission criteria listed above
  • Academic and clinical education, continuing education, and other relevant experience
  • Clinical experience in sports medicine/rehabilitation
  • Verbal and written communication skills
  • Demonstration of leadership, professionalism, and commitment

All applicants are screened prior to interview selection and admission into the fellowship program. The Fellowship Director and faculty select the top candidates each year based on the criteria described above. In accordance with hospital policy, all employment-related decisions, including program recruitment, admission, retention, and dismissal, are made without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, national origin, marital status, age (18 or older), disability, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

Curriculum

The curriculum of the HSS and New York Mets Baseball Club Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship is designed to provide each candidate with a comprehensive program consisting of didactic and clinical experiences, with a focus on the upper extremity with exposure to all core and lower extremity injuries. The fellow will receive guidance and mentoring from physicians, sports rehab and performance staff at Hospital for Special Surgery and the New York Mets Baseball Club. Curriculum consists of literature reviews, readings, didactic modules which cover a variety of topics in the overhead athlete, lab sessions focusing on evaluation and treatment of the overhead athlete, case reviews, research and teaching opportunities as well as physician clinic and surgery observation.

The fellowship program will require participants to complete a minimum of 1,000 total program hours which includes 150 educational hours and 850 patient-care clinical hours inclusive of 150 hours of 1:1 mentoring throughout the program. Throughout the program each fellow will have individualized guidance on current best practices, patient care and evidence-based practice.

HSS Sports Rehabilitation and Performance West Side will be the clinical site for this fellowship. The fellow will travel to Port St. Lucie, FL in February where they will spend the remainder of their fellowship with the New York Mets under the guidance of their Major and Minor league rehabilitation specialists.

Program Goals

  • Provide fellows with a comprehensive program including didactic, clinical and observational experiences in the specialty of the Upper Extremity Athlete in Sports Physical Therapy
  • Produce highly trained clinicians who understand the unique demands of the overhead athlete in a Major League Baseball setting
  • Develop clinicians who are competent in treatment and progression of basic and complex injuries in the overhead athlete
  • Develop clinicians who exhibit the highest level of professionalism and who are willing to give back to the field as researchers, educators, leaders and mentors
  • Train the clinician to manage upper extremity cases from acute injury to return to play

Contact for additional information

Terrance Sgroi, PT, DPT, SCS, MTC, Fellowship Director at sgroit@hss.edu.