The association between healthcare professionals and athletes is as old as sport itself. The Greek anatomist Claudius Galenus of Pergamum was appointed special Physician to the Gladiators around 200AD. Since then, a legion of skilled surgeons, trainers, psychologists, nurses, and massage therapists have enjoyed the privilege of working for their favorite professional sports teams and Olympic athletes around the globe. Luckily, for those who dream of working with their favorite professional sports teams, fast-track online degree programs in healthcare are available to train people to work in nursing, sports psychology, athletic training, and other careers.
Degrees in Healthcare That Support the Team
People from all walks of life who have a yen to practice sports medicine can find a range of professional disciplines that allow them access to the world's finest athletes. Consider the breadth of healthcare specialties in top demand by professional sports teams, amateur athletics, and college or high school sports organizations:
- Athletic trainers
- Exercise physiologists, biomechanics consults, and kinesiologists
- Nutritionists and dietitians
- Podiatrists
- Sport psychologists
- Physical therapists and massage therapists
- Team nurses
- Orthopedic professionals
Long-distance learning options--online nursing schools, online medical specialty degree programs, and online psychology degree programs--have widened career opportunities for those who already have occupations and want to specialize in sports medicine without compromising their work or family commitments.
Rewarding Experience for Professionals with Medical Degrees
Financial considerations aside (although they are frequently outstanding), healthcare professionals see the results of their work written large on the scoreboard as their clients surpass their own athletic expectations. One of the best-compensated sports doctors, Sabino Padilla, worked as the physician for Spanish runner Martín Fiz, who won the marathon at the 1994 European Championships and the World Championships and Rotterdam Marathon in 1995.
"The sportsman must believe in you," Padilla says. "If not, your work is useless." Padilla also served as the head training physician for Spanish cycling great Miguel Indurain and the Spanish Athletic Soccer Club. Physical and emotional stress on the professional athlete, Padilla reports, is twice that for any other competing individual.
The Bush Administration recently appointed sports physician, David H. Janda, to the Board of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "The bad news," Dr. Janda told USA TODAY, "is that the majority of sports injuries can be severe and can carry significant long-term ramifications from pain, disability, and cost standpoints. The good news is that nearly 80% are avoidable. The answer falls under the umbrella of prevention--the biggest bang for the buck in all of medicine."
Some medical clinics form special groups of physicians, nurses, and trainers that work on exclusive retainers to America's top athletic teams. Physicians, like Dr. Warren King, with Palo Alto Medical Foundation's Sports Medicine Department (PAMF) serve professional teams in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Before heading north to the Bay Area to work with the San Francisco 49ers, Dr. King worked with Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, and Kings. He is currently an orthopedic surgeon for the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland Raiders, the United States Rugby Organization, and for teams in the soccer World Cup. He also makes time to work with student athletes in Bay Area colleges and high schools.
Online Health Care and Medical Degrees Can Hook You Up
Not everyone gets to be an orthopedic surgeon for a major sports team. But there are plenty of health care careers with top professional and college athletic organizations for practitioners in other healthcare disciplines.
The following paths to glory may be able to speed you into the sports health care professions. Many of these programs can be taken online:
- Nurses: Students can complete a Master of Science Degree in Nursing online in as little as 18 months.
- Physical therapists: Most state certifications require a master's degree to begin a physical therapy practice. Many online schools offer advanced degrees in physical therapy. One can also choose to become a physical therapist assistant, which requires less training and still offers the perks of working close to the athletes.
- Sport and exercise psychologists: Colleges across the country offer online graduate-level courses in sports psychology skills and psychological assessment of athletes. Two and four-year counseling and psychology degrees are available online.
- Massage therapists: Traditional colleges and universities--as well as accredited health-care trade schools--offer online associate's level degrees as well as diplomas and certificates in massage therapy. All states have their own licensing requirements.
The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics projects a higher than average need for healthcare professionals in all fields through 2014. With median annual salaries ranging from $32,000 for massages therapists to $60,000 for physical therapists, a health care career in sports could provide an opportunity to help your favorite major league or college team bring home a winning season.
