HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwired - September 20, 2013) - The Primary Care Sports Medicine (PCSM) Fellowship program at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine strengthens its footing within Houston and advances the scope of sports medicine, as its first fellows graduate and two more begin.

The Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital PCSM program along with its sister program at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital are unique in that they are both attached academically to the same family medicine residency program, which is also run by Houston Methodist Hospital.Together, they represent the largest Primary Care Sports Medicine training program in Texas. The program provides fellows with a broader understanding of the unique needs of the athletic population -- setting a unique precedence in sports medicine training.

According to PCSM Fellowship Director Scott Rand, M.D., FAAFP CAQSM, the fellows receive multidisciplinary training on advanced diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and concussions.They also gain a detailed understanding of the relationship between exercise and certain medical conditions.

In addition to injuries typically associated with sports medicine, such as sprains, ligament and tendon injuries and fractures and dislocations, PCSM also involves the overall medical care of athletes and active patients of all ages.Concussions, asthma, heart problems, diabetes and nutrition and exercise are also among the issues on which PCSM doctors focus and fellows are specifically trained.

In 2011 the program received accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) through a peer review process and thorough evaluation of established standards and guidelines.There are just 120 accredited programs around the country.

"We are training a new type of specialist, who has the training and experience to care for athletes. In an era of concussion management and the renewed focus on fitness and exercise in medicine, primary care sports medicine doctors specialize in the overall needs of the athlete," said Rand, who is also the director of the first Houston Methodist Human Performance Lab.

"The primary care sports medicine fellowship program is unlike any other that currently exists in the United States -- supported entirely by the hospital with no government funding. We are fortunate that Houston Methodist Hospital sees the value that this specialty has and the need the community has for it -- choosing to fund these programs internally," added Rand.

Rand, who is board certified in family medicine with certificate of added qualifications (CAQ) in sports medicine, oversees all aspects of training and education that the fellows receive -- including experience treating a broad range of injuries and conditions, computerized neuropsychological testing in concussion management, electrophysiology, and other elective rotations in Orthopedic subspecialties, cardiology, and neuropsychology.

According to Beryl Ramsey, chief executive officer, Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital and senior vice president of Houston Methodist Hospital the PCSM Fellowship is a significant accomplishment and part of an ongoing commitment to both anticipate and meet the community's needs.

"We recognize the value of such a program -- providing physicians with the skills necessary to care for all of the needs of an active population. This is particularly important today as we stay active longer," added Ramsey.

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First of Its Kind Primary Care Sports Medicine (PCSM) Fellowship Program, Located at Houston Methodist Willowbrook ...