Orthopaedic Fellowship
Banff Sport Medicine Foundation Fellowship in Sport Medicine and Arthroscopic Reconstruction of the Knee and Shoulder
Fellowship Director
Fellowship Contact
Michaela Kopka MD FRCSC Dip Sport Med
Michaela Kopka MD FRCSC Dip Sport Med
Surgeons
Laurie Hiemstra, PhD, MD, FRCSC
Greg Buchko, MD, FRCSC
Michaela Kopka, MD, FRCSC, Dip Sport Med
Mark Heard MD FRCSC Dip Sport Med
Location
Banff Sport Medicine, Canmore, Alberta
Banff Sport Medicine Foundation (BSMF) is pleased to offer a fellowship in Orthopaedic Sport Medicine, accredited by the Arthroscopy Association of Canada through the Canadian Orthopaedic Association. This is a 12 month fellowship based out of the Mineral Springs Hospital in Banff and the Banff Sport Medicine Clinic in Canmore, Alberta, Canada.
Eligibility for certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC) is a requirement for application.
Training will include structured rotations with four sport medicine sub-specialty trained Orthopaedic surgeons. The focus will be on advanced arthroscopic and open reconstructive techniques about the knee and shoulder. The Fellow will be involved in a high volume and broad scope of cases including: primary and revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, treatment of recurrent patellar instability including trochleoplasty, tibial and femoral osteotomies, osteochondral and meniscal allograft transplantation, and shoulder surgery including arthroscopic stabilization, Latarjet, Remplissage, and rotator cuff repair. A typical clinical work week will consist of 2 OR and 2 clinic days with one day allocated for research activities. The Banff Sport Medicine surgeons work intimately with primary sport medicine physicians and physiotherapists, and the Fellow will participate in multi-disciplinary clinics and educational opportunities. Basic trauma coverage will also be encountered, and the Fellow will be responsible for a weekly Fracture Clinic during the trauma season.
How To Apply
Interested applicants are asked to forward a letter of intent, current curriculum vitae and three supportive letters of reference.
We are currently accepting applications for 2026-2027 until 31st October, 2024. Successful applicants will be contacted for an interview to be conducted in January 2025.
Please address all correspondence to:
Dr. Michaela Kopka MD, FRCSC, Dip Sport Med
Director of Education, Banff Sport Medicine Foundation
What to expect:
Research
Banff Sport Medicine is particularly fortunate to have a very active research program through BSMF. Fellows will be expected to complete, present and publish a research project during their Fellowship. Fellows may attend pertinent conferences to present their research. Funding for conferences will depend on the quality of the research project.
Education
Further educational opportunities such as participation in wet labs and teaching of residents and medical students are intermittently available. The Fellow will participate in Banff Sport Medicine Journal Club which takes place 3-4 times per year. The Fellow will also be also responsible for 1-2 presentations to local emergency and family physicians on relevant orthopaedic topics throughout the year. Further opportunities to present on injury prevention, treatment, and recovery within the community will also be available.
Sport Coverage
Banff and the Bow Valley is an active outdoor community that hosts a variety of National and International sporting events each year. The Banff Sport Medicine physicians are involved with providing coverage for events such as FIS World Cup Ski and Snowboard, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo. They also work directly as team physicians for Canadian Pro Rodeo, Alpine Canada, and Canada Snowboard. Opportunities exist for the fellow to participate in event coverage as well as team travel when appropriate. We encourage striving for the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM) on-field coverage criteria and certification during the Fellowship year.
Funding
Remuneration will be directly from Alberta Health billing. Thirty percent overage of all billings will be charged for administration of the Fellowship and to support the BSMF research and education programs. Start up expenses (College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta licensing fee, Canadian Medical Protective Association insurance coverage, and any other administrative fees associated with licensing in Alberta) are the responsibility of the Fellow. Research funding for BSMF Fellows is available for appropriate and high quality proposals by application.
