Past Fellows | Graduate Medical Education

Danielle Thornberry, D.O., 2023
Head Team Physician, Ohio University
Nonsurgical Orthopedic Sports Medicine Physician, OhioHealth

Fellowship at UConn was easily the most fun, educational, and valuable year of my medical training. The faculty excels at meeting each fellow where they are, individualizing training based on fellows’ level of experience but ensuring equity in that both grow and excel as the year progresses. The musculoskeletal ultrasound and procedural training is second to none with large volume, a variety of procedures, and a collegial working environment in the UConn orthopedic department. There was ample opportunity to learn the ins and outs of being a Division 1 NCAA Team Physician, from medicine to the nuances of working on a high-level athletic team. It was clear from day one that we fellows were respected as a part of the medical team with an important role, not just as spectators. I enjoyed every aspect of my year, from our various clinic experiences, UConn sports coverage and training rooms, more autonomous D3 experience at ECSU, and unique mass event coverage. I built lifelong friendships with my co-fellow (shoutout Brandon), faculty, and other sports medicine staff and created memories that I will cherish forever. Through my fellowship year, I gained the skills to confidently transition to an attending career as a team physician in Division 1 athletics and a clinical role as a nonsurgical orthopedic physician. I can confidently say that I got the best well-rounded training possible at UConn. Also, New England is amazing!!!

James Smith, M.D./M.P.H., 2022
Family Medicine, Sports Medicine Physician

Fellowship was a great learning and growing experience. Throughout the year, I saw diverse and complicated pathologies of both musculoskeletal and medical conditions. During sideline coverage, I always got to take an active role on the medical staff; there was no shadowing. It was a blast to cover a wide range of events, including mass events, UConn athletics, D3, high school, and MMA/boxing. The teamwork between all the attendings, trainers, and staff set the foundation for a supportive and fun environment. One of the reasons I chose UConn was the U.S. curriculum, which did not disappoint. In learning sessions, training rooms, and clinics, I got the opportunity to practice both procedures and diagnostic evaluations.

Advise: Going from being a confident senior resident to a new fellow–who feels like they know nothing– is a rough transition. There is a steep learning curve, and you must be patient. Be gracious with yourself as you learn U.S. Fellowship will take you out of your comfort zone, so lean into it and take all opportunities to learn, ask questions and have fun.

Samantha Stuek, M.D., 2022
PCSM Physician, Hospital for Special Surgery
Team Physician, United States Biathlon team
Team Physician, St. John's University Athletics

As a native of Connecticut I was always interested in going to UConn. While the opportunity to care for Division 1 athletes at such a prestigious institution was a major draw, it was the people who ultimately convinced me that this was the right place for me. The program’s exceptional collegiality promised a great learning environment where I could grow as a fellow, build valuable relationships, and find mentors to support me throughout my career as a sports medicine physician.

This program stands out for its unparalleled diversity of learning experiences. It offers a well-rounded exposure to a range of athletes, including Division 1 and Division 3 athletics, professional soccer players, MMA fighters, and high school teams. Moreover, you will feel fully integrated with the entire team, from athletic trainers to primary sports medicine physicians and orthopedists. The training here has helped me to be successful in my sports medicine practice today in team coverage and ultrasound interventions.

Elizabeth Manetta, M.D., 2021
Sports Medicine Physician

I was ecstatic the day I matched to UConn for my sports medicine fellowship. The education, hands-on experiences and coverage opportunities at this program are incredible. Although I wasn’t able to experience the full scope of what the program has to offer due to the pandemic shutdown, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to train here. Dr. Hall and the rest of the faculty are deeply invested in fellows’ education and are wonderful teachers and mentors. The ultrasound curriculum is truly a bright spot. And, most of all, the collegiality among ALL members of the UConn team - from faculty, trainers, and staff to the cooperation between ortho, radiology and other specialties - makes this a very welcoming and inclusive place to work and learn.

Kristopher Tupper, D.O., 2021
Physician at the Orthopaedic Specialty Group, LLC, Fairfield County

I thought it would be difficult to choose between the many amazing Sports Medicine fellowship programs that I had the opportunity to visit on either side of the country. After spending 4 weeks with the UConn faculty and fellows on an elective rotation I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else to complete my training. I kept coming back to UConn’s long-standing program history and the strength of its curriculum between Division I collegiate and professional sideline coverage opportunities, ultrasound didactics and practice, and longitudinal orthopedic and radiology rotations. Other opportunities for UConn fellows to participate in a week long Ski Medicine rotation at Whiteface and for coverage of the Boston Marathon and Lake Placid Iron Man were huge draws as well. It’s a testament to the strength of UConn’s program that all of its core faculty are former UConn Sports Medicine alumni themselves, and this creates a strong sense of camaraderie, family and community both in-and-outside of the workplace that I could not resist. Ultimately, UConn felt like a place I could call home so became the obvious first choice! I can say from my own experience, there are not many programs like UConn where it’s interdisciplinary Sports Medicine team will place enough trust in the fellows to have first crack at evaluating even the most elite of its injured athletes on the sidelines or in training room. For prospective candidates, you will have no regrets about getting to spend a year with this amazing group of talented Sports Medicine faculty and lifelong mentors!

Zachary Maass, D.O., 2020
Assistant Clinical Professor
UConn Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Storrs, CT

The best decision I made in my medical career was pursuing the sports medicine fellowship at UConn. For those considering serving as a team physician at any level, you should seriously consider the UConn fellowship. The unprecedented access to UConn athletes, the hands-on professional team coverage, the unique mass-event coverage, the ski clinic experience, the autonomous high school coverage, and the ubiquitous nature of ultrasound throughout the entire fellowship year make it one of the best fellowships in the nation. I loved my experience at UConn and it was only possible because of the family-like atmosphere amongst the sports medicine staff. I would not change a single thing about my experience at UConn.

Pedram Sinai, M.D., 2020
Sports Medicine Physician

Immediately after my interview I felt UConn would be the right place for me and I couldn’t have been more right. Aside from the ample hands on opportunities to care for athletes of all levels over this past year, what stood out most to me was how supportive and invested the faculty were in my training and overall success. Each faculty member genuinely cared and went out of their way to make sure I was getting the most out my fellowship experience. Having now completed my fellowship I feel extremely prepared to work within any sports medicine niche which is a result of how well rounded the program is. I am grateful to my UConn family for setting me up for success and very excited to begin my career working as primary care sports medicine physician in the Baltimore area.

Christopher J. Lonegan, D.O., 2019
Sports Medicine Physician
Access sports medicine and orthopedics in coastal New Hampshire

Of all the places I considered for fellowship, I felt that UConn was the most collegial work atmosphere. Throughout the fellowship, we had the opportunity to work with high school, collegiate, and professional teams. My current role includes team coverage of five local high school teams, and the goal is to expand high school coverage and training room hours. My experience at UConn covering two high schools autonomously has given me the knowledge and experience to take on this new challenge with confidence.

Angelo Savino, M.D., 2018
Sports Medicine Physician
Working with an orthopedic group in northwest suburbs of Chicago

I chose UConn to get the best sports medicine education and experience in the country. What attracted me to UConn was the opportunity to get sports medicine experience at every athletic level: high school, Division 1 college, and professional. At UConn, I had the opportunity to train with the some of the best and most respected sports physicians in the country, which has prepare me well for clinical practice.

My current role includes taking care of nonoperative general orthopedic patients, sports medicine related injuries and team coverage. Team coverage includes over seven different local high schools, Lake Forest College, and the Chicago Red Stars female professional soccer team.

Peter J. Obourn, D.O., 2018
Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics
University of Rochester Medical Center
Division of Sports Medicine
Team Physician, Rochester Knighthawks NLL Lacrosse

I chose the UConn sports medicine fellowship program because of the immediate connection I felt with the faculty, and everyone involved with the program shared my passion for sports medicine. The program was also attractive for the fact that it offered the opportunity to work closely with high level Division 1 and professional teams. The biggest strength of the program is its ability to provide a wide array of settings within which to practice sports medicine. I had the opportunity to see patients in the local community clinic, be the sole team physician for two local area high schools, work with operative and non-operative providers in both a university and private practice setting, and be involved with team coverage for multiple Division 1 college sports teams. I am very happy and proud to have had the opportunity to receive my training with the UConn program.