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Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship

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About The Fellowship

The MUSC Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship is a one-year, ACGME-accredited program located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina. Our mission is to train future leaders in sports medicine through hands-on experience, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative, patient-centered care.

Each year, we welcome two fellows from diverse primary care backgrounds—Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, and PM&R—who are passionate about working at the intersection of medicine and athletics.

What You'll Learn

Fellows work side-by-side with our experienced primary care sports medicine faculty, gaining immersive clinical experience across key domains:

  • Injury Prevention:  Evidence-based strategies to reduce injury risk.

  • Injury Evaluation and Diagnosis: Clinical expertise in acute and overuse injury assessment 

  • Rehabilitation and Non-Surgical Management: Hands-on skills to guide recovery and optimize performance

  • Team Physician Leadership: Direct experience managing athletes and teams across all levels of competition

  • Concussion Management: Fellows are deeply involved in the evaluation, treatment, and return-to-play clearance of athletes with concussions, utilizing SCAT6, neurocognitive tools, and interdisciplinary protocols

Fellows also rotate with Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeons, deepening their understanding of surgical indications, imaging, and procedural collaboration.

 

Robust Didactics & Hands-On Ultrasound Curriculum

Our fellows benefit from a structured didactic schedule designed to support CAQ preparation and advance clinical acumen. Educational sessions are case-based, interactive, and often interdisciplinary, covering both foundational topics and emerging trends in sports medicine.

Key didactic topics include:

  • Musculoskeletal exam skills and functional anatomy

  • Advanced imaging interpretation (X-ray, MRI, MSK ultrasound)

  • Concussion diagnosis, management, SCAT6/SCOAT6 training, and return-to-learn/play protocol

  • Exercise physiology and sports cardiology

  • Nutrition, supplements, and performance enhancement

  • Emergency sideline care and event preparedness

  • Return-to-play decision-making and legal considerations

  • Doping, anti-doping, and therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs)

  • Athlete mental health and performance psychology

  • Wearable technology, AI, and innovation in sports monitoring

  • Billing, documentation, and practice management in sports medicine

Fellows also complete a comprehensive longitudinal musculoskeletal ultrasound curriculum, which includes:

  • Hands-on diagnostic and interventional scanning in clinic with faculty

  • Dedicated scanning labs and ultrasound teaching sessions

Ultrasound-guided procedures such as:

  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections

  • Corticosteroid and visco-supplementation

  • Hydrodissection, aspiration, and regenerative approaches

 

Sideline to Stadium: Unparalleled Sports Coverage

What sets our program apart is the breadth and depth of real-world sports coverage. Fellows are embedded in diverse athletic environments and develop true team physician experience through hands-on involvement with:

  • Charleston Battery: USL Pro Soccer Charleston

  • RiverDogs (MiLB Tampa Bay Rays Affiliate): Minor League Baseball

  • South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL / Washington Capitals Affiliate): Professional Hockey

  • College of Charleston & The Citadel: NCAA Division I Athletics

  • Charleston-area High Schools: Head Team Physician roles 

  • Cooper River Bridge Run: One of the largest 10k races in the U.S.

  • LOWVELO Bike Ride: Charleston's premier cycling event supporting cancer research

Fellows gain significant exposure to on-field emergencies, musculoskeletal injuries, and concussion care in dynamic, high-pressure environments, preparing them to confidently lead at all levels of sport.

Why Charleston?

Charleston is a fantastic place to live and work, offering a rich blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. The downtown area is home to numerous historical sites, top-tier restaurants, and scenic parks. Surrounding communities boast beautiful beaches, grand plantations, and numerous golf courses, providing plenty of opportunities for leisurely activities.

For more information on the area, please visit the Charleston Community Guide. We are proud to share some of Charleston’s recent accolades:

  • #1 Hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report

  • #1 Small City in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler (2010-2024) 

With its vibrant culture, rich history, beautiful beaches, world-class dining, and hospitality, MUSC students and residents have a lot to love about Charleston.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Join a fellowship that offers clinical excellence, procedural mastery, sideline experience, and a truly livable coastal lifestyle. We’d love to talk with you about our program. Reach out with questions or to schedule a visit—we look forward to hearing from you.

Alec O. DeCastro, M.D.

Associate Dean, Continuing Medical Education – College of Medicine
mail decastroa@musc.edu call 843-876-7083 View Faculty Profile open_in_new View Provider Profile open_in_new View Research Profile open_in_new

Dr. Alexei DeCastro completed his family medicine residency training at McLeod Health in Florence, South Carolina in 2005. He then served in the United States Air Force in both primary care and aerospace medicine at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisiana from 2005 to 2009. He deployed to Iraq in 2008 and served as the chief physician of the intermediate care ward in the busiest trauma center of the region. He still currently serves as a flight surgeon in the USAF Reserve at Joint Base Charleston. Additionally, he completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine in 2009. He then returned to Charleston, SC with his family and worked in urgent care prior to joining MUSC in 2012.

Dr. DeCastro has extensive training in the non-operative management of musculoskeletal problems, from acute injury through rehabilitation, and is trained in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for diagnostic and treatment purposes. His main areas of interest are sports medicine, sports-related concussions, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and medical education. He also serves as team physician for the Charleston Battery, Charleston RiverDogs, College of Charleston athletics, SC Stingrays, and tournament physician for professional tennis with the WTA at the Volvo Car Open.
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