SDSM Fellowship Program

San Diego Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine Fellowship

Fellowship Student, Dr. Kersey, and Dr. Tasto

San Diego Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center sponsors a 12-month Fellowship Program known as the San Diego Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Fellowship. This program provides a unique opportunity to provide a high level of training to new physicians, as well as the opportunity to conduct much needed research. Recently the US National Action Network has designated 2000-2010 "The Decade of Bone and Joint Research." The fellowship program plans to make a significant contribution to the study of musculoskeletal diseases in the next few years.

The first fellow started training with Dr. James Tasto in 1991. Since then, the program has grown in popularity. Currently, there are hundreds of candidates and only four physicians are selected each year to participate. The San Diego Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Fellowship is a "hands on" program in which the new physicians have the opportunity to learn from nationally renoun physicians offices as they rotate to five different Orthopaedic Practices throughout the year. This allows the opportunity to learn from nationally-renowned physicians as they rotate different areas of specialization

Currently, the orthopaedists involved with training and oversight and the hospitals they are affiliated with are:

Dr. Rob Pedowitz, University of California-San Diego

Dr. John Miles, Sharp-Rees-Stealy

Dr. James Esch, Tri City Medical Center

Dr. Brad Cohen, Pomerado Hospital

Dr. James Tasto and Dr. Steven Tradonsky, Alvarado and Grossmont Medical Centers

Dr. Jan Fronek, Dr. Heinz Hoenecke and Dr. Laura Alberton, Scripps Clinic

In light of decreasing remuneration over the years to medical practitioners and surgeons, as well as a significant reduction in assistant's fees, funding for this program has become increasingly scarce. It is estimated that each fellows costs the programs approximately $75,000 a year, which includes salary and overhead. This does not take into consideration any expenses for research and publishing.

This year, SDSM Orthopaedics has started to build an endowment for these fund raising endeavors. For more information about the Docere Foundation and how you can make a financial contribution please contact:

James P. Tasto, MD, c/o
Docere Foundation
6719 Alvarado Rd. Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92120
Phone: (619) 229-3934
Fax: (619) 229-3921