Sports Medicine Fellowship graduates sixth class of fellows

The Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine Sports Medicine Fellowship graduated its sixth class of fellows today. The class consisted of two students, William M. Sykes, DO, and Michael T. Smolka, DO.

“Campbell’s fellowship gives you the opportunity to train at the leading edge of diagnostic ultrasound, ultrasound guided procedures, and to travel to some amazing places and train with some great physicians here and internationally,” said Dr. Sykes who will join an orthopedic practice in Huntsville, Alabama. 

“Some of our planned conferences this spring got canceled due to COVID-19, but prior to the pandemic, we went to Cancun for an injection workshop, and the fellowship has an ongoing relationship with the United States Men’s and Women’s Olympic Free Style Ski teams, so we went to Switzerland to cover a training session for them.   It’s been great to interact with physicians who are pioneering regenerative medicine, to practice osteopathic manipulative treatment, and teach while completing my training”.

Dr. Sykes is a Double Camel – he joined the fellowship after completing family medicine residency in one of Campbell’s affiliate residency programs at Southeastern Health in Lumberton, NC. 

“Applying to the fellowship was an easy decision for me,” said Dr. Sykes.  “I was a competitive track and cross country runner, and I was fascinated by different injuries.  I grew up in a small town, and we did not have a sports medicine doctor.  If I got an injury, I had to figure out what it was.”  

“I was first exposed to  sports medicine at my university when I had Achilles tendinitis,” continued Dr. Sykes. “My physician was a very enthusiastic guy who really enjoyed his job – and that’s how I feel.  I’m so very blessed and satisfied that I am able to fulfill this goal.  I will probably be covering some of the Huntsville area high school athletics in hopes of providing care to them.  The practice has an affiliation with the new AA major league baseball team, the Rocket City Trash Pandas as well as the University of Alabama at Huntsville.  So, I look forward to treating athletes and community patients.”

Dr. Smolka is a Major in the United States Air Force, the former Chief of Aerospace Medicine at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Medical Group, and flight surgeon. He will be returning to active duty in San Antonio, Texas to treat patients who serve our country.  

“I’m looking forward to giving back to our war fighters who put their lives on the line for us each and every day to allow us the freedoms that we enjoy,” said Dr. Smoka.  He was attracted to Campbell’s Fellowship because he knew some of the faculty from medical school.

“My wife and I had been in the Cary area for several years, and I had the opportunity to work with about half of the fellowship faculty while I was a student at the Edward Via School of Osteopathic Medicine in Virginia, so I was excited to work and train with them again,” said Dr. Smoka.

The fellowship had its largest number of applicants in 2020 and looks forward to welcoming the next two fellows in July. 

For more information visit https://medicine.campbell.edu/academics/graduate-medical-education/