Female Athlete Program Fellowship

Note: The Female Athlete Program Fellowship will not be active in 2025-26. The fellowship will resume in 2026-27 and is now accepting applications.

The Female Athlete Program Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital provides one year of advanced specialty training in the comprehensive care of female athletes with a strong focus on relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) and related conditions.

Application deadline

Applications are due Nov. 15 each year.

Number of fellows accepted

One fellow is selected annually.

Accreditation and benefits

While this fellowship is not ACGME-accredited, we adhere to similar training guidelines. Compensation and benefits are commensurate with other Boston Children’s Hospital fellowships.

Fellows receive salary and benefits at the PGY-VI level.

Program information

The Female Athlete Program is an interdisciplinary team of physicians, advanced practice clinicians (APCs), dietitians, and sports psychology/behavioral health providers.

Fellows receive training in diagnosing, treating, and comprehensively managing the health of female athletes, with experience in:

  • Relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs)
  • Eating disorders
  • Bone health concerns
  • Sport-related performance concerns
  • Sports medicine injuries affecting female athletes

Additional training includes:

  • Male athletes with REDs and sports performance concerns
  • Nutrition and behavioral health evaluation and management
  • General endocrine and gynecologic care of female athletes

Research opportunities

Fellows are expected to:

  • Contribute to at least one research or academic project during the fellowship year
  • Assist with outreach lectures
  • Present cases and research abstracts at national conferences

Formal didactic lectures are held approximately twice per month.

Schedule overview

  • Longitudinal core rotation with Female Athlete Program physicians (one to three days a week)
  • One day per week caring for patients in the sports medicine clinic with program faculty support
  • Monthly participation in the Adolescent Medicine Eating Disorder Clinic
  • Elective opportunities: Adolescent gynecology, sports nutrition, Menopause Clinic, pediatric endocrinology, and more
  • Additional exposure: Sports ultrasound, Injured Runners Clinic, sports coverage (Boston Ballet, figure skating, and others)

Eligibility requirements

  • Successful completion of a primary care sports medicine fellowship
  • Eligibility for a Massachusetts physician full license, which requires successful completion of USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3 or COMLEX Levels 1, 2, and 3.

Visa sponsorship

At this time, the fellowship program is unable to sponsor J-1 or H-1B visas. Applicants must have independent work authorization in the United States.

Applicants who do not meet these criteria cannot be considered.

Application process

We are currently accepting applications for the 2026-27 fellowship year. This 12-month program will begin in July or August 2026.

Required materials

Submission

Send application materials to: alaina.mclaughlin@childrens.harvard.edu.

Please address to: Dr. Stacey Schley, Program Director, Female Athlete Program Fellowship

Deadline

Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025

Interviews

Interviews will be held in early December with final decisions shared before the New Year.